Sponsor Licence Revocation
Licenced sponsors are required to fulfil certain duties throughout the period of their licence. If the Home office believe that a sponsor has breached these duties in a serious way or that they pose a threat to immigration control they may decide to revoke a sponsor’s licence.
Revocation of a sponsor licence
If the Home Office makes the decision to revoke a sponsor’s licence, this will cover all categories covered by the licence and the sponsor will be removed from the register of sponsors.
The Home Office could revoke a sponsor’s licence for a number of reasons some of which are mandatory whilst others are discretionary. Circumstances in which the Home Office will revoke a sponsor licence include but are not limited to the following:
- the sponsor knowingly provided false information on the application for their sponsor licence;
- the sponsor is B-rated and has not met any of the requirements of their action plan within the specified time period; or
- the sponsor employs a migrant in a job that does not meet the required skill/salary level.
In other circumstances, where a sponsor fails to comply with any of their sponsor duties the Home Office may decide to suspend the sponsor licence whilst they carry out further enquiries. Upon completion of its enquiries the Home Office will either reinstate, downgrade or revoke the sponsor’s licence.
Sponsor Licence Revoked: What are the consequences?
Once the Home Office has revoked a sponsor licence they will also curtail the leave of any sponsored workers who are currently employed by the sponsor. The sponsored worker will usually have their leave curtailed to 60 calendar days unless they have fewer than this remaining, in which case no action will be taken.
If a sponsored worker has their leave curtailed they will have to either make another application for leave in a category for which they qualify, find alternative employment with a licensed sponsor or leave the UK.
As it stands there is no right of appeal against a decision to revoke a sponsor licence and a sponsor will be prohibited from making a further application for a sponsor licence until the end of the appropriate cooling off period. This is usually 12 months from the date the sponsor licence was revoked.
However, upon a new application for a sponsor licence the applicant will need to address the reasons for the previous revocation.
Sponsor Licence Revoked: How we can help
Although there is no right of appeal against a decision to revoke a sponsor licence, the sponsor may be able to apply for a Judicial Review of the revocation decision.
Our legal experts can advise on the merits of applying for a Judicial Review of a revocation decision and where appropriate, assist the sponsor with this process.
Alternatively, we can advise and assist a sponsor with a new sponsor licence application once the relevant cooling off period has passed.
If you require legal assistance or would just like to discuss your situation with one of our experts please call us or complete our enquiry form below.