COS - Contract Duration Update

[msumair]

Hello everyone,

I have recently completed my course and got a COS from my employer on a Skilled worker route. COS mentions that "Student course complete witching to skilled worker" and the duration is 4 years. As per my knowledge COS could be for 3 years or 2 years. Can anyone guide how this 4 years visa will work. Will this be considered on the settlement path and if yes how will I get 1 more year visa to complete 5 years on skilled worker visa before i apply for ILR.

Many thanks!!

[msumair]

Hello everyone,

I have recently completed my course and got a COS from my employer on a Skilled worker route. COS mentions that "Student course complete switching to skilled worker" and the duration is 4 years. As per my knowledge COS could be for 3 years or 2 years. Can anyone guide how this 4 years visa will work. Will this be considered on the settlement path and if yes how will I get 1 more year visa to complete 5 years on skilled worker visa before i apply for ILR.

Many thanks!!

[CR001]

A CoS can be of any duration. Nowhere does it state it can only be for 2 or for 3 years. That is just the norm of what employers generall do because of the difference in visa fees.

[msumair]

A CoS can be of any duration. Nowhere does it state it can only be for 2 or for 3 years. That is just the norm of what employers generall do because of the difference in visa fees.

Hi Sir, below comment is mentioned on gov.uk website. My employer when issued me COS, the maximum duration it gave is 4 years (Category: Skilled Worker "Student Course Complete Switching to Skilled Worker")

S3.24:
if you are sponsoring a Skilled Worker who intends to claim points for being a ‘new entrant’, the longest you can assign the CoS is 4 years (less any time the worker has already spent in the UK as a new entrant on the Skilled Worker or Tier 2 (General) routes, or on the Graduate route)

In this case what is the best like how should I apply my visa? Should it be 3 years? can i get a new sponsorship after 3 or 4 years from same license?

[CR001]

If a CoS has been assigned for 4 years, that is what you have to apply for.

The text you quote does not say it MUST be 4 years, it says it is the maximum it can be.

After 4 years you apply for an extension with a new CoS, either with the same employer or a new one.

[msumair]

If a CoS has been assigned for 4 years, that is what you have to apply for.

The text you quote does not say it MUST be 4 years, it says it is the maximum it can be.

After 4 years you apply for an extension with a new CoS, either with the same employer or a new one.

Thank you so much for swift response. Much appreciated. However, few more queries below with thanks in advance:

1- In my case (if i get a 4 years visa), will my current employer be able to issue sponsorship for one more year for my extension after 4 years, as I will need to complete 5 years on skilled visa to apply for ILR.

2- Visa fee per person for a 3 year visa is GBP 827 while if I apply for 4 years the fee will be GBP 1636. Similarly after 4 years I will have to pay GBP 827 per person for just one year visa. Do you suggest that I ask my employer to change the duration of contract on my COS to 3 years and then after 3 years I would request them to issue a new COS for 2 more years? I have family with me so it will have quite some financial impact.

3- What is the minimum duration for a skilled worker COS and visa. Can we get COS for 1 year and apply visas for 1 year?

4- If we have skilled visas for 5 years, do we apply for ILR before fifth year visa is about to expire?

5- In my case, do you have any special suggestion that how I should proceed with my skilled visas plan? considering I am switching my visa to skilled worker directly from a student visa (not psw)

Looking forward to your response. And thanks again!

[msumair]

If a CoS has been assigned for 4 years, that is what you have to apply for.

The text you quote does not say it MUST be 4 years, it says it is the maximum it can be.

After 4 years you apply for an extension with a new CoS, either with the same employer or a new one.

Thank you so much for swift response. Much appreciated. However, few more queries below with thanks in advance:

1- In my case (if i get a 4 years visa), will my current employer be able to issue sponsorship for one more year for my extension after 4 years, as I will need to complete 5 years on skilled visa to apply for ILR.

2- Visa fee per person for a 3 year visa is GBP 827 while if I apply for 4 years the fee will be GBP 1636. Similarly after 4 years I will have to pay GBP 827 per person for just one year visa. Do you suggest that I ask my employer to change the duration of contract on my COS to 3 years and then after 3 years I would request them to issue a new COS for 2 more years? I have family with me so it will have quite some financial impact.

3- What is the minimum duration for a skilled worker COS and visa. Can we get COS for 1 year and apply visas for 1 year?

