Sponsor Licence Compliance Audit
What is Sponsor Licence Compliance?
- Keep accurate records for every sponsored worker.
- Report changes to the Home Office within the set deadlines.
- Keep track of the people you sponsor: their hours, their pay, their visa dates.
- Run a right-to-work check before anyone's first day.
- Audit your files
- Train your key personnel
- Manage your SMS year-round
- Handle compliance audits, suspension responses and revocation challenges across every sponsored route
- Every file reviewed by a qualified immigration solicitor
Why A Y & J Are Your Ideal Sponsor Licence Solicitors
- First need a confirmed job offer from a UK employer holding a valid sponsor licence
- Then, you can apply for Skilled Worker visa and move to the UK.
- Then, you can apply for Skilled Worker visa and move to the UK.
- Then, you can apply for Skilled Worker visa and move to the UK.
Why work with AY&J?
Are you meeting your Sponsor Duties?
You may be at risk if
- Right-to-work checks were missed or checked after someone had already started working
- A sponsored worker left, and the Home Office was not notified
- Records sit on spreadsheets, or on different systems or locations
- A salary shortfall in one pay period was treated as something that could be corrected by a later bonus
- SMS has not been logged into for months
- Your key personnel were appointed years ago and no training has been provided
You are likely compliant if
- Every sponsored worker had a right-to-work check before their first day, and the evidence is still at hand
- HR files are comprehensive, current, and held in one place where the authorised team members can reach them
- Worker changes are reported to UKVI within 10 working days, and organisational changes within 20
- Each sponsored worker's salary meets the required rate in each pay period, month by month
- Your SMS is up to date, and your Authorising Officer and Level 1 Users understand and carry out their responsibilities
- An assigned team member reviews the files on a set schedule that is documented
5 steps to your sponsor licence.
A free 15-minute call with our client team to check your business is eligible for a sponsor licence and spot anything that could rule an application out. This is a screening call, not legal advice, so there is no fee.
You receive: a clear view of whether we can help, and your fixed fee.
Once the client care agreement is signed, a solicitor reviews your business, the roles you want to fill and your key personnel, then confirms the right licence type and the documents you need.
You receive: a written eligibility position and a document checklist.
We audit your HR systems against sponsor duties, fix any gaps, draft the policies you need and build your Appendix A document bundle.
You receive: a compliance-ready application bundle.
A senior associate reviews the file independently before we complete the online application, pay the Home Office fee and send your supporting documents within 5 working days.
You receive: submission confirmation and updates on a set schedule.
We prepare your team for any Home Office compliance visit and handle queries until the decision, then help you assign Certificates of Sponsorship and stay compliant.
You receive: a licence ready to use and a compliance plan.
Our Process
The AY&J Process
01
Discovery
Fifteen minutes with our client team to check for issues
Screening conversation, not legal advice
Eligibility assessment
You receive
A quick eligibility check
02
Consult
Solicitor-led case assessment
Immigration options mapped
Initial risk identification
You receive
Written eligibility and a document schedule with dates
03
Caseworking
Application preparation
Evidence bundle assembled
Legal representations drafted
You receive
A complete application bundle
04
Assure & Submit
Senior associate review & Evidence-gap check
Legal-risk review
Submission and correspondence
Proactive monitoring
Updates on schedule
You receive
Pre submission assessment call
05
After Care
Decision explained
Immediate next steps
Future immigration roadmap
You receive
An outcome letter and forward plan
This diagram describes our working method and is not legal advice. Outcomes depend on individual circumstances and on Home Office decision-making.
