Understanding SOC Codes for Skilled Worker Visas

Understanding SOC Codes for Skilled Worker Visas:

A Comprehensive Guide For 2024-2025

Content:

SOC Codes: What Are SOC codes?
From where are the SOC codes derived?
Making use of the incorrect occupation code
How codes are looked into by the Home Office
Identifying the appropriate employment code
SOC codes and hiring tactics
SOC Codes 2024
Do you require help?
FAQs for SOC codes
What is meant by SOC code?
Does a visa require an occupation code?
Which jobs qualify for the visa for skilled workers?
About the Author: Mr. Farrakh Shahzad Cheema

In this post,
we explain how to use the occupation classification system appropriately when employing competent people, and highlight the frequent errors to avoid.

SOC Codes: What Are They?

To sponsor persons under the Skilled Worker visa, Global Business Mobility pathways and Scale Up visa, employers must confirm the role they are giving fits the visa standards. For instance, that the position pays the appropriate minimum wage and requires the necessary level of competence.

Jobs that are qualified under these sponsored channels are listed by occupation code inside Appendix Skilled Occupations, which assists the Home Office in determining whether a role fits the visa requirements.

These sponsored work routes are exclusively available to those employed in the professions listed here. When preparing for the sponsorship and visa application, sponsors and visa applicants are encouraged to consult the most recent edition of the list of approved occupations, which is updated on a regular basis.

The occupation codes include information such as example job titles connected with that particular occupation code, and they are used to determine the correct going rate and income threshold for each position, both at “new entrant” and “experienced” rates.

The company can then grant the applicant a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) by selecting the appropriate SOC code.

From where are the SOC codes derived?

A four-digit Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code is assigned to each eligible role. Due to a change in the regulations, SOC codes are no longer derived from the 2010 codes and are instead derived from the Standard Occupational Classification 2020 coding index as of 4 April 2024.

Appendix Skilled Occupations and the CASCOT occupation coding tool are two resources for verifying SOC 2020 occupation codes.

Crucially, under the prior 2010 system, SOC codes and qualifying job categories can change from those under the 2020 scheme. In order to ensure continuing eligibility and that the right and most recent code is utilised, sponsors are urged to verify the SOC 2020 occupation codes for their sponsored roles before submitting an application.

Making use of the incorrect occupation code

According to the regulations, sponsors must only assign a CoS in cases when they plan to hire the applicant based on the information in the application (or in any relevant sponsor remark). Incorrectly matching the occupation code may cause unintended problems with the Home Office. The consequences are the same whether you are supporting from abroad or from within the United Kingdom.

The Home Office has the authority to reject an employee’s visa application if problems with the SOC code are discovered throughout the application process, citing a failure to comply with visa criteria.This can require you to submit a new visa application with the updated code; in that scenario, the Immigration Skills Charge, Health Surcharge, and visa application fees would have to be paid again.

The sponsor will be required to pay the difference in fees before the application can be processed if, having initially submitted a code for a role on the Immigration Salary List and, therefore, the lower application fee was paid, the Home Office later finds that the code was incorrect and the role is not on the ISL.

If the incorrect code is chosen and it turns out to have been a real mistake, the fault might be able to be fixed.The Home Office, however, has the option to look into the matter more and, based on its findings, may decide to take enforcement action against the group, such as suspending the sponsor licence. Should the Home Office ascertain that a sponsor furnished inaccurate information, they have the authority to retract the organization’s licence.

How Codes Are Investigated by the Home Office?

To ensure that the right code has been chosen and the right charge has been paid, the caseworker can cross-reference the codes with the job title, description, and codes. They have the authority to look into the codes offered in the application by looking at details like:

Role: Was the CoS assigned to this job or another one that wasn’t specified in the CoS application?
Pay: Do documents indicate that the amount paid corresponds with the application’s stated salary?
Level of skill: Has the right occupation code been applied to match the skill level?

With access to the Sponsor Management System, caseworkers can cross-reference the data provided on the application with the assigned CoS. In order to confirm the precise duties of the position, they can also ask to see paperwork such the employee’s employment contract and job description. They can even conduct an interview with the sponsored worker.
They can ask for an explanation of why a particular code was chosen when another might have been more appropriate if they disagree that the code chosen is the best appropriate for the position.

It is also possible to identify incorrect occupation codes after a Home Office compliance examination.

Identifying the appropriate employment code

The Home Office suggests utilising the CASCOT occupation coding tool to look up an occupation code for a job.

Employers are expected to supply the SOC code from this list of professions that most closely corresponds to the position for which they are hiring.

Employers and HR staff may find it challenging to choose the right SOC code, especially when issuing a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) for the first time or hiring for a role that needs a different set of skills or expertise. This can make the process of selecting the correct code more complicated.

Sponsors should review the job descriptions to determine the appropriate SOC code for the position they are offering after the tool has suggested potential occupation codes.
Then, this must be compared to the Appendix Skilled Occupations list of eligible occupations.

