URGENT- Error after putting Sponsor license number

[Lucky1305]

Hi,

I am encountering an error while filling my TIER 2 Gen- PBS dependent visa application. When entering sponsor license number at the start of the application, it is giving the below error

"Licence number not found - please check the number. Enter your employer's sponsor licence number, not your Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) reference number."

The same number has been used while filling my wifes application who is a main applicant and it didnt throw any error. I double checked the tier 2 sponsor list which is published today and saw the sponsor name in it. Does anyone faced similar problem and if resolved, please share how you have done it. I rang the customer care and explained the problem. They raised an incident and asked me to wait while they look into it.

Any Responses will be much appreciated. Thanks

[j0553tt]

I am currently having the very same issue. The sponsor license worked for my husband's tier 2 visa application. However, for my son and I who are the dependents the sponsor license does not work. It is giving the same error message.
Licence number not found - please check the number. Enter your employer's sponsor licence number, not your Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) reference number.

I am sure the sponsor license number is correct as it is the same number that was used for my husband's application. Let me know if you got this resolved.

Thanks,

[kiran153]

Hi,

I am facing the same issue. I applied for my tier 2 visa a couple of days ago and started to apply for my wife's application only to get blocked by this stupid error. I will try a few more times over the weekend, but I am positive that won't change much. Also, why does the UK Visa system charge 5 GBP per email enquiry to address an issue that happened within their system? It's annoying to say the least. I am creating a ticket anyway and hope it gets resolved. If any of you are able to get past this error, kindly let everyone know too. I will do the same.

Best
Kiran

[mabelzunce]

Hi,
Having the same problem here. It's so frustrating. I need to apply as soon as possible. I got my CoS yesterday and now facing this issue. Thanks for generating a ticket. I think it won't get solved until next week.

Martin

[3amoor]

I have the same issue, it seems something happened to the system yesterday,
I made my wife application on Thursday and everything is fine but starting doing the same for my child yesterday morning and it keep saying the same error msg, the problem that I booked an appointment for my wife and I was planning to do the same for my child, it’s very frustrating now actually, did any one passed that error by any means ???

[Lucky1305]

I am bit relieved now as it seemed to be a wider issue. FYI, I raised two incidents both over phone and email which costed me close to £30. Hope they resolve it soon. Fingers crossed.

[3amoor]

Yeah it seems to be global as I have also a friend with the same issue. Unfortunately today and tomorrow are the weekend and mostly nothing will happened, I hope this issue to be solved soon

[Samaneke123]

"licence number not found - please check the number. Enter your employer's sponsor licence number, not your Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) reference number"


Hi Guys,

I'm having the same issue. I'm the main applicant changing job, the new company issued Cos yesterday, and trying to complete the application and receive the same error.

Please have anyone pass beyond this stage today?
What is the number to contact HO based on this issue?

Thanks

[kiran153]

Hi Samaneke123,

This is what I noted down from their contact page. You will find the link to their 'contact us' page if you scroll to the very bottom of the page where you are getting this error.
-------------
By phone
Telephone: 00 44 203 481 1736
Monday to Friday, 24 hours
Calls cost £1.37 per minute on top of your standard network charges.

Emails enquiries cost £5.48. You will not be charged for any follow-up emails about the same enquiry.

You’ll get a reply to your email within 2 days, except on Saturdays, Sundays and UK public holidays.
-------

[engessamk82]

Hello,
i'm facing the same problem , I submitted my wife application from 1 week ago and when i tried to submit my child i got the same error.
I checked the sponsor lic and it is the same and listed.
My COS number also the same.

I dont know what is the problem and what can i do to solve it

Best Regards

[Misho12345]

I'm facing the same problem. How can we deal with this issue?

Best regards

[evarpen]

Hi all,

I am facing the exact same problem. I will also issue a ticket to see if the repetition of the problem brings a faster solution. Please do post as soon as you get any answer!

[makhanmd]

Hi
Did this issue resolve for anyone ? Very frustrating as I am facing this since yesterday.

[Lucky1305]

I request everyone who’s facing this issue to report this problem immediately so that HO will understand the impact and resolve soon.

Thanks

[Lucky1305]

Hi All,

I have received following response from UKVI.

Thank you for contacting UK Visas and Immigration enquiry service.

In response to your enquiry, you may have to speak to your employer about the issue. There is nothing we can do from our end.

