Once a sponsor licence is issued, organisations have a number of duties that they must adhere to. These include reporting, record-keeping, complying with immigration laws and sponsorship guidance. Failure to comply can lead to suspension or revocation of your sponsor licence which will prove costly and time-consuming to rectify.
Latitude Law has a team of experienced business immigration lawyers who can provide advice to sponsors to ensure full compliance with their sponsorship duties.
Reporting duties include informing the Home Office (UKVI) if:
Any updates concerning a sponsor licence holder or a sponsored worker/student are reported via the Sponsor Management System (SMS). Many of the above must be reported within 10 working days, so it is important that organisations have processes in place that ensure key personnel are made aware of any updates well in advance of the 10 working day deadline.
The SMS is used to keep records of all migrant employees during your time as their sponsor. This includes reporting any changes to their immigration status, all absences, non-compliance with their visa and any promotions. You also use the SMS to apply for new Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) to be issued to overseas workers.
In order to operate the SMS, certain roles need to be filled. These include:
These roles can be taken by the same person or shared out - this is usually dependent on the size of the organisation and the number of workers or students you wish to sponsor.
The Times Best Law Firms 2024"This UK-inbound immigration specialist, with offices in Manchester, London and Brussels, is known for its expertise in guiding businesses, from start-ups to multinationals, through sponsor licensing and related regulatory processes."
Our immigration solicitors have experience in assisting companies and organisations of all sizes to manage their sponsor licence duties to ensure they are able to sponsor migrant workers and students. We are committed to providing clear, transparent and reliable advice to our clients.
Our sponsor licence management services include:
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As a boutique law firm specialising in UK-inbound immigration, our experts understand the complexity of sponsor licence management and will provide up-to-the-minute legal advice on how any regulatory changes will impact your sponsorship obligations.
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As the penalties for not fully complying with your numerous responsibilities as a sponsor of overseas workers or students are costly and time-consuming, it is important to seek specialist advice from a business immigration solicitor before you set up your Sponsor Management System. Latitude Law’s specialist lawyers can advise you about your sponsor licence duties and ensure that your employment and HR processes are compliant with the very latest immigration regulation.
Get in touch with our legal team today on 0300 131 6767 or fill out our contact form and we will get straight back to you. Protect your business with the dedicated support of one of our expert lawyers.
Record-keeping duties involve organisations retaining specified evidence in relation to their sponsored workers. Such documents must be held throughout the sponsored worker’s employment and for up to one year after sponsorship of the worker or student has ended.
Sponsorship guidance advises organisations to check the SMS and Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) at least once a month. The Home Office can reduce or remove CoS/CAS allocation, downgrade a licence rating, suspend the licence, and, in the most severe cases, revoke a sponsor licence. It is therefore extremely important that sponsor organisations understand their duties and manage their sponsor licence correctly.
Staff members who are charged with operating the SMS must not:
This case study explores how Latitude Law reviewed the working practices of this large UK based company and helped put new processes in place to manage their overseas recruitment.
Latitude Law aids a leading UK vehicle trading brand with skilled worker hires, sponsor licence compliance, and global remote work policies.
Latitude Law collaborates with a professional services firm’s employment team, ensuring sponsor licence compliance. We guide clients such as a UK-based engineering company, an energy solutions provider, and a hospitality business through complex visa applications and urgent travel needs.
In 2023, a religious organisation faced structural changes requiring UK sponsor licence updates for Minister of Religion and Religious Worker visa routes. Latitude Law advised on merger-related changes, provided Home Office submissions, and conducted a remote audit to ensure compliance.
Whether you represent a business employing migrant workers, or an educational institution looking for assistance with sponsoring overseas students, the solicitors at Latitude Law will be happy to guide you through the requirements of the Points-Based System (PBS) sponsorship scheme. Sponsor licences are available for new hires, intra-company transfers and certain visa routes. To employ skilled workers from overseas, UK employers must hold a valid sponsor licence.
The Senior or Specialist Worker visa (Global Business Mobility route) enables businesses with linked entities overseas to transfer existing employees to the UK for a specified period of time. The employee will need to be assigned to a UK business that is linked to their employer overseas to be considered for this type of visa.
A Skilled Worker visa is available for skilled workers of all nationalities that have been offered a position from an eligible UK company who is a registered sponsor. This route can lead to settlement and applicants can be joined by dependent partners and children.
