How to Get a CAS Letter for Studying in the UK?

CAS letter stands for Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies and is a crucial document for international students looking to study in the UK. A UK university issues the document to confirm that the student has been accepted to study at that institution.

When you apply for a visa to study in the UK, the CAS letter is a mandatory document for your eligibility. In this blog, we will explore what the CAS letter is, how to obtain one, and what information it contains.

What is a CAS letter? 

According to UK immigration rules, the university must sponsor the student’s application for a visa, which is why it sends you a CAS letter. The CAS number is a confirmation that the university has made an unconditional offer to study a full-time course, and the student has accepted it. A CAS letter makes up 30 of the 40 points required for a Tier 4 (G) student visa.

Note - Please remember that the university is sponsoring only your application. This should not be confused with financial sponsorship.

Here is a quick overview of the CAS letter:

The visa officer uses the CAS number on the CAS letter to confirm that you have been accepted into the UK university to start the general student visa issuance process. Your student visa application will be rejected if the number used by the university proves to be inconsistent with the information you provided in your application.

CAS Letter UK Sample:

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How to get CAS Letter from UK University?

In order to get the CAS letter, you must know when and how does the university send the CAS number and when is the right time to apply.

Before getting into the specifics, it is important to clarify whether students need to send a request or apply for the CAS letter on their own. It depends on the university you are enrolling in that a request is mandatory or not.

Some universities like Kingston require students to send a request for the CAS number. On the other hand, universities such as the University of Nottingham sends you the CAS number on its own. Applicants in this case do not need to send a request for the CAS number. Therefore, you need to check the website of the university where you are enrolling to understand its CAS process.

The university sends you the CAS number or you request a CAS number when:

• You have accepted the unconditional offer from the university.
• You have made the requisite deposit to finalize your seat at the university.
• It is less than three months before the beginning date of the course that you have applied to.

Now we come to how the university carries out the process of sending the CAS letter. Different universities in UK have their own process of sending the CAS number, but this is typically how it goes:

• The university will first send you an email on the ID you use for admission. In the email, you will be asked to log in to the given link.
• Once you log in, the dashboard should contain an option that allows you to check your CAS statement. In some cases, for example, when you need to request a CAS number, you can be asked to send some documents like academic proofs, financial documents, Tuberculosis (TB) certificate, and an ATAS certificate to get the CAS statement. You will get the link to your CAS statement after submitting the documents. 
• Once you click on the link, your CAS statement will appear which will list important details about your admission. You may also be asked to fill in details on the statement. 
• You will then be asked to verify if all the information listed in your CAS statement is true. If the information given in the CAS statement is incorrect, send the admission authorities an email pointing out the errors and corrections. 
• Once you have confirmed and filled in the details and submitted the statement, you will get an email again. This email will contain the final CAS statement and the number. The email may ask you to log in to your account to access the CAS number.

Although you only need to enter the CAS number in the visa application, and you will not be asked to attach or submit the CAS statement, it is better to take a printout of the statement and keep it for future reference.

Documents required for CAS letter application

Submission of the required documents is a crucial step in filling out the CAS letter application. Relevant documents include the applicant’s academic and financial documents and TB test reports. 

• Academic documents: Academic documents include your previous records of study, letter of recommendation (LOR), statement of purpose (SOP), etc. ATAS (Academic Technology Approval Scheme) is mandatory for science and technology courses.
• Financial documents include show-money details, that is, the money you must have to complete your education. Suppose you have a fixed deposit or money in a savings account. In that case, 28 days maturity is applicable, meaning the amount should be in the account at least 28 days before the course commences. If you take an education loan, the bank manager’s or related authority’s statements must be submitted. 
• TB test report: All universities may not mandate a TB report. If your university asks you to submit a TB report, you must send it. You may find a test center facilitating a TB report for UK immigration purposes.

When to apply for a CAS letter?

Generally, you have to request for a CAS letter 90 days before the start of your course. This may differ for various universities. 

• For the University of Sheffield, the CAS is open 4 months before the course’s commencement. 
• Oxford University’s CAS window is open 6 months before the course starts.

So check your university’s website for application deadlines. There is no option to apply for the CAS more than 6 months before the course starts.

There can be a deadline for CAS applications set by the universities. For example, The University of Law’s deadline is 7 weeks before the course starts, and students outside the UK cannot apply for the CAS after this deadline. Know your university’s deadline for CAS application and apply before it.

CAS letter processing time:

Universities usually take 10 - 15 days to send the CAS number after you confirm the details in the statement. If you do not receive your CAS number within 20 days, email the university about the delay.

CAS letter validity:

The CAS letter is valid for 6 months from the date it gets issued. After 6 months, your CAS number will be invalid, and you must apply for a new CAS letter. 

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What does the CAS letter contain?

A CAS letter typically contains the following details related to your study in the UK: 

• 14-digit CAS number
• Course details
• Course start and end dates
• Accommodation fees
• Total fees
• Entrance test (IELTS/TOEFL) score
• Sponsor license number(SLN)

There may be more or lesser data in the CAS than listed above. The information contained in the CAS letter depends on the university issuing it. 

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How to apply for a UK student visa after receiving a CAS letter? 

A student must apply for a UK visa within 6 months of getting the CAS letter. Apply for the visa at least 3 months before your course commences. 

