Question 1

What do Athi Law's business immigration solicitors do for employers?

Accepted Answer

Athi Law's business immigration solicitors help UK employers recruit and retain overseas workers lawfully. We advise on whether sponsorship suits your vacancy, prepare your sponsor licence application, guide you through assigning Certificates of Sponsorship for Skilled Worker roles and explain the duties you must meet once your licence is granted.We start by understanding your business, the role and your timetable, then set out your options in plain English. Because our team also advises on wider UK immigration, we can look at your whole workforce, including staff whose circumstances change over time. If sponsorship is not the right route for a particular role, we will say so rather than let you spend money on an application that is unlikely to succeed.Our wider commercial legal services can also support the business side of your growth, so your immigration planning sits alongside your other legal needs.

Question 2

Do I need business immigration solicitors to apply for a sponsor licence?

Accepted Answer

No law requires you to use business immigration solicitors, because you can apply for a sponsor licence yourself on GOV.UK. However, the application is detailed and errors can cause refusal or delay. A solicitor helps you check eligibility, choose the right licence, prepare evidence and set up compliant systems from day 1.GOV.UK sets out 5 steps: check your business is eligible, check the job is suitable for sponsorship, choose the licence type, decide who will manage sponsorship and apply online with the fee. UK Visas and Immigration may also visit your business to check it is suitable. A UK based legal representative who is qualified to give immigration advice can act as your key contact when you apply. Our employer sponsor licence team can take you through each stage, so a refusal does not cost you time as well as money.

Question 3

How much do business immigration solicitors and sponsor licences cost?

Accepted Answer

GOV.UK sets the sponsor licence application fee for a Worker licence at £611 for a small or charitable sponsor and £1,682 for a medium or large sponsor. Solicitor fees are separate and depend on the work involved, so contact Athi Law with details of your business and roles for a clear quote.You are usually a small sponsor if at least 2 of these apply: turnover of £15 million or less, total assets of £7.5 million or less, or 50 employees or fewer. The licence fee is only part of the budget. Each Certificate of Sponsorship carries its own fee, the Immigration Skills Charge may apply to your sponsored workers, and visa application fees and the healthcare surcharge are payable by the worker or by you, depending on what you agree. Rates change, so check current figures on GOV.UK. Ask for a written breakdown of legal fees and government charges before you instruct anyone, so there are no surprises later.

Question 4

How long do business immigration solicitors take to secure a sponsor licence?

Accepted Answer

GOV.UK says most sponsor licence applications are decided in less than 8 weeks, and UK Visas and Immigration may visit your business first. No solicitor controls the Home Office timetable, but Athi Law can prepare a complete application so that avoidable delays do not hold up your hiring plans.You may be able to pay an extra £750 for a decision within 10 working days, but the priority service is limited to a small number of applications each working day and is allocated first come, first served. You cannot assign a Certificate of Sponsorship until your licence is granted, and the worker must then make a visa application of their own, so build time for both stages into your recruitment plans. Avoid promising a start date to a candidate until the licence is in place. Tell us your deadline at the outset and we will give you an honest view of whether it looks realistic.

Question 5

Which jobs can business immigration solicitors sponsor under the Skilled Worker route?

Accepted Answer

To be sponsored, a role must be eligible for the Skilled Worker route, which means it must meet the required skill level, fall within an eligible occupation code and satisfy the salary requirements. These rules were tightened in July 2025, so Athi Law checks your role against current GOV.UK guidance before you make an offer.Since July 2025, most eligible roles must be at degree level, known as RQF level 6. You must pay at least the general salary threshold and the going rate for the occupation, with lower options in some cases for new entrants such as recent graduates. The worker also needs to meet the English language requirement and hold a Certificate of Sponsorship from you. Eligibility depends on the duties of the job and its occupation code, not the job title alone, so we review the role description carefully. You can find out more about the worker's side of the process on our Skilled Worker visa page.

Question 6

What duties do I have once business immigration solicitors secure my sponsor licence?

Accepted Answer

Sponsors must keep accurate records, report certain changes about sponsored workers and the business through the Sponsor Management System, carry out right to work checks and cooperate with UK Visas and Immigration. Breaching these duties can put your licence at risk, so Athi Law helps you build simple, repeatable processes.Every sponsor must name key personnel. The authorising officer is a senior, competent person responsible for the actions of staff and representatives using the system, the key contact is your main point of contact with UK Visas and Immigration, and a level 1 user manages day to day licence activity. A single person can fill all 3 roles, or they can be split, and everyone involved must pass suitability checks. At least 1 level 1 user must be an employee, partner, director or settled worker. Many changes must be reported within a set period, often 10 working days, so check the current guidance and diarise your deadlines.

Question 7

What right to work checks must employers carry out, and can business immigration solicitors advise?

Accepted Answer

Before anyone starts work, you must complete a prescribed right to work check, such as a manual document check or a Home Office online check, to keep your statutory excuse against a civil penalty. Athi Law's business immigration solicitors can explain what the rules require for your workforce.A civil penalty can reach up to £60,000 per illegal worker. If someone has time limited permission, you need a follow up check on or before the date it expires. Keep copies of the documents or check evidence, with a record of the check date, for the length of the employment and for 2 years afterwards. Right to work rules were extended from 1 October 2026 to cover a wider range of working arrangements, so check GOV.UK to see whether contractors, agency staff or platform workers in your business are now in scope. If an individual member of your team needs personal advice, our immigration team can help.

Question 8

What happens if my sponsor licence is suspended, and can business immigration solicitors help?

Accepted Answer

UK Visas and Immigration can suspend a licence while it investigates concerns and can revoke it where it finds serious or repeated breaches. You may lose the ability to assign new Certificates of Sponsorship, and the permission of your sponsored workers can be affected. Seek advice immediately, because you will usually have a limited time to respond. Problems often arise from changes that were not reported, incomplete records or sponsored workers who are not doing the job described in their Certificate of Sponsorship. If you receive a letter from the Home Office, do not ignore it and do not make changes to your records without advice. Gather your sponsor files, your reporting history and your right to work evidence, then talk to a solicitor who can explain the allegation and your options. Outcomes vary from case to case and nobody can promise a result, but a prompt and well organised response gives you the best chance of protecting your business and your workforce. Call Athi Law to discuss your situation.

Question 9

What should I prepare before speaking to business immigration solicitors?

Accepted Answer

Bring your company details, a short description of what your business does, details of the role you want to fill, including its duties and salary, and your hiring timetable. Athi Law's Sheffield office is at 118 Alderson Road, S2 4UD. Call 0114 2558001 first, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.If you already hold a sponsor licence, bring a list of your current sponsored workers and the names of your key personnel. If you are applying for the first time, think about who will be your authorising officer, key contact and level 1 user, and gather evidence that your business is genuine and trading, as UK Visas and Immigration publishes a list of supporting documents it may ask for. You can also message us on WhatsApp, and during office hours we aim to respond to emails within 2 hours. We have offices in Sheffield, Dronfield and West Bromwich, and clients come to us from across Yorkshire, Derbyshire and the Midlands. When you are ready, contact us to talk through your plans.

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