We are proud to share another success story from NARA Solicitors
A domiciliary care provider came to us after receiving devastating news: the Home Office had suspended their sponsor licence.
The suspension letter raised multiple serious concerns, any one of which could have destroyed their business.
The Problems
The Home Office had identified the following issues:
- A Certificate of Sponsorship had been issued to the sponsor's own husband. This is a mandatory ground for licence revocation under Home Office guidance. When a sponsor issues a CoS to a close family member without proper safeguards, the Home Office views this as a serious breach of the sponsorship system.
- The person presented as the most senior person responsible for recruitment was not the registered Authorising Officer. This raised concerns about who was actually controlling the sponsorship activities.
- Two carers had been promoted to Senior Carer roles without being issued new Certificates of Sponsorship. Changes to job roles and duties must be reported and, where necessary, new CoS applications submitted.
- A sponsored worker's nationality was wrongly recorded as British instead of Nigerian on a Certificate of Sponsorship. Errors on a CoS, particularly around nationality and immigration status, raise red flags about the sponsor's record keeping.
- Right to work checks had been carried out after employment had already started. Sponsors must complete right to work checks before a worker begins employment.
- Historic contact details of sponsored workers were not being retained. Sponsors have a duty to keep records and make them available to the Home Office.
- Sponsored workers who had left employment were not reported to the Home Office on time. Sponsors must report when a worker stops working for them within the required timeframe.
- General sponsor duties were breached.
- The client was facing the real possibility of losing their licence, their business, and their workforce.
Our Approach
When the client instructed us, we carried out a full
compliance review of their operations. We examined every allegation and every system. We looked at HR processes, recruitment procedures, record keeping, and reporting practices.
We then prepared and submitted detailed legal representations to the Home Office addressing each issue raised in the suspension notice. We explained what had happened, what steps the client had taken to correct the issues, and what safeguards were now in place to prevent similar problems in the future.
The Outcome
Today, the Home Office reinstated the sponsor licence with an A rating.
This result meant:
- The licence and business were protected. The care provider could continue operating and serving their clients.
- Jobs were saved. The employees, both sponsored and local, kept their positions.
- Sponsored workers and their families were protected. These workers had built lives in the UK, and their immigration status was no longer at risk.
- Care services continued. Vulnerable people did not face disruption to their care.
- A sponsored worker's visa was due to expire on 9 January 2026, the same day the reinstatement decision was made. Had the licence remained suspended or been revoked, that worker would have lost lawful status. The reinstatement secured their position.
Key Takeaways
If you are a sponsor licence holder, do not wait for UKVI to write to you.
✅ Be proactive.
✅ Check your compliance.
✅ Protect your licence, your workforce, and your business before it is too late.
At NARA Solicitors, we handle
sponsor licence applications,
compliance audits, suspensions, and revocations. If you are facing similar challenges, we are here to help.
Also read:
Reinstatement of Sponsor Licence |
Care Provider Maintained an A Rating
Book a consultation with NARA Solicitors today.
