Strict record keeping, employment laws, and surprise Home Office visits — holding a Sponsor Licence comes with a plethora of rules and regulations. And when the reputation and operation of your business is on the line, you can’t risk making any mistakes. That’s where our team can help. Our Sponsor Licence Compliance Training Programme is designed to give sponsors a clear picture of the actions they must take to fully comply with UK immigration regulations. We’ll be there to answer your questions, so you can feel confident in the security of your Sponsor Licence.
At A Y & J Solicitors in London, we’ve helped thousands of clients around the globe to understand their sponsor duties and compliance obligations. We understand that you can't afford to slip up, and will ensure you know how to obtain and keep your Sponsor Licence. Our solicitors are experts in the responsibilities set by the Home Office, helping you keep on top of the rules and regulations.
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We are specialists in immigration law and have supported more than 4,000 business owners and professionals around the globe to successfully navigate the UK system. We work quickly, always responding to any queries within 24 working hours. And we work closely with the Home Office to pre-empt issues before they jeopardise sponsorship applications or breach compliance. We manage all United Kingdom immigration matters including visa applications under the new points-based immigration system, Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), Spouse Visas, nationality and more. We also handle complex cases of appeal, administrative reviews, judicial reviews and the many immigration challenges involving European Union law and human rights.
A Y & J Solicitors has more than 1,200 positive client reviews across Google and Trustpilot and is listed in The Legal top 500 best UK law firms, so you can rest assured your immigration challenges are in safe hands when you take these three simple steps:
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"I have used A Y & J Solicitors twice now to deal with spouse visa applications. They are highly professional and each time got excellent service. Recently, Nagina Hanif helped out with our application and she was very thorough and diligent in getting all the paperwork done and kept us posted through out the process. I know A Y & J solicitors fees might be bit on the higher end when compared to others, but I think this represents the quality of service you get in return. Before signing on A Y & J solicitors, I looked at few other options few years ago but our first application, when it came to renewal time I simply went with them as I knew they were highly reliable. I would highly recommend them!"
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If you are a Sponsor Licence holder, you are deemed compliant when you follow the rules and regulations set out in the Sponsor Guidance, and under various UK legislation. The Home Office is carrying out more checks (also known as “compliance audits,” “inspection visits,” or “compliance visits”) than ever before, and there is zero tolerance for non-compliance.
Many of these inspection visits take place unannounced, so all Sponsor Licence holders need to be fully prepared for a Home Office inspection visit at all times.
Sponsor Licence holders are required to comply with strict rules regarding the employment of migrant workers, and they must be certain each worker is legally working in the UK. Sponsors also have to comply with ongoing record-keeping and reporting duties.
Anyone deemed non-compliant may face fines, penalties, and the suspension/revocation of their Sponsor Licence. The implications of non-compliance can damage a business beyond redemption. It can also result in talented migrant workers being required to return home when their leave to remain in the UK is curtailed.
If you’re new to the Sponsor Licence, please watch this short clip we’ve prepared.
When an organisation obtains a Sponsor Licence, it must comply with several duties and responsibilities set by the Home Office. When applying for a licence, the company declares that it is capable of complying with all of these duties:
There must be personnel within the organisation with specific responsibility for some or all of the duties who is:
Sponsor Licence holders also need to ensure that there are sufficient backup systems and personnel in place in case those with specific responsibilities are away from work or there are other potential breakdowns in reporting lines.
All staff with responsibility for the employment of sponsored migrants should:
For example, the person in charge of managing the Sponsor Management System (SMS) should be informed of any proposed changes (including to salaries and to the migrant’s employment)
A Y & J Solicitors have over ten years of experience advising and representing Sponsor Licence holders. Our team helps organisations of all sizes achieve and maintain compliance in every area.
Whether you are a multi-site firm employing many migrant workers or preparing to hire your first non-UK worker, we are reliable partners in establishing compliance and providing guidance. Our programme provides training for your Human Resources department and management team, giving you the guidelines, tools, and understanding required for establishing compliant Sponsor Licence protocols.
Once you become a Sponsor Licence holder, you may receive an onsite visit from a Home Office compliance officer at any time. Our research shows that increased unannounced visits are occurring as the Home Office works to remove illegal workers and to catch non-compliant sponsors. With A Y & J Solicitors’ sponsor compliance guidance, you will be ready and fully prepared for any compliance inspection.
Our lawyers also have experience dealing with companies that are unprepared for a compliance visit. We understand what the Home Office requirements are, we know the areas of compliance businesses frequently find challenging, and we have solutions that will enhance your ongoing compliance success. We have helped many sponsors, which you can learn more about here.
The onsite mock Home Office audits we offer give a real opportunity for businesses to check their compliance and correct any concerns before a compliance officer visits. This gives peace of mind and confidence to Sponsor Licence holders. We can also help companies who are faced with suspension/revocation.
Record-keeping and reporting systems can be appropriate to the type and size of the organisation but must be effective, e.g. a large organisation may choose to use a sophisticated software system to record and carry out follow-up right up to work checks, whereas a smaller one may rely on spreadsheets and calendar reminders. Regardless of the systems you use, our lawyers will help you operate effectively to meet your compliance obligations and maintain your A-rating.
To obtain a statutory excuse against the imposition of a civil penalty for employing an illegal worker under section 15 of the Immigration, Asylum, and Nationality Act 2006, right-to-work checks need to be carried out prior to the worker starting work and again prior to their visa expiry date if he/she has time-limited permission to work.
Yes. Please take a look at our success stories regarding our Sponsor Licence Compliance Training UK here.
