Dear Sir,

I am in UK on a tier 2 visa as a senior care worker. I came to UK as a student to do NVQ Level 3 and I was working part time in a nursing home. As my nursing home didn't have sponsor licence, I applied for job with another job and got this Tier 2 visa. Now my nursing has got a sponsorship licence. Is it possible for me to change my Tier 2 visa to my old employer and what are the formalities for the same.

Reni. Ipswich

Dear Reni,

First check with your old employer whether they have been given any valid certificate of sponsorship by the UKBA. As per my knowledge even though any new applicant will be granted the sponsorship licence, the UKBA will not give any certificate of sponsorship. This means that new registrants in the sponsorship licence system will not have any certificate of sponsorship to sponsor overseas employees. They will have to make request for additional certificate of sponsorship and currently additional COS are not been issued for jobs like senior care assistant. Therefore I don't think your old employer will now be able to issue a certificate of sponsorship. Enquire with them whether they have been issued with any certificate of sponsorship by UKBA. If they say no then it is better to stay in your current job.

Paul John