In March 2020, the Home Office published a guidance page for organisations which sponsor overseas workers or students under Tiers 2, 4 and 5 about coronavirus. It said it would not take enforcement action against sponsors who continued to sponsor students or employees if they have absences because of coronavirus.
Sponsors aren’t required to report absences from students or employees under Tier 2, Tier 4, or Tier 5 sponsorship if those absences are as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.
Sponsors are not required to withdraw sponsorship for students who are unable to attend for more than 60 days or employees who have had more than four weeks off without pay.
Tier 4 students can do distance learning, it must be reported if they quit the course.
Tier 2 and 5 sponsors also don’t need to inform the Home Office if staff are working from home as long as it is due to the pandemic.
In an update on 3 April, the Home Office said that employers can cut the pay of sponsored employees down to 80% or £2,500 a month (whichever is the lower).
There is a section on what happens when a sponsor has issued a CoS (certificate of sponsorship) or CAS (confirmation of acceptance for studies) and the person hasn’t applied for a visa. It says:
- The student or employee can still apply for a visa.
- The start date stated on the CoS or CAS may change. We will not refuse such cases automatically.
- We may accept a CoS or CAS that has become invalid because the person was unable to travel due to coronavirus. We will consider it case by case.
An addition on 14 April allowed students to start studies or employees to begin work even if they were still waiting for their Tier 2, 4 or 5 application decision.
Scarsdale Solicitors – Manchester, Rochdale and Oldham Immigration Solicitors
If you need advice on an immigration issue, call the team of expert solicitors at Scarsdale Solicitors Oldham, Scarsdale Solicitors Manchester and Scarsdale Solicitors Rochdale. If you need the support of Manchester Immigration solicitors, Rochdale immigration solicitors and Oldham immigration solicitors, call Scarsdale Solicitors today on 0161 660 6050.
