There are dozens of rules and regulations that come along with having a Sponsor Licence. One of the most daunting? Home Office visits. Should your business fail to be prepared, you could risk immediate suspension of your Sponsor Licence entirely — meaning your employees and your business reputation are at risk. And with courts often reluctant to overturn Home Office revocations where there has been a clear breach, this is a risk you can’t afford to take. Our team is here to ensure you minimise the chance of breaching compliance by preparing you in the event of an immigration audit. So if a Home Office compliance officer comes knocking,
you won't be caught off guard.
At A Y & J Solicitors in London, we’ve helped thousands of clients sail through their Sponsor Licence visits stress-free by conducting bi-annual ‘mock’ audits of your HR systems. We know there's a lot at stake, and if the Home Office springs a visit on your business without notice, we want to make sure you're fully prepared and equipped with the relevant information and training to satisfy their requirements. Our immigration solicitors have decades of experience in immigration audit compliance and are here to help you meet every rule and regulation.
Step 1 - Pre-audit:
Step 2 – Audit:
Step 3 - Post-Audit:
GNL
Bad advice can lead to delays and refusals you can’t afford to risk. That’s why we assign a subject matter expert - a UK immigration associate - to manage your case throughout.
It’s frustrating when you don’t know what’s going on with your case. We guarantee a reply to all messages/emails within 24 working hours or we refund 20% of your fees.
Applying for a UK Sponsor Licence can be complex without robust HRMS, but we make it simple. Maximize compliance and efficiency with our cutting-edge HRMS, yours absolutely free when you hire us for your sponsor licence application. Here’s what our powerful HRMS offers:
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, sponsor licence applications, skilled worker visa, global mobility visa, global talent visa 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.
Had notification from the Home Office?
How A Y & J Solicitors can help.
Had notification from the Home Office?
What to do next.
Download our guide on how to apply
for a sponsor licence:
With a crackdown non-compliance, there is an increase in inspections in these industries.
Calculate the cost of a
sponsor licence here:
Understand the eligibility requirements
for a sponsor licence here:
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:
"Have received exceptional service by Ikra from A Y & J Solicitor, her attention to detail and professionalism made the entire process seamless and easy…extremely pleased with their quick response time and providing prompt service"
"We had excellent help and service, thank you Raj"
"I recently had the pleasure of working with A Y & J Solicitors to secure a Skilled Worker Visa, and my experience was nothing short of exceptional. From the very beginning, their team demonstrated a high level of professionalism, expertise, and dedication to ensuring a smooth and successful visa application process. Expertise and Knowledge One of the standout aspects of A Y & J Solicitors is their in-depth knowledge of UK immigration laws, particularly concerning the Skilled Worker Visa. They guided me through every step of the process with detailed explanations, ensuring I understood each requirement and document necessary for the application. Their thorough understanding of the complexities involved was evident, and they always stayed updated with the latest regulations and changes, giving me complete confidence in their advice. Communication and Support Communication was another strong point. The solicitors assigned to my case were always accessible and responsive, promptly answering any questions or concerns I had. Their clear and concise communication made the process less stressful, as they were able to explain legal jargon in a way that was easy to understand. Regular updates on the status of my application were provided, and they were proactive in ensuring all documents were submitted on time, leaving no room for delays. Tailored Solutions What impressed me most was their personalized approach. Every aspect of the service felt tailored to my specific circumstances. They took the time to thoroughly understand my case, which included reviewing my qualifications, job offer, and other documentation to ensure everything was in line with UK visa requirements. This attention to detail and personal care helped streamline the process and avoid any potential issues. Efficiency and Success Thanks to A Y & J Solicitors, my Skilled Worker Visa was approved without any hitches. Their meticulous preparation of the application, attention to every detail, and strategic handling of all aspects significantly reduced the processing time. They ensured that everything was accurate and complete, preventing any unnecessary delays or complications. Final Verdict If you are seeking legal assistance for a Skilled Worker Visa in the UK, I highly recommend A Y & J Solicitors. Their expert guidance, personalized support, and effective communication made a complex immigration process feel straightforward. Their professionalism and commitment to client success are truly commendable. I couldn’t have asked for better legal representation. Thank you, A Y & J Solicitors, for making this experience seamless and successful!"
