Cab office Tier 2 sponsorship acceptable?

[uzzi2009]

Hi Everybody...

I am wondering if somebody will help me..I am working in a cab office...they got 150 drivers and about 10 to 15 members of staff inside.I havr done my MBA and I look after IT and Marketing management for the cab office...it is a limited company from last 4 years but this company is anout 8 years old and paying VaT and everything..They are about to apply for SOC certificate...can anybody let me know will it be ok if they apply for the SOC and they offer me a job relating IT and marketing advisor and will it be ok that I will get my visa if they get SOC approval and what are important things that we need to take place and also how long it will take SOC certificate and after that to prepare my application as my PSW visa is going to be eexpire in December so do I have enough time to prepare my application? Please help me if somebody knows anything about it will be much appreciated.


Many thanks

Regards

[physicskate]

Hi Everybody...

I am wondering if somebody will help me..I am working in a cab office...they got 150 drivers and about 10 to 15 members of staff inside.I havr done my MBA and I look after IT and Marketing management for the cab office...it is a limited company from last 4 years but this company is anout 8 years old and paying VaT and everything..They are about to apply for SOC certificate...can anybody let me know will it be ok if they apply for the SOC and they offer me a job relating IT and marketing advisor and will it be ok that I will get my visa if they get SOC approval and what are important things that we need to take place and also how long it will take SOC certificate and after that to prepare my application as my PSW visa is going to be eexpire in December so do I have enough time to prepare my application? Please help me if somebody knows anything about it will be much appreciated.


Many thanks

Regards

I'm not sure that is what Tier 2 is for. I am surprised they have a Sponsorship License...

[uzzi2009]

Tier 2 is employer sponsorship cetgory... and they dont have any SOC certificate yet but they are about to apply for it thats why am looking for the informations If they get SOC will it be useful for me or not....

[Frontier Mole]

Cab companies are unlikely to be granted a Sponor licence as the very nature of their business struggles to generate job roles that meet the requirements.

The size of business you describe is unlikely to require an IT manager or a marketing manager. I am assuming you work in the radio / booking area dealing with cab bookings the majority of the time? Occasionly at best fixing the odd computer glich and perhaps making a few phone calls to try and generate some more account customers.

The job roles you are looking at are just not credible for that industry and for that size of business. Therefore I would not get your expections up about the overall sucess of either your employer getting a licence or you being granted a visa thereafter

What salary are you on at present as I am fairly sure your Sponsor will baulk at the minimum salary he would have to pay to meet the requirements of Sponsorship.
I am not posting good news I appreciate that but given the circumstances I think perhaps you should consider other options if even no more than a back up plan.

[onlooker]

There do not seem to be any restrictions on the nature of business when it comes to Tier 2. It is the role that matters. They may decide that they need an IT engineer or developer to grow their business or branch out into new areas. And as long as they are able to explain their needs, it is not for HO or anyone else to tell them otherwise.

[Jeeves]

it is not for HO or anyone else to tell them otherwise.

I think you'll find the Home Office take a different view on that.

The Tier 2 & 5 guidance states:

1.5 When considering your licence application, we need to establish four things.
...
d) If you are applying under Tier 2 (General), can you offer genuine employment that meets the Tier 2 (General) skill level and appropriate rates of pay.


9.5 We give a score of ‘met’ or ‘not met’ for:
...
d) Employment - in respect of Tier 2 (General) licences we may assess whether you can offer genuine employment which meets the Tier 2 (General) criteria on skill level and appropriate rates of pay. This route is for skilled workers and the following are examples of circumstances in which we may not be satisfied you can offer genuine Tier 2 (General) employment. This list is not exhaustive.

EXAMPLE 1
You do not currently, or have never employed anyone in a role which meets the current Tier 2 requirements. For example, you are a small retail outlet and currently only have people working for you as shop assistants or in other low-skilled roles.

EXAMPLE 2
You tell us you require (or have already sponsored) a person in a managerial role which appears unnecessary, for example you are a small fast food outlet and you tell us you need, or have appointed a full-time HR manager or publicity manager.


Annex 1 - Circumstances in which we will refuse your application
...
k) If you are applying under Tier 2 (General) and we are not satisfied that you can offer genuine employment that meets the Tier 2 (General) requirements.



Also, for those that already have a licence:

23.20 We also keep your performance under review and may change the number of CoS you can assign at any time if circumstances make it necessary. We reserve the right to refuse any genuine employment that meets the Tier 2 (General) requirements on skill level and appropriate rates of pay.

[uzzi2009]

Thanks for your help guys...
Can you please let me know how long it will take to get SOC certificate from the date of submission of the DOC certificate application and my visa is expiring in December so do you think I got enough time to apply under tier 2 after getting the SOC certificate?

Thanks

Regards

[physicskate]

Thanks for your help guys...
Can you please let me know how long it will take to get SOC certificate from the date of submission of the DOC certificate application and my visa is expiring in December so do you think I got enough time to apply under tier 2 after getting the SOC certificate?

Thanks

Regards

There is plenty of time. However, the consensus here is that your application from a cab company will not be successful, regardless of the time frame.

[uzzi2009]

Hii..
So do you think Cab office wont be able to get SOC certificate ir incase if they get it I won't be able to get visa on that? Please clarify this..thanks

Regards

[physicskate]

Hii..
So do you think Cab office wont be able to get SOC certificate ir incase if they get it I won't be able to get visa on that? Please clarify this..thanks

Regards

Does it matter? We think they won't be able to sponsor your visa. Move on instead of rephrasing the question.

They might get onto the list of sponsors, they might not. They will not be able to sponsor a worker under Tier 2 General.

[Frontier Mole]

How much are the cab company paying you at the moment?
What is your offical job title at the moment?
Do you have an employment contract at the moment?
What do you really do on a day to day basis - not interested in what you will be doing allegedly in the future but what you actually do at the moment? Be honest are you spending any time doing standard cab office work, taking bookings, doing work rotas, sending out account holder invoices or working the radio?
If you were to move to a tier2 role what would change from what you are doing on a day to day basis.

And how would you convince the HO that your cab company is so different to the thousands of others that somehow seem to happily survive without NQF6 roles?

As I said before there is little to no chance of the cab company becoming a Sponor and even less chance of you getting a tier 2 visa on the back of their Sponsorship.

I am sure your employer will be happy to lose their licence application fee on your behalf and no doubt seem shocked at that outcome . You might want to point out to your employer that there will be other checks including bank accounts, HMRC and the local authoirty that will be undertaken on the business. It is not just the HO that takes an interest....