4- If we have skilled visas for 5 years, do we apply for ILR before fifth year visa is about to expire?

5- In my case, do you have any special suggestion that how I should proceed with my skilled visas plan? considering I am switching my visa to skilled worker directly from a student visa (not psw)

Looking forward to your response. And thanks again!

Hi - Can you please advise on above? I will be extremely grateful.

[razergd1]

What's your CoS salary and occupation code? Are you applying as a new entrant?

[msumair]

What's your CoS salary and occupation code? Are you applying as a new entrant?

Salary is not mentioned on COS. Occupation code is Teaching Assistant which is 6113. Yes Its under new entrant I believe. Can you advise?

[razergd1]

From what I understand,

1. Yes if you meet the conditions. According to present rules you will have to get paid full salary to go beyond 4 years.
2. Yes you can but you risk that after 3 years you won't meet new entrant conditions and your employer will have to pay you either full salary or they won't be able to continue sponsoring you.
3. Yes you can but you need new COS every year and to pay the application fee as well.
4. If you meet all the conditions you can apply 28 days before you complete 5 years
5. I cannot give you advice on this. This is a personal choice. The main advantage of PSW is that it is not attached to an employer BUT it won't count towards your ILR.

Please read the comments in my signature.

[msumair]

From what I understand,

1. Yes if you meet the conditions. According to present rules you will have to get paid full salary to go beyond 4 years.
2. Yes you can but you risk that after 3 years you won't meet new entrant conditions and your employer will have to pay you either full salary or they won't be able to continue sponsoring you.
3. Yes you can but you need new COS every year and to pay the application fee as well.
4. If you meet all the conditions you can apply 28 days before you complete 5 years
5. I cannot give you advice on this. This is a personal choice. The main advantage of PSW is that it is not attached to an employer BUT it won't count towards your ILR.

Please read the comments in my signature.

Thank you so much for detailed response. This will help really. And I have read your signatures and do understand. Thank you for mentioning though. I will now look into my case and may come back here if I will have any additional query. Thanks in advance!!

[msumair]

Hello everyone,

Can anyone confirm what is salary requirement for a student who is switching to skilled worker right after completion of course. I understand that there is a low salary threshold for fresh graduates.

Can anyone confirm?

[CR001]

Hello everyone,

Can anyone confirm what is salary requirement for a student who is switching to skilled worker right after completion of course. I understand that there is a low salary threshold for fresh graduates.

Can anyone confirm?

The salary depends on the job code. It is not a 'one size fits all' salary.

[msumair]

Hello everyone,

Can anyone confirm what is salary requirement for a student who is switching to skilled worker right after completion of course. I understand that there is a low salary threshold for fresh graduates.

Can anyone confirm?

The salary depends on the job code. It is not a 'one size fits all' salary.

For job code 6113 and if a student is switching directly from student to skilled worker. What would be the minimum salary?

Also, is this code come under immigration salary list?

Many thanks

[msumair]

Hello everyone,

Can anyone confirm what is salary requirement for a student who is switching to skilled worker right after completion of course. I understand that there is a low salary threshold for fresh graduates.

Can anyone confirm?

The salary depends on the job code. It is not a 'one size fits all' salary.

For job code 6113 and if a student is switching directly from student to skilled worker. What would be the minimum salary?

Also, is this code come under immigration salary list?

Many thanks

Can anyone advise on above?

[msumair]

Hello all,

My employer first issued me COS for 4 years under new entrant category. In that case I apparently had to pay more in term of visa fees to complete 5 years overall. So I requested my employer to change duration from 4 years to 3 years for now so that I can pay less visa fee.

My employer then contacted the sponsor helpdesk and they told my employer to open COS and add comments there and that should be good enough. My employer then added comments to change work end date to make it for 3 years.

My question now is that should we wait for them to update COS to 3 years in system/ portal or am I good enough to submit my visa application with new work end date which is for three years?

Thank you in advance.

[CR001]

@msumair please stop starting multiple new topics asking the same question!!!

When someone can answer they will. We are all unpaid volunteers here!!!

[msumair]

@msumair please stop starting multiple new topics asking the same question!!!

When someone can answer they will. We are all unpaid volunteers here!!!

Apologies - But I was unable to see my post after submitting. Thats why I posted again