7. The consequences of dismissal: when a worker loses sponsorship
Visa timeline when a member is dismissed or leaves their sponsor
• If a member is dismissed from their sponsor, if they resign from them or if they are just not doing any hours for them, their employer is required to inform the Home Office. Once the Home Office is notified that the sponsorship has ended, they will then write to them, cutting short their visa.
• This process can take some time, depending on how quickly the employer writes to the Home Office, and depending upon Home Office processing times( it usually takes between 4 and 8 months). Any cutting short( called“ curtailment”) letter from the Home Office, when it does arrive, usually says that a member has 60 days to either apply for a new visa( which usually means finding a new sponsor) or leave the country.
• Importantly, if their visa is due to expire, they cannot wait for a curtailment letter from the Home Office. They will need to have found a new sponsor and applied for a new visa before the end date of their current visa.
Taking unpaid leave could lead to loss of sponsorship
Many migrant workers may need to take unpaid time off to return to their home country or for any other reason. However, they should be aware that this may impact their visa sponsorship. Employers can end sponsorship if a worker is absent without pay, or on reduced pay, for more than four weeks in a year without a valid exception. Even where a valid exception applies, the absence must still be reported to the Home Office. See the Chapter 8 for a full list of exceptions and advice for reps.
Rematching scheme for displaced care workers
In April 2025, in response to abuse in the system, the UK government introduced changes to the rematching scheme for displaced care workers. The updated scheme aims to streamline the process for workers who have lost their initial sponsored jobs to find new sponsors within the health and care sector. Key changes included:
• A list of regional hubs for England managed by the Department of Health and Social Care( DHSC), allowing displaced workers to register and be matched with registered care providers holding sponsorship licences.
• Financial support to help cover visa application fees and relocation costs.
• Access to dedicated caseworkers for guidance on rematching, visa applications, and employment rights.
While the July 2025 rule changes ended employers’ obligations to hire from the displaced worker pool, the services remain for workers seeking new sponsors.
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