WEB 3012 Sponsor Licences and Compliance: obtaining and keeping a licence

Level: Intermediate

Description:

Practitioners and HR specialists will receive an in-depth look at sponsor licences. This will not only include practical advice on how to obtain a sponsor licence but also how to ensure effective compliance and retain the licence. We will discuss the updated submission process and compliance requirements post the December 2020 changes, highlighting pitfalls and providing tips. We will advise upon the HR practices necessary to ensure sponsor duties are met and other factors that the Home Office would be looking for at a compliance visit. We will also discuss our experience with sponsor license refusals, downgrading and revocations – providing tips for avoiding these and challenging them where necessary.

Audience:

This course is designed for business immigration practitioners and HR specialists who advise on sponsor licences.

T utors: Chetal Patel, Bates Wells, Smruti Jeyanandhan, Bates Wells and Sam Ingham, Laura Devine Immigration

Chetal Patel is a Partner at Bates Wells and specialises in Business Immigration. She regularly conducts immigration audits for clients and has been present at a number of compliance visits conducted by UKVI. Chetal is recognised in the legal directories for her expertise and regularly provides commentary to journalists.

Smruti Jeyanandhan is a UK immigration and nationality law specialist with 15 years’ experience advising corporate and private clients on complex business and personal immigration matters. Smruti has significant experience in delivering strategic solutions-focused advice to employers on sponsor licence applications and employer compliance support. Her corporate clients range from small, newly established businesses to multinational organisations and household brands that span the finance and investment, legal, sporting, technology, creative and entertainment sectors.

Smruti is a seasoned presenter, delivering training to a number of high profile corporate clients on sponsorship and compliance as well as Brexit. She previously held the role of co-convenor for ILPA’s economic migration working group and regularly provided training for ILPA.

Sam Ingham is a Solicitor at Laura Devine Immigration and has specialised exclusively in UK immigration law since 2012. Prior to joining Laura Devine Immigration he was an OISC adviser. He has extensive experience in Tier 2 issues both for individuals and corporate clients.