Sponsor Licence Suspensions | UK Immigration Guide

SPONSOR LICENSE SUSPENSIONS

SPONSOR LICENCE SUSPENSIONS FOR SWISS BUSINESSES IN THE UK

If UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) suspects that you are breaching your sponsorship duties and posing a threat to immigration control, your sponsor licence may be suspended pending further investigation.

What Happens During a Sponsor Licence Suspension

When your sponsor licence is suspended:

You cannot sponsor new migrants.
Your business will be removed from the public register of sponsors for the suspension period.
Current sponsored migrants will remain unaffected.

Common reasons for licence suspension include:

Failing to keep appropriate records for sponsored migrants.
Unlawful salary variations.
An inappropriately qualified authorising officer.

Despite the suspension, you must continue to comply with all sponsor duties. If your licence expires during the suspension, you still need to apply for a Sponsor Licence Renewal to retain it.

Outcomes of UKVI Enquiries

After completing its enquiries, UKVI may:

Reinstate your licence.
Downgrade your licence.
Revoke your licence.

Key Information About Sponsor Licence Suspensions

If you receive a suspension notice, you have 20 working days to seek a review. Your response must be in writing, detailing which grounds you believe to be incorrect, supported by evidence.

The Home Office will base its final decision on your written response, so it is crucial to present all mitigating arguments clearly.

How Our UK Immigration Lawyers In Switzerland Can Help

A sponsor licence suspension can be disruptive, costly, and distressing for employers and sponsored workers.

Our immigration lawyers assist Swiss sponsors in the UK in securing the reinstatement of their licences following suspension decisions. We ensure a robust case is presented to UKVI, addressing any issues raised in the suspension notice.

We pride ourselves on being approachable and proactive in understanding and meeting our Swiss business clients’ needs. Our highly driven team is dedicated to providing clear and reliable immigration advice to Swiss employers in the UK as part of a professional and friendly service.

WE CAN ALSO ASSIST WITH

Sponsor Licence Applications for Swiss Companies in the UK

If you are an employer seeking to employ an overseas national who is not a settled worker and who does not otherwise have immigration permission to work for you in the UK, you will need to submit a Sponsor Licence Application to UK Visas and Immigration.

Whether you require advice on the correct company-related documentation to provide in support of a sponsor licence application or assistance with drafting a compelling business case that will satisfy UKVI that you need a sponsor licence in order to fill a genuine role, our immigration barristers can manage the sponsor licence application process on your behalf.

Challenging Sponsor Licence Refusals for Swiss Businesses in the UK

There is no right of appeal against the refusal of an application for a sponsor licence.

If the Sponsor Licence Refusal decision was the result of either a caseworker error or the result of supporting evidence sent as part of your application not being considered by UKVI then our immigration barristers can assist you to request that the error be corrected and, if appropriate, submit a new online sponsor licence application.

If the decision to refuse your sponsor licence application was unlawful, unreasonable or procedurally improper, our immigration barristers can apply for Judicial Review and provide representation at Judicial Review hearings.

We also assist employers to prepare fresh applications for sponsor licences following previous refusal decisions.

Challenging Sponsor Licence Revocations for Swiss Employers in the UK

If UK Visas and Immigration believes that you are failing to meet your sponsor duties in a serious way or stop operating in the UK, you will be subject to a Sponsor Licence Revocation.

If a decision has been taken to revoke a sponsor licence, our immigration barristers can advise on the merits of applying for Judicial Review of the revocation decision and, where appropriate, provide representation in Judicial Review proceedings. We can also prepare fresh Sponsor Licence Applications following revocation.