Apply for CoS vs. Assign a CoS

[cmny88]

Can someone please explain to me why the COS would have to be assigned by a certain date? I am expecting a company to assign me a COS towards the middle of the month - not by the 4th - how would that affect things?

[moonlight55]

The date is not for assigning the CoS to you. It's the deadline by when the sponsor has to apply for a CoS (for you) to UKVI to be considered in the next allocation cycle. The CoS can be assigned (to you) anytime once a CoS is issued by UKV&I (for you).

[cmny88]

Thanks Moonlight - so how would that affect the timings on my end? For example, let's say my sponsor applied for a COS for me on the 11th. Would there be any sort of delay in receiving it/assigning it to me? Or would it just proceed as usual?

[moonlight55]

Your employer has to apply for a CoS on or before 4th of the month to be considered for approval by UKVI on 11th of that month. Otherwise, it will be considered in the next month allocation cycle (which means a delay of atleast a month for approval).

Other point to consider - In most cases, approval happens on 11th or few days (1 to 5 days) after for most of the applicants. However, there are instances where the approval gets delayed because UKVI require some additional documentation from the employer as part of the verification process.

Once UKVI approves, the employer can assign you the CoS as soon as they want to.

I would suggest you read the T2 Sponsor Guidance for the details of this process.

[cmny88]

Thank you Moonlight. I was unaware of that, and just did some research to try and better understand the process. Can you confirm then - if my new employer applies for the CoS after the 4th or 5 of the month, we will have to wait until the 11 of the NEXT month in order for it to be assigned to me? In this case, February 11th? That seems like a very long time to wait in order to simply receive the CoS - as it delays the visa application process significantly.

Are there ways for the employer to try and get a decision soon?

Thanks so much for your insight.

[geriatrix]

OP, none of this is relevant to you if you are applying for leave to remain (which I think you are, based on your previous posts). What is being explained here is relevant to rCoS, not uCoS - if you know the difference!!

The problem is that you started posting in a topic related to rCoS, even though that's not what you need / are waiting for(??)

[moonlight55]

good catch sush!

OP: Do confirm sush's point. Will you be applying for entry clearance or extension visa?

[cmny88]

Hello and thanks for requesting clarification.

I am not applying for ILR, I am switching from one Tier 2 job to another, after having been made redundant.

I found a potential new employer who is currently conducting the RLMT. They have to interview some other candidates, but provided that I am still their candidate of choice, I expect to receive an offer around the 9th or 10 of Jan. So I was trying to figure out the timelines for receiving the CoS. I was assuming it would happen within a few days of receiving an offer, but now it sounds like - since they will be applying for the CoS after the 4/5, they will have to wait until the 11th of FEB to assign it to me. Is that correct?

Thanks very much.

[moonlight55]

As sush mentioned, since you are applying for visa from within UK due to change in jobs, the above is not applicable in your case. Provided your sponsor has a COS to be allocated, he can assign it to you anytime. There is no waiting period. The above process is for people who are applying for a Tier 2 visa for the first time from their home country.

[cmny88]

Ahhh I see, thank you very much for the clarification.