Please note that we cannot provide case specific advice or pre-assess an application but we can provide information and support you through sign posting and web site navigation. If you require more specific advice then please speak to a qualified immigration advisor

This is really frustrating as we have spoken to the employer already and they found no issues about their license or assigned COS in SMS portal. Besides, I also checked tier 2 sponsor list and found employer in the list. How can they say there is nothing they can do from their end as this problem is affecting many.

Please let me know if anyone else has got similar response.

[HGH2019]

Hi,
I have also the same problem. I sent them an email and hope they reply to it soon.
In the page, it is written that one of their centers has a problem because of the maintenance, but I do not know if it is related to this.
Please mentioned that other applicants have the same issue if you call them.

[Rashmi01]

Even I am facing same issue. Is there a way to resolve this issue ?

[makhanmd]

Surprising. despite so many people are affected the problem is till not solved. I will contact them tomorrow.
Hopefully after the weekend the problem will be solved.

[engessamk82]

Dears,

Do you have any update ? is this problem related to the delay in the start comparing with the CoS start date
Because i found the below article and i attended after the 4 weeks permission due to visa process and my handover with the previous employee

article :
The rules relating to delaying start dates as referred to on an employee’s CoS have been amended. The new guidance confirms that, in relation to Tier 2 (General), if the start date is to be delayed after the new leave has been granted to the worker, the new start date must be within 28 days from the date on which the new leave was granted or the start date on the CoS (including any amended start dates reported before the leave was granted), whichever is later. The guidance no longer applies this restriction to Tier 2 (ICT) CoS;

Best Regards

[Lucky1305]

Dears,

Do you have any update ? is this problem related to the delay in the start comparing with the CoS start date
Because i found the below article and i attended after the 4 weeks permission due to visa process and my handover with the previous employee

article :
The rules relating to delaying start dates as referred to on an employee’s CoS have been amended. The new guidance confirms that, in relation to Tier 2 (General), if the start date is to be delayed after the new leave has been granted to the worker, the new start date must be within 28 days from the date on which the new leave was granted or the start date on the CoS (including any amended start dates reported before the leave was granted), whichever is later. The guidance no longer applies this restriction to Tier 2 (ICT) CoS;

Best Regards

The issue what we are all facing is nothing to do with start date of cos. This is purely a system issue pertaining to sponsor license number. Your reply might mislead or change the context of this thread. I kindly suggest you to delete it pls.

[jpjJPJ]

I'm having the same problem.
In my application for Tier 2, the sponsor license number has been accepted on Friday morning but applications for my dependents are getting stuck at this point over the weekend.
I've already paid for a phone conversation 2 hours ago where they told me this is the first time they're hearing of such a problem! (obviously not, based on the number of people who say they've already raised the issue with customer care)
They also told me to:
1. Restart applications afresh (done already)
2. Check with sponsor (done, they haven't changed their license number over the weekend)
3. Apply using a different web browser (used three different ones already)
4. If they raise this to the technical team, it might take 15 working days to get a reply!

I hope they sort this out soon.
All the best, everyone.

[HGH2019]

Thank you for updating us. What do they mean with restart application?

[greengrapes]

Hi, I am applying for tier 2 visa extension and encountered the same issue on Saturday.
My sponsor confirmed I have the right licence number and they also recognised that other applicants have the same issue since friday.
I spoke with someone from home office today and she said there must be an internal system issue as I am not the first person to call this morning with the exact same issue.
I think it's worth calling home office so they know the extent of the problem and can get it fixed asap.

as a few people were asking about contacts:

Home office number is 03001232241 if you are calling within UK and issues related to visas
You can also email them for IT support: ApplyOnlineE-support@homeoffice.gov.uk
(include your name, type of visa, description of problem)

hope this helps

[jpjJPJ]

Thank you for updating us. What do they mean with restart application?

Leave the application (delete it, I suppose, but I couldn't find a button to delete the application) and start a new one from the beginning.

[Samaneke123]

Hi Guys,

As we are all experiencing this problem of Sponsor licence Number, I'm applying for Tier 2 visa extension (Change of Employment) and encountered the same problem since Saturday.

I called Home Office this morning and they confirmed that they are having a technial issue on their system which they are trying to fix.

Thay said that I should try again later, and refused to be specific about the later.

What that means is that we should all keep trying every 5 to 10 mins, please if anyone gets through, kindly update the forum immediately, as we are on the same challenge together.

I hope this will help?

The number I called is 0300 123 4699, then select option 3