James Foster, Managing Director of Country Barns Limited, first approached CG after previous experiences with property acquisitions had left him looking for a legal firm that could provide greater clarity, attention to detail and confidence throughout the process.

The Home Office has introduced a number of important updates to the Sponsor Guidance which will impact how organisations manage their sponsor licences and SMS users. Key changes sponsors should be aware of include: ✅ Level 2 Users New Level 2 users can only be added to a sponsor licence until 9 September 2026. Existing Level 2 users must be converted to Level 1 users (where eligible) or deactivated by 8 March 2027. ✅ Inactive SMS Users SMS users must access their accounts reg

Recent figures released by the Home Office indicate a sharp rise in enforcement action against Skilled Worker sponsors. In the first quarter of 2026, 1,712 sponsor licences were suspended and 1,545 were revoked, compared with just 339 suspensions and 276 revocations during the same period of 2025. Sponsor licence holders must therefore proactively review their internal systems, ensure key personnel understand their sponsor duties, and address any gaps in compliance before the

The UK’s Student visa route allows most overseas nationals over the age of 16 to study in the UK with an approved academic institution (or "sponsor"). To support a visa application, the sponsor must first assign a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) to the individual setting out the details of the student and the course they are being sponsored to undertake. A Student visa is not required where: An individual is a citizen of Ireland. An individual holds settled o