The Reality of Sponsor Licence Revocation: What to Do If You Have 60 Days to Find Another CoS
- Jasmyn Care Ltd
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Receiving a visa curtailment letter from the Home Office is one of the most stressful experiences an international care professional can face.
If your employer has its sponsor licence suspended or revoked due to compliance failures, you are suddenly left in legal limbo through no fault of your own. The clock instantly starts ticking: you have exactly 60 days to find a new approved sponsor to take over your Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS), or you must leave the UK.
This practical, compassionate guide outlines steps you could take to protect your legal status, find emergency support, and secure a stable future.
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Step 1: Understanding Your 60-Day "Curtailment" Window
The moment the Home Office formally revokes a care provider's licence, they begin processing curtailment notices for all sponsored staff.
Critical Facts to Keep in Mind:
The Clock Starts From the Letter Date: Your 60 days starts on the date stated on the Home Office official visa curtailment letter. If you hear rumours of a revocation, use that time immediately as a head start.
You Can Legally Stay and Search: During these 60 days, you are legally permitted to remain in the UK and actively search for a new sponsor.
Be Careful with Changing Restrictions: Because you are on a restricted Health and Care Worker visa, you cannot simply take any job; your new employer must possess a valid, active Skilled Worker Sponsor Licence with specific allocations for your job code.
Step 2: Take Advantage of Regional Social Care Partnerships
Because the UK care sector is facing localized staffing shortages, local government authorities and regional care associations actively monitor care home closures and sponsor revocations.
They do not want to lose highly skilled international workers from the region hence the partnership's main purpose is to support migrant care workers secure a Certificate of Sponsorship with a new employer in the event that their current employer has its sponsorship license revoked.
How to proceed is detailed in this GOV.UK publication where emails details of regional partnership for different council exists whom you should send an email to.
Make sure to include the following in the email:
your name
your current address
your contact details, for example your email address and phone number
the name of the employer who’s sponsoring your visa
You can also:
Contact Your Local Council: Reach out directly to the adult social services department or the integrated care board (ICB) in your area. They often maintain emergency vacancy lists of local, CQC-registered care providers who possess active sponsor licences and are looking for immediate, experienced in-country transfers.
Skills for Care Resources: Check the regional hubs managed by Skills for Care. They frequently collaborate with local authorities to host fast-track recruitment clinics specifically designed to absorb displaced international care staff into stable, local organizations.
Your Local Citizen's Advice Bureau: Visit or Call your local CAB, they can assist with further advice like this one on their website.
Contact Migrant Help: A UK charity offering support to vulnerable migrants.
Step 3: How to Spot a Legally Sound, Compliant Employer
When you are under immense time pressure, it is tempting to accept the first sponsorship offer you find. However, rushing into a partnership with another struggling provider puts you at risk of facing the exact same crisis a few months down the line.
To protect your long-term future, you must thoroughly vet potential employers:
Check the Official Register: Before applying, check the UK Government’s Register of Licensed Sponsors. Ensure the company's status is listed clearly as an A-rated sponsor for the Skilled Worker route.
Verify Their CQC Rating: Visit the Care Quality Commission (CQC) website and lookup the care home. A provider rated as Inadequate or under Special Measures is facing severe regulatory scrutiny, which frequently triggers Home Office audits. Look for providers rated Good or Outstanding.
Demand Contract Transparency: A compliant sponsor will always provide a clear, written contract that explicitly guarantees the minimum hours stated on your CoS, without hidden administrative fee deductions or unfair repayment clauses.
Step 4: The Alternatives
If you cannot secure a new sponsored role within the 60-day limit, your remaining options are:
Switch Visa Routes: If you are eligible for other visa routes (e.g., via the Graduate route, Partner/Spouse, Global Talent, Start-up/Innovator Founder or Student Visa), consider applying within those categories before your 60 days expire.
Leave the UK: You must depart the UK to avoid becoming an "overstayer," which can trigger re-entry bans. You can then re-apply from your home country once you secure sponsorship.
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