Licence at Risk? 



Contact our trusted experts today for an urgent consultation to protect your

licence.

Enforcement action from the Home Office poses a significant threat to your daily operations and your international workforce. Navigating a suspension notice or a potential revocation requires a precise, immediate response to safeguard your business stability.



Our compliance specialists possess a wealth of experience in managing UKVI disputes. We guide businesses through the complexities of challenging Home Office allegations, ensuring your sponsor duties are met and your global talent remains protected.


Enquire 0161 9893355


Require a Business
Sponsor Licence?

We will help you through the Home Offices rigorous sponsor licence application, avoiding the usual pitfalls allowing you to employ skilled Workers from around the World.

Call our specialists today for a free consultation or complete the Contact Form and one of our Solicitors will call you. 

London : 0208 075 9980
Manchester : 0161 989 3355

Enquire 0161 9893355

Get immediate clarity with a free, no-obligation 60-minute assessment of any correspondence received from the Home Office.

Full review of your HR and recruitment procedures to rectify the compliance gaps that trigger licence revocation.

Expert representation for businesses across the UK, providing robust action plans, representations, and ongoing support.

Who is at Risk of Suspension or Revocation?

Any UK business employing international workers under a sponsor licence is subject to strict Home Office monitoring. UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) routinely conducts both announced and unannounced site audits to verify compliance.

The True Cost of UKVI Enforcement


A compliance breach halts your operational momentum. The consequences could entail immediate hiring freeze, workforce curtailment, or fines of up to £60,000 per worker.

We can secure your Licence before the Audit

Whether you have already received a formal Home Office letter or want to ensure your systems are fully audit-proof, immediate expert intervention is critical. Our comprehensive compliance checks will secure your business.

The Critical Risks of Sponsor Non-Compliance

Security is never guaranteed. Over 3,100 UK sponsor licences were revoked in 2025 alone, and thousands more are suspended as the Home Office due to minor administrative errors or undocumented procedural updates as the Home Office places a heavy burden of trust on employers. 


Common triggers for enforcement action include failing to report a sponsored worker’s change of address within 10 working days, adjusting job titles without notifying the Sponsor Management System (SMS), or falling behind on right-to-work documentation. Even a minor discrepancy between your internal payroll records and the salary reported on a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) can be flagged as a serious breach.


If your HR systems have not been reviewed recently to match evolving Home Office regulations, your business is actively exposed to enforcement action.


If UKVI identifies an issue, they will not issue a simple warning; they will suspend your licence immediately, granting a strict window of just 20 working days to submit a comprehensive, evidence-backed written response.


This is not a formal appeal process—it is your single opportunity to challenge the allegations, present corrected HR frameworks, and prove your business remains a trustworthy sponsor. Failing to provide a legally robust defense within this timeframe almost always results in an automatic, permanent revocation.


Contact our trusted legal team today for a confidential consultation, or utilise our flexible Question and Answer Scheme to address your specific compliance concerns.

Sponsor Licence Compliance Checklist

Use this quick diagnostic checklist to see if your current HR systems match the strict requirements enforced by UKVI.

01

Reporting Duties

Have you reported all necessary updates, changes, and unauthorised absences on the SMS portal within 10 working days?

02

Mandatory Record Keeping (Appendix D)

Can you immediately produce the relevant documents for an unannounced audit?

03

Right to Work & Worker Rights

Are you tracking visa expiry dates and ensuring all staff have received documented notifications of their UK employment rights?

04

Payroll & Salary Alignment

Are you paying your migrant workers the correct salary in conjunction with current Immigration Rules?

If you ticked "No" or "Unsure" to any of these points, your licence could be exposed to an enforcement audit.


Contact our solicitors today for a full compliance review to protect your global talent.

TIER 2 AND TIER 5 SPONSOR LICENCES

To recruit skilled Workers from outside the single market, companies must have a valid Tier 2 or 5 Sponsor Licence. Employers must accept that sponsor licences come with strict compliance obligations, failure to comply will result in fines and being stripped of your licence.  

For many sectors the ability to recruit talent from outside the EEA is imperative to meeting customer demands, launching new and growing current businesses. A Sponsor Licence is very much needed. It is sensible to engage immigration experts who you can rely on to help manage your sponsor licence duties and responsibilities and keep you up to date with any changes to relevant regulations.


WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

“Firm was recommended by a friend, desperately needed a licence for my new restaurant, they helped me by delaying my application in order for me to correct my HR procedures, they also prepared me for the Home Office interview, very happy with the service”.”

Director of Alam Birmingham 

Birmingham 
“The service is friendly and the result of my sponsor licence application was successful even though there were several hurdles to overcome”

Director of Buschelli Ltd

Manchester

Why choose Rivernote?

We have the knowledge, legal insight and experience to deal with your quest in obtaining a Sponsor Licence. 

Furthermore we can be flexible with our pricing so you will not be priced out off using our services. 

The application process is rigorous and you will require help to get the application right the first time. 

Call us today to speak with our friendly Solicitors who will be happy to discuss the process or fill in the above form and we will contact you as soon as possible.

Enquire 0161 9893355