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CoS & SMS Management

Certificate of Sponsorship and SMS support — done correctly.

Harveys Legal supports licensed sponsors with CoS allocation requests, defined and undefined CoS issuance, and practical guidance on using the Sponsorship Management System — so assignments are correct, compliant, and recorded properly.

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Regulated by the Immigration Advice Authority · IAA Reg No. F202537009

CoS Allocation & IssuanceSupport with requesting CoS allocations and assigning defined or undefined certificates for sponsored roles.
SMS Process GuidancePractical support for using the Sponsorship Management System correctly and keeping records clean.
Role & Salary VerificationChecking that CoS assignments meet the applicable Skilled Worker salary thresholds and role eligibility criteria.
Per-Task PricingScoped per CoS or SMS task. No retainer required for one-off support.
Who this is for

Built for UK employers managing sponsored hiring.

Licensed UK sponsors assigning CoS for new sponsored workers
Businesses requesting additional CoS allocation from the Home Office
HR teams who need practical SMS guidance without a full compliance retainer
Employers where CoS issuance is occasional rather than routine
Organisations that want each assignment checked before it is submitted

Common CoS and SMS errors

Errors in CoS assignments or SMS records are one of the most frequent causes of compliance problems. They are also among the easiest to avoid with the right process.

CoS assigned with incorrect salary — failing the applicable threshold
Job title or SOC code mismatch between the CoS and the actual role
CoS used before the worker's visa application is ready
SMS not updated after a worker's circumstances change
Undefined CoS used where defined CoS was required
What Harveys helps with

Practical CoS and SMS support for licensed sponsors.

Whether you need help with a single assignment or ongoing SMS management, Harveys Legal provides structured, practical support — not generic guidance.

CoS allocation requests to the Home Office when additional certificates are needed
Defined CoS issuance support for workers applying from outside the UK
Undefined CoS guidance for in-country applications and role changes
Salary threshold checks against the applicable Skilled Worker going rate
SOC code and job title verification before CoS assignment
SMS record maintenance and reporting guidance
CoS withdrawal or amendment support where required
How it works

How CoS assignment support works.

01

Role and eligibility review

We check the proposed role, SOC code, salary, and worker circumstances against the applicable Skilled Worker route requirements.

02

CoS preparation and review

We help prepare the CoS details — job title, salary, start date, work location — and check for errors before assignment.

03

Assignment and submission

The CoS is assigned through the SMS. We confirm the reference number and brief the worker on next steps for their visa application.

04

Record update and compliance note

We update the relevant sponsor records and ensure the SMS reflects the assignment correctly for compliance purposes.

Pricing

Clear, upfront pricing.

Harveys Legal works on fixed-fee and scoped-retainer models. No surprise bills. Home Office fees are always separate and clearly itemised.

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Starting from
£195/task + VAT
What affects the fee
—Type of CoS (defined or undefined)
—Complexity of the role and eligibility check required
—Whether an allocation request to the Home Office is needed
—Number of CoS assignments in scope

Per-task pricing covers a single CoS assignment including eligibility check, preparation, and record update. Volume arrangements are available for employers with regular sponsored hiring.

Representative example

How this typically plays out in practice.

Client
Construction firm, 60 employees, occasional sponsored hiring
Situation

A construction business with an active sponsor licence needed to assign a defined CoS to a senior site manager applying from outside the UK. Their internal HR team had not used the SMS for over a year and was uncertain whether the role and salary met the latest Skilled Worker thresholds for the relevant SOC code.

What Harveys did
—Eligibility review against current Skilled Worker rules — SOC code, salary, and skill level
—Defined CoS request submission through SMS with Home Office approval secured
—CoS preparation with correct salary, dates, location, and role details
—Assignment through SMS and confirmation of CoS reference number to the worker
—Brief on the Immigration Skills Charge implication and CoS fee payment
Outcome

CoS assigned correctly on first attempt with no Home Office query. The worker submitted their visa application within ten days of CoS issuance. Business now uses Harveys Legal for ad-hoc CoS support without the overhead of a full retainer.

Representative composite example for illustrative purposes only. Client details are anonymised and combined across multiple matters. Outcomes vary based on individual circumstances. Final decisions remain with the Home Office or relevant decision-maker.

Your adviser

Mehmood Rajoka

IAA-regulated UK Immigration Adviser · Firm Reg F202537009

Mehmood leads Harveys Legal's business immigration practice. He works directly with UK employers on sponsor licence applications, compliance, and Home Office audit readiness — focused on practical, commercially useful advice rather than legal theatre.

Regulated by
Immigration Advice Authority
Firm Reg No.
F202537009
Practice scope
UK business immigration
Common questions

Questions employers ask us.

A Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) is a unique reference number assigned by a licensed sponsor to a worker applying for a Skilled Worker visa. It confirms the job offer, salary, and role details the worker will include in their visa application.

A defined CoS is used when the worker is applying from outside the UK or switching to a Skilled Worker visa from within the UK. An undefined CoS is used when an existing sponsored worker needs a change of employer, role, or working conditions.

Licensed sponsors have a set CoS allocation. When additional certificates are needed, a request must be submitted to the Home Office with justification. We can support this process.

A CoS can be withdrawn and reissued before the worker submits their visa application. After application, amendments may not be possible and could require reapplication. Checking before assignment is essential.

That depends on your hiring volume. Employers with occasional sponsored hires often benefit from per-task support. Those with regular or growing hiring programmes typically find a compliance retainer more cost-effective.

Related services & resources

SOC Code Guide
How to pick the right SOC code at CoS assignment — and what cascades if it is wrong.
Skilled Worker Sponsorship
The main route the CoS feeds into — salary thresholds, going rates, full employer-side picture.
Sponsorship Compliance
Ongoing sponsor duties — record keeping, reporting, and audit readiness.
Mock Audit & Visit Prep
Prepare your evidence and records before a Home Office visit.
IAA
Regulated immigration advice

Harveys Legal is regulated by the Immigration Advice Authority.

Firm Reg No. F202537009. Verify on the IAA register before engagement.

Speak to Harveys Legal

Need CoS or SMS support?

Book a consultation to discuss your assignment, allocation request, or SMS process. We will tell you what is needed and handle it correctly.

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Harveys Legal supports immigration applications, sponsor compliance preparation and related legal processes. Final decisions remain with the Home Office or the relevant decision-maker.
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