Our Process
The AY&J Process
01
Discovery
Fifteen minutes with our client team to check for issues
Screening conversation, not legal advice
British citizenship eligibility assessment
You receive
A quick eligibility check
02
Consult
Solicitor-led case assessment
Immigration options mapped
Initial risk identification
You receive
Written eligibility and a document schedule with dates
03
Caseworking
Application preparation
Evidence bundle assembled
Legal representations drafted
You receive
A complete application bundle
04
Assure & Submit
Senior associate review & Evidence-gap check
Legal-risk review
Submission and correspondence
Proactive monitoring
Updates on schedule
You receive
Pre submission assessment call
05
After Care
Decision explained
Immediate next steps
Future immigration roadmap
You receive
An outcome letter and forward plan
This diagram describes our working method and is not legal advice. Outcomes depend on individual circumstances and on Home Office decision-making.
Our Process
The AY&J process
01
Discovery
Fifteen minutes with our client team to check for issues
Screening conversation, not legal advice
Eligibility assessment
We read the refusal and confirm you have a right of appeal.
You receive
A quick standing check
02
Consult
Solicitor-led case assessment
Immigration options mapped
Initial risk identification
We confirm your ground, appeal or JR, and protect your 3C leave.
You receive
Written next steps and a document schedule with dates
03
Caseworking
Application preparation
Evidence bundle assembled
Legal representations drafted
We draft the grounds and build the bundle and skeleton argument.
You receive
A complete appeal bundle
04
Assure & Submit
Senior associate review and evidence-gap check
Legal-risk review
Submission and correspondence
Proactive monitoring
Updates on schedule
We serve the bundle and represent you at the hearing.
You receive
A pre-submission assessment call
05
After Care
Decision explained
Immediate next steps
Future immigration roadmap
We explain the outcome and advise on any onward appeal.
You receive
An outcome letter and forward plan
This diagram describes our working method and is not legal advice. Outcomes depend on individual circumstances and on Home Office decision-making.
Our Process
The AY&J process
01
Discovery
Fifteen minutes with our client team to check for issues
Screening conversation, not legal advice
Individual eligibility assessment
A phone or video call, wherever you are in Edinburgh, to check for issues.
You receive
A quick eligibility check
02
Consult
Solicitor-led case assessment
Immigration options mapped
Initial risk identification
A solicitor maps your options on a video call, at a time that suits you.
You receive
Written next steps and a document schedule with dates
03
Caseworking
Application preparation
Evidence bundle assembled
Legal representations drafted
We gather your documents and build the evidence bundle for you.
You receive
A complete application bundle
04
Assure & Submit
Senior associate review and evidence-gap check
Legal-risk review
Submission and correspondence
Proactive monitoring
Updates on schedule
A senior associate reviews, then we submit and deal with the Home Office.
You receive
A pre-submission assessment call
05
After Care
Decision explained
Immediate next steps
Future immigration roadmap
We explain the decision and your next steps by video.
You receive
An outcome letter and forward plan
This diagram describes our working method and is not legal advice. Outcomes depend on individual circumstances and on Home Office decision-making.
Our Process
The AY&J Process
01
Discovery
Fifteen minutes with our client team to check for issues
Screening conversation, not legal advice
Family dependant eligibility assessment
You receive
A quick eligibility check
02
Consult
Solicitor-led case assessment
Immigration options mapped
Initial risk identification
You receive
Written eligibility and a document schedule with dates
03
Caseworking
Application preparation
Evidence bundle assembled
Legal representations drafted
You receive
A complete application bundle
04
Assure & Submit
Senior associate review & Evidence-gap check
Legal-risk review
Submission and correspondence
Proactive monitoring
Updates on schedule
You receive
Pre submission assessment call
05
After Care
Decision explained
Immediate next steps
Future immigration roadmap
You receive
An outcome letter and forward plan
This diagram describes our working method and is not legal advice. Outcomes depend on individual circumstances and on Home Office decision-making.
Our Process
The AY&J process
01
Discovery
Fifteen minutes with our client team to check for issues
Screening conversation, not legal advice
Eligibility assessment
We check both tests, the relationship and the finances.
You receive
A quick eligibility check
02
Consult
Solicitor-led case assessment
Immigration options mapped
Initial risk identification
We map the right financial category and the risk.
