Sponsor not paying?
First contact Work Rights Centre — they understand visa risks.
My sponsor is underpaying me / hasn't paid me. I'm worried about my visa. Please help.
«My sponsor is underpaying me / has not paid me. I am worried about my visa. Please help.»
- Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) — reference or number
- Payslips or correspondence about wages
- Your employment contract
- Evidence of underpayment (calculations, records)
- Sponsor licence number if you have it
- You have full employment rights — including a claim against your sponsor
- Whistleblowing protection from dismissal for complaining
- 60-day grace period if the sponsor withdraws sponsorship
Если босс угрожает вам, держит ваш паспорт, не выпускает вас или ограничивает свободу — это экстренная ситуация.
Modern Slavery Helpline08000 121 700
More details — expand if needed
What rights do I have against my sponsor
Section 47B Employment Rights Act 1996 protects you from sponsor retaliation for complaining about underpayment. If you are dismissed or your conditions worsen because you complained, that is whistleblowing detriment/dismissal. Compensation for this is unlimited.
Standard rights: NMW £12.71/hour (21+), holiday pay, unlawful deductions claim. The sponsor cannot reduce your rights by contract.
Deadline: 3 months minus 1 day to contact ACAS — after that the deadline is missed. Do not wait.
If the sponsor loses their licence or dismisses you
If you lose your job because the sponsor lost their licence or dismissed you, you have 60 days to find a new sponsor or change your visa status.
From 22 July 2025 the Skilled Worker threshold: £41,700 or the going rate for the job (whichever is higher). Skill level — RQF 6+. Check with Work Rights Centre or an immigration lawyer.
Important: act before Home Office sends a notification — do not wait for a curtailment notice.
Find an immigration lawyer →The sponsor can lose their licence for underpayment
HMRC and the Fair Work Agency can revoke the sponsor's licence for NMW violations. Civil penalty for a first offence — £45,000 per worker, for a repeat offence — £60,000.
In addition, HMRC publicly names companies that violate NMW (naming scheme). This is a serious pressure point — the sponsor knows this.
Risk: why Work Rights Centre first, not ACAS
Unlike Refugee Leave, a Skilled Worker visa is tied to a specific sponsor. An official complaint to an Employment Tribunal may provoke a reaction from the sponsor.
Work Rights Centre specialises in combining employment and immigration risks — they will help you choose a safe sequence of actions, including an HMRC anonymous tip-off as an alternative.
It is also recommended to consult an IAA-regulated immigration lawyer before filing a Tribunal claim. See: lawyers for Skilled Worker →
Other organisations that can help
- ACAS — 0300 123 1100 (for standard employment issues without visa risk)
- Citizens Advice — citizensadvice.org.uk
- Skilled Worker lawyers — our directory →
Sources
- gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa
- Employment Rights Act 1996 s.47B — whistleblowing protection
- gov.uk/national-minimum-wage-rates
- workrightscentre.org