FOR ALL YOUR IMMIGRATION MATTERS

Sponsor Licence Suspension and Revocation

Garth Coates Solicitors is a leading UK immigration law firm, spearheaded by Garth Coates, who brings a unique background as a former immigration Officer turned solicitor in 1994. With over 30 years of experience in the immigration sector, he and his team offer an exceptional understanding of both the legal and administrative aspects of immigration-providing our clients with a distinct advantage.

  • Specialist Expertise
  • High Success Rate
  • Outstanding Client Care
  • Proactive and Diligent Approach
  • Extensive Experience and Reliability
Contact us for a Sponsor Licence Suspension and Revocation consultation

(Typical response time 2 business hours)

6,500 +

Successful Applications and Still Counting

31

Years of Experience in the UK Immigration Law

18

British Lawyers and Supporting Staff

25k +

Consultancy Services Provided and Still Counting
Established in 2008, Garth Coates Solicitors is a leading Immigration Law Firm that can provide professional legal advice to ensure that your Application satisfies the strict requirements of the Immigration Rules. Our team of legal professionals offers comprehensive and considered advice to enable our clients to make informed choices. We strongly believe that our clients deserve the best; we take our responsibilities very seriously to ensure that client satisfaction is achieved by providing a professional yet friendly legal service. We aim to resolve all immigration matters brought to us by working diligently and together with our clients, keeping them informed of the progress of their case at all stages. Our outstanding success rate is maintained thanks to the high standard of our work. If you would like us to assist you with your Immigration Matter, kindly click here to leave us an Enquiry. Alternatively, we can be reached via telephone at (00 44) (0)20 7799 1600 from 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (UTC+00.00 London) every Monday to Friday.
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FAQs

If you have failed to comply with Sponsor Licence duties and responsibilities, the Home Office can choose to suspend your licence whilst you are making the changes necessary to ensure your business meets the required standards.

If your Sponsor Licence is to be suspended, the Home Office will write to you, informing you of the alleged breaches in Sponsor Guidance compliance that have resulted in the suspension.

Breaches could include:

  • not keeping adequate and up-to-date staff records
  • not appointing Key Personnel and/or failing to ensure they are adequately trained and supported

You must respond to the letter from the Home Office within 20 days.  If you are facing suspension, it is advisable to seek legal advice immediately and get help drafting a response to the Home Office.  An experienced immigration solicitor can also examine the reasons for the suspension and see if any are open to challenge.

If your Sponsor Licence is revoked, there is no right of appeal, and you will not be able to reapply for a licence until a suitable ‘cooling-off’ period has passed.  Therefore, the only way to challenge a revocation is by way of Judicial Review. 

There are many mandatory grounds for revocation, including:

  • the Home Office discovering you provided false information on your application for a Sponsor Licence and this information was key to the licence being granted
  • you having been issued a civil penalty for employing one or more illegal workers and fined the maximum amount for at least one of those workers
  • if, after a downgrade to a B-rating, you have failed to meet any of the Action Plan requirements
  • if you lose your licence to trade in the UK
  • if you did not employ a settled worker who met the requirements for the position

There are also several discretionary reasons the Home Office may revoke your licence, including:

  • failure to cooperate with a Home Office visit
  • paying Tier 2 or 5 migrants in cash
  • there is no Authorising Officer in place who meets the requirements set out in the Sponsor Guidance

Our founding partner, Garth Coates, spent many years working at the Home Office as an Immigration Caseworker.  This experience has given him a unique understanding as to the motivations and thinking behind Sponsor Licence revocations and suspensions.  Garth’s experience and expertise provide our team with far deeper insight into Home Office policies and procedures than other law firms can deliver.  We will take care of the matter for you, leaving you free to concentrate on your business.

Garth Coates, Immigration Law Firm
Garth Coates

Principal Partner

A Message from Our Principal

At Garth Coates Solicitors, we provide expert legal advice and unwavering support across the full spectrum of UK immigration matters. Before qualifying as a solicitor, I worked within the UK Home Office (UKVI) as an Immigration Officer — a role that gave me valuable insight into the inner workings of the immigration system. Since then, I have gone on to represent clients at several of the UK’s most prominent immigration law firms, and later established this firm to deliver a more focused and client-centred approach.

Together with my senior legal team, we bring over 30 years of combined experience in the UK immigration sector. This depth of expertise enables us to successfully handle even the most complex and challenging cases — from visa refusals and judicial review proceedings to corporate sponsorships, family reunifications, and permanent settlement applications.

We are proud of our high success rate, earned through strategic thinking, meticulous preparation, and a commitment to delivering results. Our multilingual team of solicitors, caseworkers, and support professionals is well-equipped to serve a global clientele with care, professionalism, and cultural understanding.

At Garth Coates Solicitors, we fight for our clients’ rights and treat each case with the attention and seriousness it deserves. Whether you’re applying for the first time, facing an appeal, or unsure of your options, we are here to guide you with clarity and confidence.

Warm regards,

Contact us for a Sponsor Licence Suspension and Revocation consultation

(Typical response time 2 business hours)