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The information that we need to process your work permit is below. If you need to expedite your work permits then please text 'work permits' on our work permit hotline +44 (0)7908 495549 and we will call you back as soon as possible. Unless very short notice there isn't usually any additional fee for expediting. Alternatively, if you have any questions please email us at workpermits@cmeas.com. Fees are £150 for a single certificate then £50 per additional member in a travelling party up to ten member party when each additional member's certificate will be £25. Payment can be made by credit card or Pay Pal To apply please email us the following information:
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Frequently asked questions Our agency has been processing Tier 5 UK work permits since 2005 and has a 100% track record of successfully bringing in migrant workers to the UK. The following are some of the many questions we get asked: What do I need to do to get a work permit? Not that much since the UK Border and Immigration Agency (UKBA) workpermit processing (technically online sponsorship management) went fully online in 2009 and handed responsibility for permit issuing to licensed sponsors. See opposite for the information we need to process your permit application Who is eligible for the work permits you process? We can process Tier 5 Sporting and Creative Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS). This covers the following: Artists, Authors (writers), Actors, Actors (entertainers), Dancers and choreographers, Musicians, Arts (officers), Arts (producers and directors), Designers (graphic), Designers (product clothing and related), Journalists (newspaper and periodical), Journalists (editors), Broadcasting associate professionals, Photographers and audio-visual equipment operators, Sports (players), Sports (coaches), Sports (instructors and officials), Sports (Fitness instructors), Sports and fitness occupations n.e.c How much does a CoS cost? Using our services, for one individual the total cost including processing is £150 with each additional individual in a party being charged £50. For parties of more than 10 each additional individual is charged £25 (so an 11 player football team with manager would cost £600) How long does it take to process a CoS? We can usually supply a CoS the same day we receive the application. Expect more time for larger parties. Depending on circumstances we may also need to do due diligence (especially so for individuals or groups that need visas) The work permit is a visa right? No it is not. A Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) is an agreement between you, your sponsor and the UK Border Immigration Agency. It allows you to work for a defined period of time under the terms of the type of CoS you have. Do I need a visa? Many countries have a visa exemption agreement with the UK. We suggest you test your exemption eligibility using the UKBA “do I need a visa” link. However, if you plan to stay longer than 3 months you will need additional entry clearance (visa) from your nearest British Embassy or Consulate. If you need a visa you need to obtain your Certificate of Sponsorship first (see below) Do I need a visa before I get a work permit or do I need the work permit to get the visa? You get your visa by contacting the nearest British Embassy or Consulate in your country of residence and giving them your CoS number and passport If I need a visa how long will it take to get after I get a work permit? We can't tell you that (but it will probably be days rather than weeks - just don't quote us on that!) Only the British Consulate can approve a visa and only they can confirm how long it will take on a country to country, case to case basis. If you are planning on entering the UK soon we recommend you consult with the consulate nearest you in your country of residence before applying for a work permit. No visa = no entry even if you have a CoS What's the difference between a visa and entry clearance? Nothing. They are the same thing Do I need an entertainment visa? Almost certianly not. An entertainment visa is an entry visa for entertainers who live in a country that does not have visa exemption with the UK. It does not allow you to take on paid work. You are best getting a CoS and then applying for a visa from the British Consulate nearest you. Entertainment visas (in our opinion) are a confusing waste of time and are effectively worthless I read it takes a long time to get a point based UK work permit. Is this true? Tier 5 Sporting and Creative Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) is not a point based work permit and can be processed quickly We're a band of four musicians and we want to bring our light and sound engineer with us too. Do we need a CoS for him? Yes, even if he or she is not being paid, all members of your travelling party if integral to the work you are doing in the UK must have their own CoS Do I have to pay tax on my earnings in the UK, and is there a minimum amount of earnings that are tax exempt? If you earn more than £1000 in the calendar year you will have to pay 22% on the total and this should be deducted by your UK employer using form FEU50 from HMRC I have a show in the UK but I am not being paid. Do I still need a CoS? Technically, the UK Border Immigration Agency will require a CoS even for unpaid work however there are some exceptions for unpaid educational (e.g. giving a seminar), some charitable and cultural work (e.g. a free workshop). In these cases the organisers of the event should be resonsible for ensuring your entry requirements are met If I need a CoS at short notice is there an extra fee? There is a £50 surcharge for same day requests per travelling group rising to £150 for groups of 8 or more I am already in the UK as a visitor. Can I apply for a CoS while here? No. You must be outside the UK to apply but you don't need to be in your home country. You could, for example, apply from any EU country other than the UK I will need to return to my home country at least once during my work period. Can I do this? Yes, but you must let us know so we can include multiple re-entry in your CoS What exactly is a CoS and what does it look like? What is the difference between a CoS and a work permit? A CoS is synonymous with a work permit. They're the same thing except calling it a Certificate of Sponsorship describes better what it is, i.e. an agreement between you, a UK licensed sponsor and UKBA The certificate of sponsorship is an online document. All the sponsored individual needs is the CoS number (though we provide a screenshot of the certificate as well). This you show to Immigration on entry to the UK (or first to a British Embassy with you passport if you need a visa) Do I need a letter of sponsorship? If you need a visa you should only need the CoS number but some British Consulates might require a letter too in which case you can use the confirmation letter we send along with your CoS number We noticed your fee for an individual sponsorship has increased why is this? We still charge the same for duos and groups but we have found we spend a disproportionate amount of time (and long distance phone calls) on individual cases (often several days, sometimes a week or more for some individual cases) and our earlier rate is simply not cost effective for us. The current rate has been increased by 50% to take that into account and is similar to the rate used by UKBA before they went online Does a sponsor do anything else? We report to UKBA any transgression on the part of the CoS holder during their stay (or over stay for example) and have the legal right to withdraw a CoS if we suspect a transgression has taken place Also, as your sponsor, we do have a duty of care and will assist you in your stay with advice, contacts and if need be intervention on your behalf if you have been wronged in any way. Any major expenses incurred on your behalf we will seek to recover. However, we're not so petty that we'd bill you for our time or for phone calls or letter writing. We do, after all, want your stay in the UK to be an enjoyable and rewarding one I have questions not answered here. Is there a contact for more information? Yes, email us at workpermits@cmeas.com or call the workpermit hotline: +44 (0)7908 495549.
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