5 Year CoS Validity after Opting for 3 Year SVW

[mapsan]

Hello everyone,

In July 2021, I was granted an SWV for a duration of up to 3 years. I opted for a 3 year visa duration to avoid the hefty initial costs associated with the visa application fee and the immigration health surcharge for a five-year term even though my CoS was for 5 years.

Now, I'm exploring the possibility of renewing or extending my visa. From my preliminary research, it appears that I can only apply for renewal or extension at the earliest, three months before my current visa's expiration. This means, if my visa expires in July 2024, the earliest we can apply is in April 2024.

Additionally, there's a complication regarding the Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) number provided by my employer. Initially, it was issued for a 5 year period, but I opted for a 3 year visa as I mentioned above. Today when our company-HR department check the Home Office website, the expiry date of the CoS still appears to be 30 June 2026. Does this mean that I can still use it? If it's valid then do I still need to wait until April?

I understand this is a complex scenario, but I'm hoping to connect with others who might have navigated a similar path and can offer some insights or advice. Thank you for your time and assistance.

Thank you very much in advance
Kind regards

[lolo2]

There is no complexity in this case.

You need a new CoS to apply for an extension. The CoS you were given to apply for the first visa was valid for three months only, therefore is no longer valid. The five year period they see on it is the "migrant's work start date and end date". Your current employer should know this - provided they sponsor(ed) other migrant workers.

If the CoS was originally issued for five years and you only applied for three years is irrelevant, that's acceptable within the rules.

Employers usually issue CoS for extensions within three months before the current visa expiration date (or new start date) and then you can apply for an extension in that time window.

[mapsan]

Thanks a lot for your time and answer. Your message has been really helpful for me to clarify things.