"I recently had the pleasure of working with A Y & J Solicitors, and I am truly impressed with their professionalism and expertise in handling immigration matters. From the moment I reached out to them, the team was responsive and attentive. They provided clear guidance on the entire visa application process, which can often be confusing and overwhelming. I appreciated how they broke everything down into manageable steps, explaining the requirements, deadlines, and documentation needed in a way that was easy to understand. The solicitors at A Y & J Solicitors demonstrated in-depth knowledge of immigration law and were able to address all my concerns with confidence. Their attention to detail was impeccable, ensuring that my application was thorough and free of errors, which gave me peace of mind. What stood out the most was their personalized approach. Rather than treating me like just another case, they took the time to understand my unique situation and offered tailored advice. Throughout the process, I felt supported and reassured, knowing that I was in capable hands. Thanks to their diligent work, my visa application was successful without any issues. I would highly recommend A Y & J Solicitors to anyone in need of immigration legal services. They are reliable, knowledgeable, and genuinely care about their clients' success."
"I will 1000000 times recommend. My case was attended to without delay. He was truthful to me regarding my circumstances. Got my doubts and issues resolved as fast as possible just on phone call. You’re the best James. And thank you so much."
"We chose A Y & J Solicitors for their outstanding reputation in UK immigration law, particularly for spouse visa applications, which is why we reached out to them for help with our application to bring my wife to the UK after our recent marriage abroad. Rajvinder Kaur, our caseworker, was incredible throughout the entire process. She guided us step by step, providing clear instructions on every document needed, from employment letters to bank statements and proof of relationship. Raj was always responsive, even during her time off, making sure we were on track and answering every question we had. Her meticulous attention to detail, especially with documents like our marriage license and financial proofs, gave us confidence that nothing was being missed. Thanks to her diligent work and expert guidance, we received a positive decision from UKVI, successfully securing the visa. Raj’s professionalism and support made a stressful process much easier, and we highly recommend A Y & J Solicitors for anyone navigating a UK spouse visa application."
Obtaining a Sponsor Licence is a challenging yet rewarding process that can open up opportunities for organisations to recruit talent from anywhere in the world. As a part of your application, you may have already met a Home Office compliance officer for a pre-licence visit. Once you hold your Sponsor Licence, you can expect to receive a Home Office compliance visit at any time – often without notice.
There is zero tolerance for non-compliance and illegal working. Non-compliance can result in a loss of critical skilled workers and an inability to hire skilled workers in the future. It can also damage your professional reputation.
The courts are often reluctant to overturn Home Office revocations where there has been a clear breach of compliance. Judges are keen to reinforce the view that a Sponsor Licence is a privilege, not a right.
Avoiding these damaging effects requires extensive knowledge and experience with the rules and regulations related to a Sponsor Licence. A Y & J Solicitors have been working with SMEs, large companies, and multinationals for nearly a decade and possess the resources and knowledge required to help our clients achieve full compliance.
Many firms fail to meet Sponsor Licence compliance duties and responsibilities for the following reasons:
There are no exceptions for Sponsor Licence holders who are found to be non-compliant in one or more areas. Being unprepared for an immigration audit is unacceptable, even if it is unannounced. This can put a great deal of stress on Sponsor Licence holders, especially smaller companies that do not have large HR departments to manage this.
A Y & J Solicitors provide full support to Sponsor Licence holders seeking Home Office inspection preparation. We will conduct a Sponsor Licence compliance audit so all of your business procedures and protocols meet the strict compliance guidelines. Our document and system review services will identify any areas of concern and provide clear solutions for establishing compliance quickly.
A Y & J Solicitors takes pride in a long-standing reputation for excellent customer service. Through independent reviews and constant client recommendations, we have grown a business of expertise and trust that is widely recognised.
We are experts in providing Sponsor Licence compliance visits support and work with our clients to achieve full compliance. Our immigration law experts provide tailored services to each client and consistently exceed expectations. We are committed to helping our Sponsor Licence holder clients develop and maintain excellent systems, processes, and procedures which achieve full compliance.
Any organisation that holds a UK Sponsor Licence can receive an unannounced Sponsor Licence visit from a Home Office compliance officer at any time. The media often reports on hotels, retail, curry houses and care homes being visited on a regular basis, but regardless of your market sector, you should always be prepared for an unannounced visit. We can assist you with this by running bi-annual mock audits of your HR systems.
Home Office inspection visits will check that your organisation is complying fully with rules and regulations. The Home Office compliance officer will inspect your records relating to migrant workers. Make sure you can present these as quickly as possible, as it can reflect negatively if you do not appear to know the location of relevant documents. It is vital that all key personnel can demonstrate that they are familiar with internal HR procedures.
It is quite possible that a Home Office compliance officer will want to talk to your sponsored workers. This provides them with an opportunity to directly ask sponsored migrants about specific employment details such as their current salary, duties, and responsibilities.
This should not present a problem if you and your Level 1 user have entered all relevant details of the sponsored workers’ employment into the Sponsor Management System (SMS). Our immigration experts can take over Level 1 or Level 2 user roles for you, ensuring the information required is kept up-to-date, on your instruction
