An annual limit on applications for Points Based System’s Tier Two (General) will be introduced by the government starting from April 2011.

As from 19 July 2010, a new interim limit will be established until the long term limit is presented in April 2011.  The limit will be introduced on the number of Certificates of Sponsorship a sponsor can assign to migrant workers under Tier Two (General). All Tier Two categories will be included in the interim limit except Intra Company Transfer, Sportsperson and Minister of Religion. Applications made by migrants will continue to be appraised as usual, prioritising Sponsorship Certificates required for extension applications and shortage occupations.

Moreover, additional Certificates of Sponsorship for Tier Two (General) may be requested by sponsors using a 'Tier 2 (General) - request for additional or additional allocation of certificates of sponsorship' form. This form along with the revised sponsor guidance, which includes the criteria for assessing requests, will be published on the UK Border Agency’s website on the 19^th of July.  However, approval of these requests will only take place in exceptional circumstances; as long as the sponsor demonstrates that s/he has used up all their Sponsorship Certificates and has an imperative need to be supplied with more of them. Any other requests for additional Sponsorship Certificates can be acquired using the Sponsorship Management System.

In addition to Certificates of Sponsorship being available for new sponsor license holders, any applicants in another immigration category in the UK, who are seeking to switch into  Tier Two (General) will be included in the limit as well. Provided that the migrant has an unexpired Certificate of Sponsorship, s/he can make a Tier Two application which will be assessed normally and the applicant will be regarded inside the limit.

A migrant’s application will be more challengeable since a limit will be introduced lowering the number of Tier Two (General) applications that could be made. This  will no doubt, affect the percentage of migrant workers in the UK and will lead to a reduction in their overall count. in the population will be noticeable.