Sponsors should emphasise the role’s responsibilities and tasks rather than the job title in order to comply with the SOC code. The Home Office does not always depend on the SOC code provided by the applicant or their sponsor when evaluating an application; instead, it will apply the best match based on the job description in the application.

You will not be permitted to sponsor someone for a job role if it does not correspond with an approved occupation, either because of a mismatch in skill level or pay level. Any application for a visa that uses an ineligible occupation code will be turned down.

The SOC code list’s subject to change is one of the main issues for employers. Every time they issue a Certificate of Status for a migrant worker, sponsors must verify the most recent version. For instance, it could be that a code you used to rely on has been removed. Alternatively, in the event that you issue CoS at a wage that now falls below the minimal threshold due to changes in compensation levels, the applicant’s visa application will be denied for failing to fulfil the necessary salary requirements.

On the other hand, it is possible that a code you have utilised in the past, even if it has been a while, has been added to the Immigration Salary List, which will result in a reduction in the application fee.

There are a lot of exclusions as well, so if you’re unsure, you should seek professional advice.

SOC codes and hiring tactics

We advise sponsors to use SOC codes strategically in line with their organization’s larger recruitment objectives.

To make sure the role actually fits the necessary criteria for expertise and pay level, it is ideal to determine the SOC code early in the hiring process.

Although there is always a chance that the codes will change, it is important to consider the benefits of planning ahead for future hiring.

The codes of practice provide valuable insight into how to design job titles that align with your future skill requirements. They also show you how to chart the future career paths and advancement of foreign workers and provide an estimate of the salary necessary to comply with the SOC rules.

Take a step back; the allocated job title may just be the beginning if a job title does not seem to fit a code but you are certain it should qualify. Think about the regular responsibilities of the position and how it fits into the larger organisational structure. Consider how that role will evolve as well. Next, take into account the specifics found in the job titles and occupational classifications.

To make sure you are taking all the necessary precautions and are not missing any codes that would be a suitable match, this may need more in-depth discussion and clarification with technical managers in your organisation.

SOC Codes 2024

In accordance with the implementation of the 2020 ONS classification system, the current list of qualifying vocations becomes effective on April 4, 2024. It’s possible that some codes have evolved from the prior coding scheme.

The UK Home Office website has information on job codes and job roles. Select the following link.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/skilled-worker-visa-eligible-occupations/skilled-worker-visa-eligible-occupations-and-codes

Do you require help?

We are seasoned advisors to companies on corporate immigration, international mobility, and Home Office applications. Please contact us with any inquiries you may have regarding SOC codes, CoS allocations, or hiring under the sponsored worker route.

Additionally, we provide internal HR and management teams with training on the proper use of SOC codes to assist recruitment efforts and guarantee compliance with immigration laws. If you need any further information, please feel free to contact us via email or any other method that is most convenient for you.

FAQs for SOC codes

What is meant by SOC code?

The Standard Occupational Classification (SOC), an ONS system used to categories all forms of paid employment in the UK economy, is referred to by its SOC code.

Does a visa require an occupation code?

Recruitment for a sponsored worker visa (e.g., skilled worker visa) requires that the position be qualified both in terms of expertise and pay scale. The Immigration Rules Appendix Skilled Occupations lists every role that qualifies.

Which jobs qualify for the visa for skilled workers?

The list of qualifying occupations in Appendix Skilled Occupations includes jobs from all sectors of the economy. The primary requirement is that candidates must possess at least an RQ3 level of ability.

About the Author:

Farrakh Shahzad Cheema

farrukhcheema@gmail.com

Farrakh Shahzad Cheema is a highly respected figure in the field of international education and visa consultancy. As the Managing Director of Way to World Private Limited, he has been instrumental in helping countless students and professionals achieve their dreams of studying and working abroad. With a career spanning many years, Mr. Cheema has built a reputation for his deep knowledge and expertise in visa consultancy, working in close collaboration with senior solicitors and top-ranking educational institutions around the world.

His extensive experience has allowed him to represent prestigious colleges and universities from diverse countries, offering tailored solutions to students aspiring to pursue education overseas. Mr. Cheema is also a thought leader in his field, regularly writing blogs and producing vlogs to share valuable insights on international education trends, visa regulations, and study opportunities globally.

Through his company, Way to World Private Limited, and his dedicated content creation, Mr. Farrakh Shahzad Cheema continues to be a guiding force for students and educational consultants alike, empowering them to make informed decisions and access world-class education opportunities.

Disclaimer

The material in this article is meant to be used solely for general knowledge. It is not appropriate to regard this article as legal advice or as a comprehensive or authoritative exposition of the law. Despite our best efforts to ensure the accuracy of the material at the time of writing, no express or implicit warranty regarding its accuracy is provided, and no liability is taken for any errors or omissions. Seek professional legal advice before acting upon any of the information provided here.

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