Holding a sponsor licence comes with significant responsibilities — and one of the most important is being prepared for compliance visits from the Home Office. These unannounced or scheduled audits assess whether your business is meeting its sponsorship duties. Failure to comply can result in licence suspension or revocation, serious reputational damage, and legal consequences. At Stretton Solicitors, we help employers stay fully prepared and protected.
In 2023, over 2,500 sponsor compliance visits were conducted, with hundreds of licences downgraded or revoked due to breaches.
A failed compliance visit can be devastating — not only can it disrupt your ability to sponsor skilled workers, but it can also lead to license revocation, civil penalties, and irreparable harm to your business reputation. Many organisations are caught out by poor record-keeping, misunderstanding sponsor duties, or simply being unprepared for a sudden audit.
At Stretton Solicitors, we offer proactive support to ensure you’re fully compliant before a visit happens. Our team will review your HR systems, right-to-work checks, record-keeping procedures, and reporting obligations. We simulate Home Office audits, identify risks, and help you fix them before they become costly issues.
If a compliance visit is scheduled or already underway, we act fast. Our solicitors can provide on-site or remote guidance during the inspection, ensure your team knows how to respond, and liaise with the Home Office officer if required. We act as a buffer, protect your legal position, and help manage the process calmly and professionally.
If you’ve received a warning letter, suspension notice, or revocation decision, we provide immediate legal assistance. We’ll advise on your options, draft representations, or appeal on your behalf. Our goal is to protect your licence and your ability to operate with minimal disruption.
Almost half of all sponsor licence suspensions stem from issues that could have been avoided with proper legal preparation and internal compliance checks.
Whether you’re applying for a sponsor licence or already managing one, don’t wait until a compliance visit catches you off guard. Contact Stretton Solicitors today for tailored legal support that keeps your business protected, compliant, and ready for anything.