Sponsor Licence Suspension 👇

🏢 1. What It Means A Sponsor Licence suspension is a serious action taken by the Home Office when they have concerns that a business is not meeting its sponsorship duties. During the suspension period, the company’s licence is temporarily put on hold.

This means the organisation is barred from issuing any new Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) and cannot sponsor any new foreign workers until the Home Office concludes its investigation.

📜 2. Why a Licence is Suspended The Home Office can suspend a licence for various reasons, almost always related to a breach of compliance. Common reasons include:

• Failing to maintain proper records for sponsored workers (e.g., right-to-work checks, attendance monitoring).
• Not reporting significant changes to the Home Office, such as a worker leaving their job or changing roles.
• Failing a UKVI compliance audit or visit.
• Suspicions that the business poses a threat to immigration control or is not genuine.
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🔑 3. What to Do if Your Licence is Suspended If a licence is suspended, the business must act quickly and strategically. The key steps are:

• Carefully Review the Reasons: The Home Office will provide a letter detailing the grounds for suspension. This must be analysed thoroughly.
• Respond Within the Deadline: The business usually has a strict deadline (often 20 working days) to provide a detailed, evidence-based response addressing every issue raised.
• Conduct an Internal Audit: Immediately review internal HR processes and sponsored worker files to identify and rectify any shortcomings.
• Seek Expert Legal Advice: A suspension can lead to revocation (cancellation). Professional guidance is crucial to navigate the process and formulate the strongest possible response.