Quick Highlights
- A CAS letter confirms your UK university sponsorship and supports your student visa application.
- You need to meet admission, financial, English language, and course-specific requirements before receiving your CAS.
- Prepare your passport, academic records, financial evidence, and other required documents early to avoid delays.
- Check your CAS details carefully before applying for your UK student visa and follow the latest UKVI requirements.
Looking to study in the UK? Securing admission to the university is just a part of the process. You also need to prepare for your student visa. There’s one important step that occurs before the visa application. You must have a CAS letter from your University.
This step can feel confusing. You might be wondering when your university will release it, what you need to do, and how long it will take you. You may also be concerned about a delay if you have not paid your deposit or fulfilled an admission condition.
The process is simple and is detailed in this guide. What a CAS is, what the University will look for, which documents you might need, and how to plan your UK student visa application.
What Is a CAS Letter and Why Does It Matter?
A CAS is the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies. A CAS reference number is based on your UK university or education provider once you fulfill the requirements of your CAS.
The CAS confirms the wishes of a licensed student sponsor that they wish to sponsor you to study in the UK. To apply for your student visa, you must have the CAS reference number.
However, a CAS is not an offer letter. Your offer is a statement of the University’s desire to receive you. Once the CAS has fulfilled the CAS requirements and you have satisfied the university’s requirements, the CAS will support your visa application.
Who Can Receive a CAS Letter?
A CAS doesn’t mean that you already have a visa. UK Visas and Immigration makes the final visa decision.
To get your CAS Letter, there is usually a requirement for an unconditional offer from your University first. So, you need to satisfy any remaining admission requirements before beginning.
You may also have to make a payment of part of your tuition fee as a deposit at your university. This may vary according to the school and class. Some universities may also require financial documents before awarding the CAS.
There may be additional English language standards that must be met. For instance, your university might have an acceptable criterion for an IELTS test, PTE, LanguageCert, or another acceptable test. If you need a recognised English test for your application, you can also consider LanguageCert vouchers when planning your test costs.
Your course may have extra requirements. For example, some postgraduate courses may require an ATAS certificate. Other courses may require DBS checks or professional documents.
Your immigration history can also matter. A university may review previous visa refusals, study history, or other immigration details before agreeing to sponsor you.
Documents Universities May Need
Your university will typically request details that enable you to verify who you are, your enrolment status, and your proficiency to study. These documents should be prepared and kept on hand:
- Current passport
- University offer letter
- Academic transcripts and certificates
- The result of the English language test.
- Tuition fee payment receipt
- Financial documents (if requested)
- If your course has a required certificate, please ensure you bring a copy along.
- DBS or professional documents (if applicable)
- Any details regarding the previously issued visas to the applicant, if any.
Carefully examine your passport before inputting information. The names, dates of birth, passport and nationality should match the information on your application. Financial evidence should also be taken with caution. Under the current UK rules, the majority of students are expected to have sufficient funds for the cost of their course plus living expenses. The current living cost figure for courses outside London is £1,171 per month for up to nine months. The price for London is £1,529 for up to nine months. The required funds must typically be deposited and kept in your account for 28 days.
Because financial rules can change, always check the latest UK government financial evidence requirements before preparing your bank statement.
How the CAS Letter Process Works
The process usually follows a simple order.
1. Accept Your University Offer
First, take up your offer and fulfill all the requirements. Your university may require documents, deposits, or something else before advancing your application.
2. Complete the CAS Request
Next, your university may ask you to complete a CAS request form. Some universities automatically start the process after you meet all requirements. Others ask you to request the CAS through their student portal.
3. Submit Required Documents
Provide every document that your university requests. Make sure your documents contain accurate information. If the university asks for financial evidence, submit the correct format within its stated deadline.
4. University Checks Your Information
The university will verify your fees, academics, identity, and other requirements. It can also review your immigration record or pose more questions. If the university calls you, please respond promptly. A late response may extend your CAS Letter date.
5. Receive Your CAS Details
Once the checks have been completed, your university will allocate your CAS reference number. The university normally sends the CAS information through email or your student portal. Pay attention to all the information. Review your name, passport number, course name, start date, fees paid, and fees remaining. Report any mistakes to the university right away.
