Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) — forensic analysis

The Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) is a virtual document held in the Sponsor Management System (SMS). It is assigned by the employer to a specific applicant and contains the unique reference the applicant uses when applying for Skilled Worker visa.

For [CLIENT_NAME], CoS [COS_NUMBER] assigned [COS_ASSIGNED_DATE]:

§1 — CoS VALIDITY (100-120 words)

Validity requirements (Appendix Skilled Worker SW 1.2):
  ▪ Used within 3 months of assignment (NOT issue) date
  ▪ Issued by an A-rated sponsor on the UKVI register
  ▪ Sponsor licence type covers Worker / Skilled Worker
  ▪ CoS reference unique; never reused

Calculate the CoS expiry: [COS_ASSIGNED_DATE] + 3 months = [date]. Days remaining: [count].

If <30 days remaining: schedule biometrics and submit application this week. If >60 days remaining: time to verify all evidence before lodging.

§2 — CoS DATA AGAINST PASSPORT + APPLICATION (120-150 words)

Cross-check CoS data against:
  ▪ Applicant's passport: full name match (middle name on CoS = middle name on passport; common Indian mismatch on second-given-name omitted)
  ▪ DOB matches
  ▪ Nationality matches
  ▪ Passport number recorded correctly

CoS-application consistency:
  ▪ Role title — must match what applicant declares in application
  ▪ Salary — applicant must declare exactly same figure
  ▪ Start date — applicant cannot start before visa granted; CoS start date should be 3-6 months after assignment to allow processing

Common mismatch refusal triggers:
  ▪ Name spelling variant (NIRJAR vs NIRJHAR)
  ▪ Salary GBP rounded differently on CoS vs application
  ▪ Hours mismatch (CoS says 37.5 hours; application says 40 hours)
  ▪ SOC code on CoS differs from applicant's actual duties

§3 — SOC CODE + GOING RATE VERIFICATION (120-150 words)

The employer assigns the SOC code. Verify:
  ▪ SOC code on CoS = correct for the actual job duties
  ▪ Going rate for the SOC code (Annex E of Appendix Skilled Worker)
  ▪ Going rate published per hour for full-time roles (e.g. GBP 19.50/hour for SOC 2136 [VERIFY])
  ▪ Annual salary = hourly × 39 weeks × hours per week (typical full-time = 37.5 hours)

For [COS_DETAILS] SOC code:
  ▪ Verify code matches duties listed on CoS
  ▪ Compute minimum required salary: HIGHER of (GBP 38,700) OR (going rate for SOC code)
  ▪ Verify offered salary on CoS ≥ minimum

Common employer errors:
  ▪ Using outdated SOC 2010 code (UKVI requires SOC 2020 since April 2023 [VERIFY])
  ▪ Assigning higher SOC code than role warrants (officer may downgrade)
  ▪ Offering "headline" salary that includes bonus/allowances UKVI doesn't accept (only base salary counts)

§4 — IMMIGRATION SALARY LIST CHECK (80-100 words)

If [COS_DETAILS] SOC code is on the Immigration Salary List (Annex F of Appendix Skilled Worker, replacing SOL from April 2024):
  ▪ 20% discount available — salary floor becomes GBP 30,960 instead of GBP 38,700
  ▪ Reduced application fee (some cases)
  ▪ Faster processing in some circumstances

Roles commonly on Immigration Salary List 2024:
  ▪ Care workers (SOC 6135)
  ▪ Senior care workers (SOC 6136)
  ▪ Various healthcare professionals
  ▪ Civil engineers in shortage areas
  ▪ Bricklayers, plasterers, roofers
  ▪ Some teaching specialisms

For non-Immigration Salary List roles: full GBP 38,700 floor applies.

§5 — CoS RED FLAGS (80-100 words)

Triggers that may lead to refusal:
  ▪ CoS assigned by B-rated sponsor (technically valid but officer scrutiny increases)
  ▪ CoS assigned within 3 months of sponsor's previous compliance breach
  ▪ Salary suspiciously close to minimum (officers check whether genuine vacancy)
  ▪ Job duties on CoS don't match SOC code description
  ▪ Sponsor has high CoS-to-grant ratio that suggests CoS-mill behaviour
  ▪ Sponsor under "consideration of compliance action" notice
  ▪ Applicant has prior Skilled Worker refusal with same sponsor

§6 — POST-CoS CHECKLIST (60-80 words)

After CoS verified:
  □ Applicant gathers personal documents
  □ TB test booked (IOM clinics in India for 6+ month stays)
  □ Police certificates collected from all 12+ month residences
  □ Maintenance evidence prepared (GBP 1,270 × 28 days, unless sponsor-certified)
  □ English language evidence confirmed
  □ IHS calculated (GBP 1,035/year × duration of CoS)
  □ Application fee ready (GBP 719-1,500)
  □ Apply online via UKVI Skilled Worker route

§7 — RECOMMENDED ACTIONS (60-80 words)

Recommend one of:
  (A) PROCEED — CoS clean, apply within window
  (B) REQUEST AMENDED CoS — specific field needs correction
  (C) HOLD — pending Immigration Salary List confirmation or sponsor remediation
  (D) ESCALATE — sponsor licence concern needs employer-side action
  (E) ABANDON — material issue (sponsor licence revoked, etc.) — find alternative

End with: "DRAFT — for OISC/IAA-registered adviser or solicitor review. Re-verify sponsor licence status on UKVI register the day of application submission. SOC code going rates change in April annually. CoS issued in March often becomes problematic in April if salary now falls below new threshold."