Advice regarding delay on defined COS application skill shortage job code

[Bergali]

Hello,

Am looking for any insight or advice on our situation.

My husband (EU National currently living in Malta) received a job offer for a role at the Environment Agency in December.

The role is a science based role on the skill shortage list and has a salary of 25,000 which meets the minimum salary requirements taking into account the 20% lower rate applied to jobs in the shortage category.

The employer got the application in for a defined COSon the 22nd Jan 2024 and we were told they expect to hear back after one day.

After no response for a week they chased and were told ‘they are reviewing the case closely’.

It’s now been over three weeks and still no response. They’ve not asked for any further information there’s just no response at all.

We’re starting to get quite worried as this is way outside the advertised waiting times. We’ve started to put wheels in motion to move as we have a three year old daughter and needed to find a nursery place and a house etc (side note I’m a British citizen but we went down sponsorship route for him as presumed it would be quicker than spouse visa).

How worried should we be? Is this delay normal? Could it be anything to do with the new rules coming into place in April?

At this point if we started spouse visa application he’d loose this job as they can’t wait another 24 weeks. He was offered the job in December….

Does anyone have any insight as to why such a delay? And should we be expecting a refusal at this point?

[Frontier Mole]

Sorry - just to clarify - has a skilled worker visa application been made by your husband?

[AmazonianX]

There is delay with Issuing of CoS at the moment. The route is being abused yo gain entry into UK, probably due to this more scrutiny going on before the CoS of issued.

[Frontier Mole]

It is unlikely that delays would be readily encountered for the issue of a DCOS to another government agency.
Private Care DCOS are delayed pretty much as standard.

[Bergali]

Sorry - just to clarify - has a skilled worker visa application been made by your husband?

No, we’ve been waiting nearly a month for the defined COS approval, he can’t make a visa application until he has this. But I’m worried the COS is going to get rejected, there is such a delay on getting an approval, we just keep getting told it says ‘under review’ on the system

[Bergali]

It is unlikely that delays would be readily encountered for the issue of a DCOS to another government agency.
Private Care DCOS are delayed pretty much as standard.

Yes exactly, this is for a biological sciences job with the environment agency, I’m really concerned it’s taking so long, trying to manage our expectations and prepare ourselves that it’s likely not getting approved… perhaps they don’t agree with the job coding or something? It’s just odd there is such a delay

[Khalilmusa]

Hi,

I'm facing the same problem, I have applied in 01 February.

Did they respond to you ?

[Bergali]

No… no reply, the waiting is really affecting me

[Tweetybird]

Hello,

I am having the same issue as well, did you receive a response? I’ve been waiting for about 4 weeks now.

[sam300893]

Hi Guys,

Even I'm facing th same issue. I have applied for COS on Feb 5th and it's been 2 months now and yet to receive the cos approval. Not sure why there is so much delay and is it normal ?

Also kindly let me know if you guys have any workaround or know the exact reason for this delay.

Visa: Skilled worker Visa
Status: in progress