Sponsor Licence Revoked or Suspended by Home Office

Home Office may revoke or suspend a sponsor licence if they find that the sponsor has not complied with their duties and responsibilities as outlined in the Points-Based System Sponsor Guidance and the Immigration Rules.

If you have received notification or letter from the Home Office UKVI that your sponsor licence is being revoked or suspended, you will have a limited timeframe in which to take action and respond.

It is advisable to seek legal advice from a qualified immigration solicitor to fully understand the specific implications and potential courses of action in the event of a revoked sponsor licence.

If your sponsor licence has been revoked or suspended by the Home Office, contact our sponsor licence solicitors in London at 0203 417 370 for legal assistance.

Page Contents

1. What does a revoked sponsor licence mean?
2. What are the common grounds for revoking sponsor licences?
3. How to avoid sponsor licence revocation?
4. Need Legal Advice & Assistance?

What does a revoked sponsor licence mean?

When a sponsor licence is revoked, it means that the UK Home Office has taken the decision to permanently withdraw the sponsor's permission to sponsor non-EEA (European Economic Area) nationals to work for them under the Skilled Worker and other relevant work visa categories. This can have significant consequences for the sponsor and any sponsored migrant workers.

When a sponsor licence is revoked, the following implications may occur:

1. Loss of Sponsorship Privileges
2. Impact on Existing Sponsored Employees
3. Loss of Sponsorship Status

Loss of Sponsorship Privileges

The sponsor will no longer be able to issue new Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) to sponsor new migrant workers. This means they cannot bring in any new skilled workers from outside the EEA under the Skilled Worker visa category or other applicable categories.

Impact on Existing Sponsored Employees

The existing sponsored employees may be given a limited period to find a new sponsor or apply for a different visa type to remain in the UK legally. If they fail to do so within the specified timeframe, they may become unlawfully present in the UK, potentially facing detention and removal.

Loss of Sponsorship Status

The sponsor's name may be removed from the official Register of Sponsors, which publicly lists organisations that have a valid sponsor licence. This can impact the sponsor's reputation and ability to attract skilled migrant workers in the future.

What are the common grounds for revoking sponsor licences?

The common grounds for revoking sponsor licences include:

1. Failure to Comply with Reporting Requirements
2. Non-Maintenance of Genuine Employment
3. Non-Compliance with Record-Keeping Requirements
4. Breach of Immigration Rules
5. Unlawful Practices
6. Insufficient Human Resources Systems
7. Failure to Cooperate with Compliance Visits
8. Previous Breaches or Suspensions

Failure to comply with reporting requirements

Sponsors are required to report various changes and events to the Home Office within specific timeframes. These may include changes to the sponsored worker's employment status, absences, salary, working hours, and more. Failure to report such changes can lead to the revocation of the sponsor licence.

Non-Maintenance of Genuine Employment

The Home Office may revoke a sponsor licence if they have reasons to believe that the sponsor is not providing genuine employment opportunities to sponsored workers or if the employment is not in line with the sponsor's business activities.

Non-Compliance with Record-Keeping Requirements

Sponsors must maintain accurate records related to sponsored employees, including their contact details, Right to Work checks, and other relevant documents. Failure to keep proper records may result in the revocation of the sponsor licence.

Breach of Immigration Rules

Sponsors must ensure that the workers they sponsor have the right to work in the UK and meet the requirements of the relevant visa category. Employing individuals who do not have the appropriate immigration status or who do not meet the visa criteria can lead to the licence being revoked.

Unlawful Practices

Any involvement in or association with illegal or unethical practices related to immigration, employment, or sponsored workers can result in the revocation of the sponsor licence.

Insufficient Human Resources Systems

The Home Office may revoke a sponsor licence if they find that the sponsor lacks adequate human resources systems to manage their sponsored workers effectively.

Failure to Cooperate with Compliance Visits

The Home Office may conduct compliance visits to assess a sponsor's adherence to the rules and obligations. If a sponsor fails to cooperate with these visits or provides misleading information, it may lead to licence revocation.

Previous Breaches or Suspensions

Previous instances of non-compliance, sanctions, or sponsor licence suspensions can also be taken into consideration when deciding whether to revoke a sponsor licence.

The above list is not exhaustive, and the Home Office may consider other factors when deciding to revoke a sponsor licence. Each case is assessed on its individual merits, and sponsors are encouraged to maintain a high level of compliance with their sponsorship duties to avoid the risk of revocation.

How to avoid sponsor licence revocation?

To avoid sponsor licence revocation in the UK, it is crucial for sponsors to comply with their duties and responsibilities outlined by the Home Office.

To minimize the risk of having their licence revoked, you should familiarise yourself with the requirements and guidelines set out in the Points-Based System Sponsor Guidance and the Immigration Rules. Make sure you are aware of all the duties and responsibilities of a sponsor.

You should maintain detailed and up-to-date records of all sponsored employees, including their contact information, Right to Work checks, and relevant immigration documents. Regularly review and update these records as needed.

If you have any doubts or questions about your sponsorship duties, consider seeking advice from qualified immigration solicitors to ensure you are compliant.