What is CAS and Why is it Important for a UK Study Visa?
CAS stands for Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies and it is issued by the university after the student submits a request for it for the purpose of student visa application. It is basically a green signal from the educational institution to the Home Office to go ahead with the visa application process for the student as the institution is sponsoring the student’s visa. Let’s look at what a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) is and its role in a UK study visa. This is a comprehensive guide to the role of CAS in UK study visa application which will help you prepare for the process on time.
What Does a CAS Include for UK Student Visa Application?
The role of CAS in UK study visa application procedure is significant as it is the main tool of communication between the educational institute and the Home Office. The CAS number is an important requirement for applying for the UK study visa. Let’s see what is included in a CAS statement for UK study visa once it is issued
Institution Details
This means the license number of the educational institute and its name
Course Information
As the Home Office needs to know the details of your course, the CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies) will have the title of your course and the start and end date of the course
Financial Information
The university also sends details of the paid fee and remaining tuition fee that you have paid for the course. Apart from this, fee information about the booked accommodation on campus (if any) is also mentioned.
English proficiency scores
Your English proficiency test results are also mentioned on the CAS letter sent from the university to the immigration office.
How to Obtain a CAS for UK Study Visa
The process of obtaining a CAS number for UK student visa varies slightly for every university but for every university, there are some common steps which are listed below
Application Process
Once you get the unconditional offer from the university and you have paid the deposit fee for the course, you can apply for the CAS number on the university website. You will have to register on it, fill the CAS request form correctly and upload the required documents on the portal. Let’s see the process of obtaining a CAS number for UK student visa
Requirements from the Institution
- The information page of your valid passport
- Copies of previous UK visas
- Copies of UK visa refusals in the past
- Financial evidence in the form of bank statements and letter of sponsorship in case your degree is being sponsored by a person on organisation
- ATAS (Academic Technology Approval Scheme) certificate if related to your field
If you have ever overstayed and exceeded the allowed time on your visa while you were in the UK, you will be denied your CAS statement as it affects your credibility.
Timeframe for Obtaining a CAS
You need to plan your CAS form submission properly because it has to be submitted 7 weeks before the starting date of the course. You have to time the submission of the forms and deposit fee accordingly. Sometimes the mode of payment affects the timing of the process. Check all your documents before submitting them so that processing time doesn’t get delayed. The time taken by the university is justified because they are verifying all the information and can not give you an exact estimate of when you will receive the CAS statement. Once the request is made with all the documents , you will receive the CAS letter within 3 days. There is a deadline for it so you have to keep that in mind.
The Significance of CAS in UK Study Visa Application
The CAS request form is submitted from the university to the immigration office which then sends the CAS number to the university and this 14 digit reference number is written on the CAS statement to mark your case. The CAS statement is one of the most important documents for your study visa because it shows that you have accepted the offer and paid the course fee.
When you are submitting the visa application, you have to include all the original documents that are submitted for the CAS issuance. A CAS is valid for six months only so if you apply for a visa after that, it won’t get accepted.
What to Do if You Don’t Have a CAS for UK Study Visa
Sometimes there is a delay in receiving the CAS. In this case, you contact the university and ask for the reason for the delay. In some universities, you can track the progress of your CAS application on your university’s online portal. Your request for a CAS can get denied due to credibility issues or due to the limited seats available. There are reasons for having your CAS refused as well; if the student exceeds the maximum time of stay for the visa, the CAS will not be issued. The decision of the university does not usually change upon fresh application so it is better to ask for an administrative review of the same application.
Reapplying for a CAS number
If you have been denied your visa and you need a new CAS number for a UK student visa application, you will have to reapply for it and then use the new one to apply for your study visa again. When you are doing this, you have to inform the university about the previous visa refusal and fill the visa refusal form as well so that the university can tell you whether you can receive the new number or not. Usually, visas are refused due to insufficient funds in your bank statements so make sure that upon reapplying, you do have the minimum amount of expected funds for your sustenance in your bank account.
Still feeling unsure about the application process? Talk to our mentors and figure out a viable solution together.