You receive
Written next steps and a document schedule with dates
03
Caseworking
Application preparation
Evidence bundle assembled
Legal representations drafted
We build the relationship evidence and draft the application.
You receive
A complete application bundle
04
Assure & Submit
Senior associate review and evidence-gap check
Legal-risk review
Submission and correspondence
Proactive monitoring
Updates on schedule
We submit online, book biometrics, and monitor the decision.
You receive
A pre-submission assessment call
05
After Care
Decision explained
Immediate next steps
Future immigration roadmap
We explain the outcome and plan extension and settlement.
You receive
An outcome letter and forward plan
This diagram describes our working method and is not legal advice. Outcomes depend on individual circumstances and on Home Office decision-making.
Which level of protection do you need?
In our clients' own words.
How can we help?
Frequently Asked Questions
Penalties and revocation
Normally, a minimum of 12 months, rising to 24 months, during which the same key personnel were involved. The exact period is set out in your decision letter.
Penalties and revocation
Their permission is cut to 60 days, or whatever is left of it if that is shorter. They will need a new sponsor or another route within two months.
Penalties and revocation
Up to £45,000 per worker for a first breach, and £60,000 for a repeat within three years. A correct check before somebody's first day is the only real defence.
Penalties and revocation
Yes, and UKVI increasingly moves straight to revocation without suspending first. Get your representations underway from the day a letter lands.
Penalties and revocation
Minor issues result in a B-rating and an action plan costing £1,476, whereas serious findings lead to suspension or revocation. What you are facing depends on what the officers found.
Audits and UKVI visits
Your Appendix D files, right-to-work evidence with its date, and payroll matching the CoS. Also, your absence logs and SMS history are all kept in one place.
Audits and UKVI visits
There is no fixed cycle, and visits are risk-based. A higher-risk sector with a payroll discrepancy is more likely to see one than a settled sponsor with clean records.
Audits and UKVI visits
The Home Office's own estimate is two to three hours, though a larger business can take considerably longer. Keep your Authorising Officer free for the whole day.
Audits and UKVI visits
Yes, and unannounced visits are becoming more common. You need a system that holds up on any given day.
Audits and UKVI visits
Officers work through your HR files worker by worker and interview your key personnel. They usually speak to the sponsored workers too, so perform your own Sponsor Licence compliance audit first.
Records and reporting
You will need to complete the right-to-work checks for every worker before their first day. From 1 October 2026, that duty widens beyond employees, so review any agency or subcontracted labour you use.
Records and reporting
Yes, averaging across the year is not enough. Since April 2026, UKVI cross references HMRC payroll data against the CoS, so a shortfall can surface without a visit.
Records and reporting
Late reporting is one of the most common findings on a visit, and even a few days count as late. A system that flags the deadline works better than a person who remembers it.
Records and reporting
Ten working days for anything affecting a sponsored worker, twenty for changes to the business itself. Someone needs to be watching for these as they happen.
Records and reporting
Appendix D, the Home Office's list of Sponsor Licence record-keeping, sets out what you hold for each sponsored worker. Keep the full file for the sponsorship period, plus a year after their last day.
Sponsor duties
Yes, the UK sponsor duties come with the licence itself. Your HR systems, key personnel and reporting need to be in place from day one, sponsored or not.
Audits and UKVI visits
A visit is the Home Office checking your systems, and it can lead to enforcement action. So you will want your own audit first, while there is time to fix things.
Sponsor duties
Your Authorising Officer carries overall responsibility, and your Level 1 User does the day-to-day work. Officers expect both to answer for it, so both need Sponsor Licence compliance training.
Sponsor duties
The UK sponsor duties start the day your licence is granted. All licences valid and expiring on or after April 6, 2024, received an automatic 10-year extension from their original expiry date.
Sponsor duties
Sponsor Licence compliance has four duties: records, reporting, monitoring, and right-to-work checks. They run for the life of the licence.