Can More Than One Company Apply For A Certificate Of Sponsorship For Me At The Same Time?

It can often happen wherein a Tier 2 General Visa applicant ends up being offered more than one job. Most of these applicants do not put all of their eggs in one basket and apply for several jobs. This situation leads to the potential of being offered several roles and the creation of several Certificates of Sponsorship. In this situation, it can be confusing to know exactly where you stand. In this article, we are going to look at what your rights and responsibilities are when you have been offered two more jobs and the respective Certificates of Sponsorship have been issued.

I've Applied For Two Jobs, Can Both Companies Offer A Certificate Of Sponsorship?

Yes, it is entirely possible for two, or even more, Tier 2 Sponsor Licence holders to offer you a Certificate of Sponsorship. Clearly, you will need to ensure that you only accept a Certificate of Sponsorship from the Tier 2 Sponsor Licence holder you intend to take employment from. You will then use this Certificate of Sponsorship as one of the supporting documents needed to make your Tier 2 General Visa application.

You will need to inform the companies whose employment you are rejecting so they can cancel the Certificates of Sponsorship they have issued. It is vital you ensure this is done as it may harm your long term prospects to have more than one Certificate of Sponsorship allocated to you. It also allows the rejected Tier 2 Sponsor Licence holder the option to pursue other potential applicants.

What do I do if I Need to Turn a Job Down and a Certificate of Sponsorship has Been Created?

While it is generally dependant on the Tier 2 Sponsor Licence holder to cancel the Certificate of Sponsorship, it is your responsibility to ensure that they know to do so. While we understand that it may not be the most fun phone call you ever have to make, most employers are quite understanding of those who choose to work elsewhere.

You need to let the Tier 2 Sponsor Licence holder know you are not going to accept the role. If you have no response within 5 days then you must try and contact them again. If after a further 5 days you have still not received a response, you need to write a letter to UK Visas and Immigration informing them about the specific Certificate of Sponsorship you are no longer accepting. This process allows them to discuss the certificate with the producing sponsor licence holder to ensure its cancellation. It is important you follow this process, as failing to keep them updated could hurt your future prospects.

Will I be In Trouble for Applying for More Than One Job?

No, prospective Tier 2 General Visa applicants can apply for as many jobs as they wish, but they must only accept one and use the appropriate Certificate of Sponsorship from that specific employer to form the basis of their Tier 2 General Visa application. Failure to follow this or any other UK visa and immigration rule could do significant damage to your long-term prospects.

You must inform the company whose Certificate of Sponsorship you do not wish to accept so they can cancel the already issued certificate. If you do not hear anything within 5 days, you must contact them again to send them a reminder. If at the end of this five day period you still do not hear anything back, you will then need to send a letter in writing to UK Visas and Immigration to inform them that the specific Certificate of Sponsorship will not be used and requires cancellation. They will then contact the employer to ensure the cancellation is appropriate and carry out the cancellation.

What Happens If I Take a Job and Wish to Move to a Different Company?

Once you begin to work for a company on a Tier 2 General Visa you are then linked to them while you use the visa to remain in the UK. You are free to move to a different place of employment, but you will need to gain a new Certificate of Sponsorship and reapply for your Tier 2 General Visa. You cannot use your current Tier 2 General Visa to switch businesses as you are linked to this specific company that sponsored your move in the first place.

It is vital that you follow the appropriate process for switching jobs between Tier 2 Sponsor Licence holders otherwise your visa will be invalid, and you are at risk of being sent back to your country of origin.

Where Can I Get More Help?

Our immigration lawyers can help you with all manner of queries related to the Tier 2 General Visa including applications, switching jobs and any other query which you may have regarding the process.

If you are at the end of your initial visa period, we can also help you to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain. If you wish to discuss this option then please get in touch for a free, no-obligation consultation with one of our representatives who can talk you through the process.