• Go to the UK visa immigration services website to complete the tier-4 application process.
• Pay the immigration health insurance and application fees. 
• Schedule a biometric appointment.
• For attending the appointment, you will be submitting eligibility proof, passport, finance proof, and TB certificate. 
• You may be required to attend the credibility interview. Questions regarding your selection of the particular university, your expectations on studying in the UK, etc., can be expected.

The Home office will let you know whether the visa application is accepted or rejected. It usually takes three weeks to get the decision.

What happens to the CAS number if the visa application is unsuccessful? 

If your visa application is rejected, you cannot use the same CAS number next time when you apply for a UK student visa. You will have to apply for a new CAS number. 

• To get the new CAS number, you will need to contact the university’s international student support team or admissions committee and inform them about your problem. 
• An advisor will get back to you and let you know if a new CAS number can be assigned to you or not. If a new CAS number is assigned to you, you must follow the steps above again to get the visa. 
• In cases where you need to request a CAS letter, the letter will be denied if you send a request after the deadline. Usually, the request must be sent at least 90 days before the beginning date of the course.

How to avoid delay in getting the CAS letter?

If your application has more chances of rejection for a visa, the university may reject your CAS application. To avoid the chances of the CAS letter being delayed, the applicants must take care of the following things:

• Recent financial documents: Make sure the financial documents you submit are recent. Older financial statements may cause a delay in issuing the CAS letter. 
• Proper documents: Get proper documents and submit them carefully. 
• Submit on time: Do not wait for the last-minute submission. Get the application procedure done as soon as possible once the CAS window is open.

Getting the CAS letter is a simple but lengthy process. The next crucial step is applying for a UK student visa after receiving the CAS number. According to the British High Commission in India, there is an 89% increase in UK student visas from India from 2021-2022, and inaccuracy in the visa application process can lead to rejections. Increase your chances of acceptance - get personalized visa application assistance from a team of experts.

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  Frequently asked questions

  When do UK universities start issuing the CAS letter for September intake?

   

  The date of issuing the CAS letter for the September intake is not the same for all UK universities. Depending on the university, the CAS letter can be issued several months to a few days before the course starts. 

  You can check your university’s website to know when the portal is open for CAS applications and apply for the CAS letter. Usually, it takes 10 - 15 working days to issue the CAS letter once your application is accepted. 

  How can I check my CAS letter status online?

   

  To check the CAS letter status online, you can visit the portal maintained by the university and login. If your university is not providing a portal to check the CAS letter status, you may get in touch with the concerned university and enquire about the status via email.

  Do I need to submit my UCAS ID number for a UK student visa if it wasn't included in my CAS letter?

   

  If your UCAS ID number hasn’t been included in the CAS letter, there is no necessity to submit it separately for the UK student visa. 

  Do I need to deposit the full cost of study to get a CAS letter?

   

  You need not deposit the full expenses to get a CAS letter. You only need to show the cost of study demanded by your specific university in the UK. Typically, 50% - 60% of the study costs are required to be shown to get a CAS letter. 

  Is 5.5 bands in IELTS enough to get a CAS letter?

   

  Generally, an overall IELTS score of 6.0 - 7.0 is required to study in the UK. However, it is better to check the IELTS score requirement for the university you are applying to know the minimum IELTS score for admission. 

  Why a UK student visa application is rejected after getting a CAS letter?

   

  There are many reasons why a UK student visa application is turned down after getting a CAS letter, such as insufficient financial support, submission of false documents, previous immigration history that violates UK immigration rules, lack of a genuine intention to study in the UK, etc.

  What is the CAS letter processing time in UK? 

   

  The CAS letter processing time can vary by institution and the time of year. Typically, it can take anywhere from a few days up to a few weeks. Most universities aim to issue a CAS letter within two to four weeks after the student has met all the necessary conditions of their offer, which may include providing evidence of qualifications and paying a deposit towards tuition fees.

  What are the documents required for CAS letter in UK?

   

  The documents required for CAS letter in UK typically include a Passport, proof of qualifications, English language proficiency, UK visas, immigration History, ATAS Certificate, and CAS letter UK requirements.

  Can I use the same CAS letter for multiple visa applications?

   

  No, the CAS number is valid for one visa application only. The number also and expires after 6 months from the date of issue.

  What should I do if there's an error in my CAS letter?

   

  In case in error in your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) letter, you should immediately contact the admissions or international office of the educational institution that issued the CAS. They are responsible for correcting any inaccuracies in the CAS details, which is crucial since the information must match the details in your passport and other visa application documents.

  Can I apply for a visa before receiving my CAS letter?

   

  You cannot apply for a UK student visa without a CAS letter as it is a mandatory document required by the UK Home Office. The CAS letter provides proof that you have been accepted to a program of study by a recognized institution and that you meet the requirements for the Tier 4 (General) student visa.

  What happens if my CAS letter expires before I apply for my visa?

   

  A CAS letter is typically valid for use in a visa application for six months from the date it is issued. 

  How long does it take to process a CAS letter?

   

  The processing time for a CAS letter can vary depending on the educational institution and the time of year. It usually takes a few weeks after you have accepted your offer and fulfilled all necessary conditions, such as providing proof of qualifications and paying any required deposits. It’s advisable to check with your institution for specific timelines.

  What are the documents required for a CAS letter in the UK?

   

  To issue a CAS letter, UK educational institutions typically require evidence of your academic qualifications, a copy of your passport, proof of English language proficiency (like an IELTS test), and sometimes evidence of financial means or a deposit payment. The exact requirements can vary, so it's essential to confirm with the institution.