By now, you must be aware of the fact that the UK Border Agency has reintroduced a temporary limit on Tier 2 (General) Visa sponsorships on December 21, 2010. What’s new is that the cap will remain in place or effective until April 5, 2011. Under the interim limit a total number of 10,832 sponsorship certificates will be issued. As a matter of fact, the UK permanent immigration cap is going to be in place in April 2011.

The sponsorship certificates to be issued include initial applications and extensions, as well as the certificates which have already been allocated to UK sponsors. However, the interim limit does not include applications filed under categories- Tier 2 (Intra-company Transfer); Tier 2 (Minister of Religion); and Tier 2 (sportsperson). In short, the limit is applicable on applications under Tier 2 (General) Visa category only.

A few number of sponsorship certificates of the total 10,832 to be issued are kept aside by the UKBA for exceptional cases. The already existing sponsors who would require additional certificates, as well as new licensed sponsors can request for sponsorship certificates under this interim limit, however, this is applicable in exceptional situations.

UK employers who are intending to hire international workers under categories of Tier 2 (Intra-company Transfer); Tier 2 (Minister of Religion); Tier 2 (Sportsperson) can file applications as much as they want.

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