Sponsor Licence Suspension and Revocation Solicitors
Has your Sponsor Licence been suspended?
If the Home Office has suspended your Sponsor Licence, time is critical. A delayed or incomplete response can result in revocation, meaning your business loses the legal right to employ sponsored workers, and your key staff could be forced to leave the UK.
At Immigration Solicitors UK, our solicitors act fast to protect your licence and your reputation. We respond to Home Office notices, prepare verified compliance evidence, and, where necessary, apply for court injunctions to keep your sponsorship rights active while your case is reviewed.
Call +44 7561 699 666 or contact us online for urgent legal advice.
Book your FREE consultation today!
Understanding a Sponsor Licence Suspension
A suspension means the Home Office suspects your organisation has breached its sponsorship duties. It is a temporary enforcement measure, but its effects are immediate. You cannot assign new Certificates of Sponsorship, your name is removed from the public register, and pending visa applications are paused.
Your existing sponsored employees can usually keep working, but the risk to your recruitment pipeline and reputation can be significant. Our solicitors step in immediately to manage communications, stabilise your position, and build the evidence needed for full reinstatement.
Why Sponsor Licences Are Suspended
The most common reasons include weak HR systems, unreported staff changes, failure to check eVisa digital status correctly, and poor response to compliance visits.
Since 2025, the civil penalty for illegal working has risen to £60,000 per worker for repeat breaches. However, employers can avoid liability by demonstrating a Statutory Excuse, proof that proper right-to-work checks were carried out before and during employment.
We help clients establish and evidence this defence through comprehensive digital compliance audits, building a record that protects both the company and its directors from financial and criminal liability.
Hybrid and Remote Working Obligations
The Home Office is now actively enforcing against “ghost offices”. If sponsored staff work remotely or in hybrid arrangements, this must be reported as an official work location on the Sponsorship Management System (SMS).
Failing to record this correctly is treated as a major breach during compliance inspections and one of the top causes of 2025–2026 suspensions. Our legal team reviews your working arrangements to ensure every sponsored employee’s work location is fully compliant.
The Suspension Response Timeline
A visual guide to how we manage your case from day one:
Day 1–2: Review your suspension notice and assess Home Office evidence.
Day 3–5: Draft detailed legal response and gather supporting documentation.
Day 6–10: Submit formal reply, including a Solicitor’s Verification Statement if applicable.
Day 11–20: Liaise with UKVI, manage follow-up questions, and prepare contingency action plan.
Day 21+: Await outcome, or, if revocation is threatened, trigger Pre-Action Protocol (PAP) to seek Interim Relief and preserve your licence.
This process keeps your operations stable and shows the Home Office a professional, legally verified compliance strategy from the outset.
The Review Process and Outcomes
Once UKVI receives your response, it reassesses your licence and issues one of three decisions:
- Reinstatement (A-rating): Your licence and full sponsorship rights are restored.
- Reinstatement with B-rating: You must complete a Home Office Action Plan, now extended to a maximum of 12 months. During this “blackout period”, no new Certificates of Sponsorship can be issued, and your business must pay a £1,579 monitoring fee.
- Revocation: Your licence is cancelled, all sponsorships end, and a six-month reapplication ban begins.
Our solicitors monitor this stage closely, maintain dialogue with UKVI, and position your case for reinstatement or, if necessary, urgent court intervention.
If the Home Office moves towards revocation, you may not have to wait until it takes effect. We can act immediately under the Pre-Action Protocol (PAP) for Judicial Review.
This allows us to:
- File a formal challenge to stop the decision before it’s implemented.
- Apply for Interim Relief — a High Court order allowing your business to continue sponsoring workers while your case is heard.
- Negotiate directly with UKVI to secure a stay of enforcement.
For many businesses, this Immediate Injunction Strategy is the difference between continuity and collapse. It’s one of the core advantages of working with an SRA-regulated solicitor rather than a compliance consultant.
Civil Penalty Mitigation and Director’s Liability
A revoked licence does not just affect the company. Under current Home Office–Insolvency Service cooperation, directors can now face disqualification proceedings where illegal working or reckless oversight is proven.
We provide full legal oversight to ensure you maintain a defensible compliance position, protecting both your company’s licence and your personal standing as a director.
Director’s Risk Comparison
Risk Category | Administrative Impact | Legal / Personal Impact |
|---|---|---|
B-Rating | 12-month hiring blackout and £1,579 Action Plan fee | Reputational risk; close UKVI scrutiny |
Suspension | Removal from sponsor register; visa applications paused | Potential loss of key staff; increased audit frequency |
Revocation | Immediate termination of sponsorship rights | Director disqualification risk; £60,000 civil penalty per illegal worker |
Need urgent help? Call:
We act for UK employers, universities, and charities at every stage of enforcement. Our services include:
- Urgent legal response to suspension and revocation notices
- Solicitor’s Verification Statement and compliance certification
- Pre-Action Protocol and Interim Relief representation
- Liaison with UKVI to lift or limit enforcement
- Long-term compliance support through our Compliance Shield Retainer
Our goal is to safeguard your business, restore your licence, and prevent recurrence.
The Legal Advantage
As a fully SRA-regulated law firm, our advice carries Legal Professional Privilege, ensuring all communications remain confidential and protected.
Unlike OISC-regulated consultants, we can correspond formally with the Home Office, represent you in Judicial Review proceedings, and secure Interim Relief where required.
Need urgent help? Call:
What We Offer
Our Services
we understand that immigrating to a new country is a significant
decision that comes with its own set of challenges.
Family Visas
Partner Visas
Settlement in the UK
Settlement of EEA Nationals
British Citizenship and The Right of Abode
Challenge a Refusal
Removals/Deportations
Asylum/Human Rights
Sponsor License for a UK Business
UK Business Visas
Student Visas
Popular Work Visas
Other work visas and permits
Visas without a job offer
Work for an overseas employer
Temporary work visas
UK Visit Visas
Contact Our Solicitors
If your Sponsor Licence has been suspended or revoked, act immediately.
Early legal involvement often makes the difference between reinstatement and permanent loss.
Call +44 7561 699 666 or contact us online to speak directly with a solicitor. We’ll review your suspension notice, prepare your defence, and, if needed, move swiftly to protect your business through court action.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to respond to a suspension notice?
Usually 20 working days from the date of issue.
Can I still employ my current sponsored workers?
Yes, but you cannot issue new Certificates of Sponsorship until the matter is resolved.
What is Interim Relief?
A temporary court order allowing your business to keep sponsoring workers while a Judicial Review is ongoing.
Can directors be personally affected?
Yes. A revoked licence linked to illegal working can now trigger director disqualification proceedings.
Do you handle communication with the Home Office directly?
Yes. We correspond with UKVI, prepare verified statements, and act as your legal representatives throughout the process.
Next Step:
Call +44 7561 699 666 or book your confidential consultation online.
Our solicitors will act immediately to protect your Sponsor Licence, defend your compliance record, and preserve your ability to employ international talent.
