Immigration audits, training and compliance

Audit, training, and compliance is an area that is often deferred until issues arise. Our dedicated immigration audit, training and compliance team identifies risks and offers practical solutions, equipping employers with the necessary knowledge to comply with the UK’s immigration systems, rules and regulations. We bring an in-depth understanding of compliance and a proactive approach to ensure that our clients’ businesses and reputation are well protected.

Support on sponsor duties and right to work

Our lawyers’ have been conducting compliance audits since the points-based system was introduced in 2008. Today, our established team’s work includes advising both business and education clients on compliance with sponsor duties and preparation for UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) audits, including prevention of illegal working audits. Our approach is bespoke and we work with our clients’ in-house team to tailor our recommendations to their organisation.

We help clients to put in place effective systems and processes that comply with Home Office requirements and protect an organisation’s sponsor licence, thereby minimising reputational damage. Our team works with all sizes of businesses, from small start-ups to multinational corporations. In the education sector, we assist universities, overseas higher education institutions, further education colleges and independent schools.

Penningtons Manches Cooper’s extensive experience and in-depth knowledge ensures they can adeptly manage any issues that arise.

We are actively involved in liaising with the Home Office on compliance issues, and have been commended by Home Office senior officials for our proactive approach to compliance. In addition, our lawyers provide training on all aspects of sponsor compliance obligations and right-to-work checks. This is sometimes part of a UKVI action plan or in response to representations on compliance concern raised by UKVI.

How we help our clients

Compliance checks before and after obtaining a UKVI sponsor licence

Preparation for UKVI compliance audits, including digital checks

General immigration and compliance checks followed by bespoke reports

Reviewing and advising on identified areas of concern

Right-to-work checks audits (prevention of illegal working)

Bespoke immigration training and support for HR staff and managers

Bespoke education training for recruitment and visa compliance teams

Sponsor licence training – how to meet your sponsor duties

Right-to-work checks training

General immigration and risk management training, including rule and policy updates

I have had the privilege of working with Penningtons’ immigration professionals for over three years. This team is world-class in terms of professional skills, knowledge of the law and effectiveness.

The team has extraordinary client care, thoroughly supporting clients throughout the immigration process, and regularly and successfully advising on complex matters.

Recent work highlights

Pre-sponsor licence digital compliance check

Assisting a tech company with preparation for a digital compliance check from UKVI prior to a decision being made on a sponsor licence application, including advice on sponsorship duties and maintaining records. The application was approved without any further checks.

Intention to issue action plan

Advising a university which received an ‘intention to issue action plan’ letter following a UKVI compliance audit, including identifying the areas of concern and putting in place system changes. As a result, no formal action plan was issued.

Preparations for three-day UKVI audit

Assisting a client at very short notice with preparation for a UKVI audit, including going on site to help the client prepare and producing a report with the necessary steps to take. The client successfully passed the audit.

Urgent right-to-work training

Delivering right-to-work training just days after new UKVI guidance was published to ensure clients’ ongoing compliance with prevention of illegal working guidelines.

Academic sponsor compliance training

Providing training sessions to academic staff on the importance of academic engagement in ensuring sponsor compliance and how they contribute directly to this process.