Every document section in a CoS request now shows guidance before you upload anything, explaining what the document is, what makes it valid, and what will cause it to be rejected. Format requirements are shown where they apply, so you know what a caseworker will look for before you choose a file.

When you upload a document, Borderless automatically checks it is the right type of document and extracts key details to pre-fill your form. If a document looks like it might be the wrong type, you'll see a warning asking you to verify it. These warnings never block your progress, but resolving them gives your request the best chance of success.

Insufficient bank balances are one of the most common reasons CoS requests are rejected. The bank statements section now shows the minimum balance your account should hold, based on the number of workers you are requesting to sponsor. If the closing balance on an uploaded statement is below that minimum, you'll see a clear warning before the document can be accepted, so you can resolve it before submission rather than after a rejection.

If a named individual on your CoS request already works for you, their employment contract must be uploaded before the request can be submitted. Draft contracts are not accepted. For care CoS requests, migrant workers who are current employees also need their last 3 months of payslips.

If anything is missing, you'll see exactly which individual needs which document. Note that removing a named individual from a request discards any documents uploaded against them.

Your answers in the reason for hiring a migrant worker section are now reviewed automatically against what the Home Office expects to see. When you finish writing an answer, feedback appears below the field, with suggestions where an answer could be more specific. This feedback is advisory and never blocks submission, but stronger answers are the single biggest factor in approval.

CoS request forms now save as you type. If you leave a request part-way through, your answers will be there when you come back, so you no longer need to complete a long form in one sitting.

To see these features, log in to Borderless and open or create a CoS request.