How Long Does a CAS Letter Take?
The processing time for every UK university is not the same. The schedule is different for each institution.
University CAS information may be provided several weeks before the CAS course begins for some universities. Some give them upon fulfilling particular requirements, depositing money, or taking a pre-CAS interview. The CAS is awarded at the end of the academic year to the undergraduate student who has completed the conditions outlined in the final offer. The process may be dependent on paying fees, academic assessment, and other course requirements for a postgraduate student.
This simple planning method can be implemented:
Best case: You meet all the requirements in a timely fashion, then the university completes the CAS in its normal processing time.
Common situation: You have fulfilled your requirements, university checks have been carried out, and your CAS is issued several weeks before your planned visa application.
Delayed case: If documents are missing, deposits are not paid, financial checks, or further questions, etc., are not completed.
Do not procrastinate. When studying from Karachi, ensure that your passport, academic records, financial proof, and English test results are in order before the university requests them.
A UK Student visa can be applied for from outside the UK up to six months before the start of the course. The guidance by the current government also states that you will need to apply within 6 months of receipt of your CAS. There is one rule for your CAS, too. You can only apply it once. A CAS cannot be used again once it has been used in a successful or refused visa application.
What to Do After Receiving Your CAS Letter
Do not apply for your visa right away without reading your CAS Letter. Check the information on your CAS with your passport and university paperwork. Review your course title, course dates, tuition fee, payments, and personal information. Then, prepare your Student visa documents. You will need to bring your passport, CAS reference number, financial evidence, TB test results, ATAS certificate, and other supporting documents depending on your situation.
Your CAS reference number must also be entered correctly into your visa application. Keep a copy of all documents and save the CAS statement. If you plan to work in the UK after your studies, find out about your future choices well in advance. One of the most common routes students may be researching when planning their studies and career goals is the UK work permit visa.
Applying for the UK Student Visa From Karachi
After you have your CAS and supporting documents, you will be able to apply for your Student visa online. Then, it’s time to prove your identity. In some cases, UKVI may require you to use the UK Immigration ID Check app or visit a visa application centre for your fingerprints and photo.
There may be a need for a TB test before applying from Pakistan as well. Review your current requirements before scheduling an appointment. Currently, applicants from abroad who submit their applications to UKVI may get a decision in three weeks. The turnaround times may differ, however, and travel plans should not be made based on the quickest possible turnaround.
Before paying your education bills, it would be beneficial to investigate funding possibilities if you think about cutting costs for educational purposes.
Can Your Dependants Use Your CAS?
Your dependants don’t simply use your CAS to get their own visa. Your partner and/or children may be eligible to accompany you, but applications will need to be made, and the requirements will be applicable. The rules for dependants can vary according to your course and circumstances. So, ensure you review the latest rules of the U.K. government before traveling with family.
After Your Student Visa Approval
After being granted your visa by UKVI, ensure you review your travel and immigration details before you depart. In many cases, the UK now issues an electronic visa to successful applicants as an online document to record their immigration status.
Make all the arrangements for room, air ticket, enrolment in a university, and necessary documents before leaving Karachi. Once in the UK, follow your University’s registration procedure. Continue to enrol in your course and adhere to the conditions of your Student visa. Your university will still be your sponsor, and if important changes occur, you will need to report them to your sponsor as needed.
Get UK Student Visa Support in Karachi
Planning your studies in the UK should not be based on assumptions. Students from Karachi can learn about the requirements of the universities, how to prepare their documents, how to manage the process of admission, and how to plan their Student visa application by taking the help of Edulitera. Call on WhatsApp now and get some practical advice based on your course, university, budget, and study objectives.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: What is a CAS Letter?
A CAS Letter includes this reference number, which is provided by your licensed UK University for the application process for a student visa.
Q2: How long does a CAS Letter take?
The process takes time, which differs from university to university, but if they don’t receive documents or unpaid deposits, then they will be delayed.
Q3: Can I apply for a UK Student visa without a CAS?
No, you normally should have a valid CAS reference number before you apply for a Student visa.
Q4: Can I use an old CAS for a new visa application?
CAS are not normally accepted for visa applications that have been successful or refused.
