Sponsor Licence Suspension and Revocation Solicitors
If UKVI has suspended, downgraded or revoked your sponsor licence, the deadlines are short. We review the Home Office's concerns, prepare your response and advise on protecting your business and your sponsored workers.
Updated
When UKVI Acts Against Your Sponsor Licence
UKVI can take action against a sponsor licence (sometimes called a sponsorship licence or sponsor license) if it believes you have broken your sponsor duties, are a threat to immigration control, or are no longer eligible. Action can follow a compliance visit, information from HMRC or another agency, or a problem with an individual sponsored worker.
The main types of action are:
- Downgrade to a B-rating: you must follow a paid action plan within a set time, and you cannot assign new CoS while B-rated
- Suspension: your licence is put on hold while UKVI investigates, and you cannot assign new CoS
- Revocation: the licence is removed, which usually means your sponsored workers’ permission is cut short
In serious cases UKVI can revoke a licence without suspending it first. The sooner you take advice, the more options you are likely to have.
Responding to a Sponsor Licence Suspension
A suspension letter explains UKVI’s concerns and gives you a deadline to respond, usually 20 working days. Your written response (called representations) is often your only chance to change the outcome before UKVI decides whether to reinstate, downgrade or revoke the licence.
We will:
- analyse the suspension letter and the specific breaches alleged
- tell you immediately what to do, and what to stop doing, while the licence is suspended
- review your records and gather evidence that answers each concern
- identify any errors in UKVI’s facts or reasoning
- prepare detailed written representations, with the supporting evidence
- advise on remedial steps that show the problems have been fixed
- deal with UKVI on your behalf throughout
If Your Sponsor Licence Has Been Revoked
There is no right of appeal against a revocation decision. Depending on the facts, the options may include:
- Judicial review: a challenge in the Upper Tribunal or High Court where the decision was unlawful, irrational or procedurally unfair. There are strict time limits and a pre-action letter is normally sent first.
- Asking UKVI to reconsider: in limited cases, for example where there is a clear factual or caseworking error.
- Planning a future application: fixing the underlying problems and preparing for a new application once any cooling-off period ends.
We give you a frank assessment of the merits, costs and timescales before you decide.
Protecting Your Sponsored Workers
Revocation affects the people you sponsor as well as your business. We can advise affected workers, separately where there is a conflict of interest, on their options. These include finding a new sponsor, switching to another route or applying in another category. See our Skilled Worker visa and appeals services.
Avoiding Suspension in the First Place
Most suspensions come from problems that a regular review would have caught: missed SMS reports, incomplete worker files, incorrect right-to-work checks or roles and pay that no longer match the CoS. A sponsor licence compliance audit is the most effective way to reduce that risk. If you are applying for the first time, see sponsor licence applications.
We act for sponsors across the UK from our London and Milton Keynes offices, and we prioritise urgent suspension matters.
Common Questions
How long do I have to respond to a sponsor licence suspension?
The suspension letter sets the deadline. It is usually 20 working days from the date of the letter. Contact us as early as possible: the strength of your response depends on the evidence you can gather in that time.
Can I still sponsor workers while my licence is suspended?
No. While the licence is suspended you cannot assign new Certificates of Sponsorship. Workers you already sponsor can usually keep working while UKVI decides what to do, but their position depends on the outcome.
What happens to my sponsored workers if my licence is revoked?
If the licence is revoked, your sponsored workers' permission is usually cut short (curtailed), normally to 60 days. In that time they can find a new sponsor, switch route or leave the UK. Workers directly involved in a breach may be treated differently.
Can I appeal against a sponsor licence revocation?
There is no right of appeal against revocation. The main way to challenge an unlawful decision is judicial review, which has strict time limits. We assess whether there are grounds and explain the costs and risks before you decide.
Can I reapply after my licence is revoked?
Usually only after a cooling-off period set out in the sponsor guidance, and the new application will be scrutinised more closely. We advise on fixing the underlying problems so a future application has the best chance of success.
This page provides general information about Sponsor Licence Suspension & Revocation and does not constitute legal advice. For advice specific to your circumstances, please contact us for a consultation.
Act Quickly to Protect Your Licence
Suspension deadlines are short. We offer a short initial call, free of charge, to understand the letter and explain how we can help. Urgent work is agreed in writing before we start.