Quick answer: For UK employers, the sponsor licence grant is the start of the obligation, not the end of it. Sponsor licence compliance – reporting through the Sponsor Management System (SMS), right to work checks, record-keeping, and readiness for a UKVI compliance visit – is continuous and evidence-based, and it is where enforcement action originates.

Most UK employers cannot legally hire overseas workers without a Sponsor Licence. Many find a strong candidate, only to discover they don't yet hold one.

An ILR (Indefinite Leave to Remain) refusal due to absences does not automatically end your immigration journey; depending on your situation, you can typically request a review of the decision within 14 days, submit a fresh application after correcting the underlying issue, or challenge the refusal if the Home Office made a calculation error.