Sponsor Licence Compliance Visit & Audit Support in the UK

The UK sponsors licences and the responsibilities that accompany them when employing foreign nationals are the primary obligation for every employer in the UK that hires employees from outside of the UK. Having a Sponsor Licence is an important first step, but it is equally important to maintain the Sponsor Licence to be able to provide further work and support to your foreign employee(s). UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) conduct Sponsor Licence compliance visits and audits on a regular basis as a means of assessing the employer’s ongoing obligations to sponsor employees to determine whether compliance measures are being met. Failure to meet compliance regulations during a compliance visit can result in a suspension of the Sponsor Licence, downgrading of the Sponsor Licence, and/or revocation of the Sponsor Licence.   Support for Professional Sponsor Licence compliance visits and audits allows UK employers to maintain compliance, be confident in their ability to comply with their Sponsor Licence obligations and be prepared at all times to provide work and support to their foreign employee(s).  

What Is a Sponsor Licence Compliance Visit?

  A Sponsor Licence compliance visit is a site visit conducted by UKVI as part of the review of an employer’s compliance with UK immigration rules pertaining to holding a Sponsor Licence in the UK. Compliance visits can be either announced or unannounced and can occur before or after an employer is granted approval to hold the Sponsor Licence.   During the compliance visit, UKVI officers will be reviewing all relevant/employed documentation, Human Resources (HR) systems, all enrolled employees, and overall compliance to immigration regulations. The purpose of the compliance visit is to ensure that employers are properly employing their sponsored employees, and to ensure employers understand and are complying with all of their obligations under the Sponsor Licence regulations.

The Importance of Compliance with Your Sponsor Licence

  For holders of a UK Sponsor Licence, compliance is not optional. Even minor compliance issues can have serious repercussions; therefore, UKVI anticipates that those who hold Sponsor Licences will:   – Maintain an accurate and up-to-date record of all employee information; and, – Advise of any changes via the Sponsor Management System (SMS); – Monitor an employee’s attendance and job roles who were sponsored; and, – Adhere to all required right-to-work/immigration legislation and compliance; and, – Cooperate fully with any audit or inspection.   If an entity does not comply with the requirements of the Sponsor Licence, the entity may be downgraded, suspended or have the Sponsor Licence revoked. In turn, sponsored employees may need to leave the UK or it may adversely affect the entity’s operations.   Many businesses do not pass compliance visits for the Sponsor Licence due to the lack of knowledge, preparation or in some cases simply poor record-keeping. For instance, some of the more prevalent issues associated with non-compliance found during compliance visits are:   – Incomplete or missing right-to-work documentation; – Incorrect or missing job role/salary information for sponsored employees; and, – Lack of or failure to complete any necessary changes via the SMO; – Lack of adequate HR systems or records/functions for sponsored employees; and, – Lack of organisation awareness of sponsor’s duties and obligations.   Professional Sponsor Licence audit assistance is essential, and providers of such assistance can assist entities that require assistance in preparing for compliance visits or audits and can offer guidance or support during the audit/inspection. How does Sponsor Licence Compliance Visit & Audit Support Work? Support for Compliance Visits and Audits occurs before and after your business adds an employee. It provides employers with the tools they need to be prepared for, and successfully pass, inspections from the UK government’s UK Visas and Immigration Division. Sponsor Licence Compliance Visit and Audit Support ensures that employers understand the UK Home Office’s requirements and what they must do to comply with them. For new sponsors, this service is invaluable.  

How audit support from a professional firm can help your company

Pre-Audit Compliance Reviews An organisation conducts a comprehensive review of your human resources systems as well as personnel files, employee right to work documentation, and sponsor management system usage. Pre-audit compliance reviews allow you to identify potential risk prior to UKVI’s audit of your company. Policies and Procedures Compliance Your organisation will receive guidance from a professional firm to align your internal policy and procedures with sponsor guidance from the Home Office.

Document Preparation

All required documentation will be verified, organised and collated into an inspection-ready package. This helps ensure that all necessary documentation is included, current and complete. Mock Compliance Visits Mock compliance visits simulate an actual UKVI audit. They prepare your team for a real-life situation and will help your team answer questions from an officer with confidence.

Continuous Compliance Guidance

The support provided to businesses does not cease following the completion of the audit process. Continuous guidance assists businesses in sustaining their compliance with UK Immigration and protecting their Sponsor Licence in the UK for future reference. When Do Employers Require Guidance with Respect to Their Sponsor Licences? The following are examples of when companies would require guidance with respect to their Sponsor Licences: Companies in the UK that employ foreign nationals Companies applying for a Sponsor Licence Companies wishing to expand their current sponsored workforce Companies that have received an audit notification from the UKVI Candidates seeking to minimise their chances of losing or having their Sponsor Licence revoked Regardless of your size, the same compliance requirements apply. Advantages of Using Professional Audit Support for Your Sponsor Licence Lower chances of having your licence revoked or suspended Increased confidence in your organisation during UKVI compliance visits Better and improved human resources and compliance management systems Assured protection of the visa status of sponsored employees Long-Term Protection for Your Sponsor Licence With professional guidance, employers can maintain compliance with UK immigration rules while growing their business.