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Glossary
PLAIN ENGLISH DEFINITIONS
Immigration Glossary
UK immigration is full of acronyms and technical terms. This glossary explains the ones you are most likely to come across, in plain English.
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C
Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)
An electronic record, not a physical certificate, that a licensed sponsor assigns to a worker they wish to employ. The worker uses its reference number to apply for their visa.
Civil Penalty
A fine issued to an employer who is found to have employed someone without the right to work in the UK. Penalties are set per worker and increase for repeat breaches.
Compliance Visit
A check carried out by the Home Office to confirm a sponsor is meeting its duties. It can be announced or unannounced, and may happen before or after a licence is granted.
I
Immigration Advice Authority (IAA)
The regulator for immigration advisers in the UK, formerly known as the OISC. Only advisers registered with the IAA, or regulated by the SRA, can legally give UK immigration advice.
Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR)
Also called settlement. It allows a person to live and work in the UK without time restrictions, and is usually a step towards British citizenship.
S
Skilled Worker Visa
The main UK work visa for people sponsored by a licensed employer to fill an eligible role that meets the required skill and salary thresholds.
SOC Code
A code that classifies a job role. It is used to check whether a role is eligible for sponsorship and what the going rate for the role is.
Sponsor Licence
The permission a UK business needs from the Home Office before it can employ most non-UK workers. It comes with ongoing compliance duties.
Sponsor Duties
The record-keeping and reporting responsibilities a business takes on when it holds a sponsor licence, such as reporting changes to a sponsored worker's employment.
Still Not Sure What a Term Means?
If you have come across a term that is not here, or want to understand how it applies to your situation, our team is happy to help.
