Sponsors no longer need to report changes to hybrid and remote working

Employers who sponsor migrant workers must comply with a number of sponsor duties to avoid breaching the conditions of their licence.

As we reported on 15 May 2023 in our previous news article (available here), the reporting obligations for sponsored workers working from home were abolished but working in the hybrid mode was still eligible for reporting purposes. However, now the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) announced it has abolished the reporting obligations for the hybrid mode of work as well.

UKVI’s reasoning  

The updated Sponsor Guidance explains UKVI’s reasoning:

We recognise that many organisations have adopted a “hybrid working” model, where their workers work remotely (from either their home or another remote site, such as a work hub space) on a regular basis, as well as regularly attending a ‘traditional’ work location (such as one or more of your offices or branches, or a client site)…

Some reports are still needed

UKVI has confirmed that sponsors “no longer need to tell us if a sponsored worker is moving to a hybrid working pattern but you must continue to report any changes to their main office work location, or of any new client sites, if applicable, and maintain suitable records of your sponsored workers’ working patterns”.

In such cases, it is important that employers are aware that UKVI can ask for an explanation as to why the sponsored worker needs to live in the UK at all.

Compliance

UKVI’s officers carry out on-site in person audits as well as remote ones to check compliance. It is therefore important that sponsors retain records, including relating to sponsored worker’s work patterns, to demonstrate that they understand and comply with the Sponsor Guidance.