Question 1

How do I check if my Certificate of Sponsorship is real?

Accepted Answer

Upload your CoS PDF to SponsorShield. CoreFlux™ checks 25+ fraud signals including the UKVI register, salary thresholds, SOC code validity, and PDF metadata — and delivers a risk verdict in under 60 seconds.

Question 2

How do I check if my employer is on the UKVI sponsor register?

Accepted Answer

Search the employer name on the official UKVI Register of Licensed Sponsors at gov.uk. If the company does not appear, they cannot legally issue a Certificate of Sponsorship. SponsorShield checks this automatically as part of every scan.

Question 3

What are the signs of a fake Certificate of Sponsorship?

Accepted Answer

Common signs: employer not on UKVI register, salary below the going rate for the SOC code, reference number in the wrong format, PDF created in consumer software (Canva, Word), font inconsistencies, and asking for upfront fees. SponsorShield detects all of these automatically.

Question 4

What salary must a Certificate of Sponsorship show?

Accepted Answer

As of April 2024, the general Skilled Worker threshold is £38,700 per year — or the going rate for the specific SOC code, whichever is higher. For Health and Care Worker visas the threshold is £23,200. A CoS showing a lower figure will cause visa refusal.

Question 5

Can a company issue a CoS if it is not on the UKVI register?

Accepted Answer

No. Only companies with a valid, active UKVI sponsor licence can legally issue a Certificate of Sponsorship. A company appearing on Companies House but not on the UKVI register is not licensed to sponsor workers under any circumstances.

Question 6

How long does a SponsorShield scan take?

Accepted Answer

The free risk verdict is delivered immediately. The full forensic report (paid tier) analyses 25+ signals and is delivered to your email within 60 seconds of uploading your document.

Question 7

Is my uploaded document stored?

Accepted Answer

No. SponsorShield analyses your PDF in server memory and permanently deletes it immediately after the report is generated. Your document is never written to disk or any persistent storage.

Question 8

What is the CoreFlux™ Risk Engine?

Accepted Answer

CoreFlux™ Risk Engine is SponsorShield's document analysis system. It performs visual inspection, metadata analysis, and pattern detection across 25+ fraud signals to identify fake Certificate of Sponsorship documents.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a licensed sponsor still issue a fake CoS?

My employer says they are licensed. Should I still verify?

What happens if concerns are found?

Should I pay someone for a CoS?

Can SponsorShield guarantee my visa?

How much do people typically lose to CoS scams?

What do you do with my document?

Why should I pay for the full report?