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PHARMACY PROFESSIONAL SPONSORSHIP SCHEME
Supplementary guidance: 4
Delaying the pre-registration year
The RPS PPSS has issued you with a Certificate of Sponsorship using the start and end dates specified
in your contract of employment. There may be circumstances however when you need to delay
your work start and end dates; for example, if you are re-taking end of year pharmacy exams.
Your Certificate of Sponsorship is valid for three months from the date of issue and the next steps
will depend on whether the new start date is within the Certificate of Sponsorship expiry date.
I will be able to start work before the Certificate of Sponsorship expires
If you are able to start work before the current Certificate of Sponsorship expires, your work start
and end dates will need to be amended. The amendment must be done before your certificate is
used by the UKVI to issue your visa application i.e. before your Tier 5 visa is issued.
Your will need to send details of the revised work start and dates to RPS. This can be in a revised
contract of employment, or in a confirmation email from the employer or pre-registration tutor
named on the original application.
On receipt of the revised dates, RPS will inform UKVI by adding a ‘sponsor note’ to your original
Certificate of Sponsorship detailing the new work start and end dates. RPS will contact the student
to confirm the amendment is on the UKVI Sponsor Management System. Your certificate number
will not change.
I am not able to start work before the Certificate of Sponsorship expires
If you are not able to use the certificate before the expiry date please email RPS as soon as possible
who will cancel the certificate with the UKVI.
If your new work start date is within six months of the date of your original PPSS application* you
will need to send a copy of a new contract of employment to the RPS. The revised contract of
employment should contain your new work start and end dates, and also include your job title,
salary details and names and signatures of student and employer.
Note that if your delayed start date is with a different employer/pre-registration tutor than that
stated on your original application form you will also need to submit a change of circumstances form
PPSS: Delaying work start dates
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(available on the RPS website).
If your new work start date is over six months since the date of your original PPSS application* you
will need to reapply for sponsorship by completing a new PPSS application form; obtaining employer
and school of pharmacy declarations (as per your original application).
RPS will issue you with a new Certificate of Sponsorship based on your new or revised application.
The new Certificate of Sponsorship can then be used to support your Tier 5 visa application.
At all times during this process you should keep the RPS PPSS Team informed on any changes in your
circumstances; such as changes to residential address, telephone number, email etc.
A table summarising the process can be found in Appendix 1: Delaying the pre-registration year –
summary/overview (see overleaf).
Essential resources:
PPSS: Frequently Asked Questions
PPSS: Guidance for Applicants
Home Office Tier 5 (Temporary Worker) Policy Guidance
Useful forms:
PPSS: Application Form
PPSS: Application Form: guidance notes
Home Office Tier 5 (Temporary Worker) Application Form and
Policy Guidance
For further information on the PPSS contact RPS Support via telephone 0845 257 2570 or email
support@rpharms.com.
* The date of the application is taken as the date of the School of Pharmacy declaration.
Review date: October 2014
Supplementary guidance prepared/updated by:
Sonia Garner, Pharmacy Professional Sponsorship Scheme Manager
PPSS: Delaying work start dates
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PHARMACY PROFESSIONAL SPONSORSHIP SCHEME
Appendix 1: Delaying the pre-registration year – summary/overview
Will you be able to start work
before the certificate expires?
YES
NO
Employer confirms revised
start and end date
Original CoS cancelled
RPS to update UKVI
Tier 5 visa application
based on original CoS
New work start date within six months
(of the original sponsorship application)
YES
NO
Revised
start/end dates
sent to RPS
Reapply for
sponsorship i.e.
new application
form
RPS issues new CoS
Tier 5 visa application based on new CoS
PPSS: Delaying work start dates
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