Knowing the meaning of the CAS letter and its importance is crucial for those who intend to pursue their education in the United Kingdom. For additional information, please continue reading.
What is the CAS letter?
Your education provider issues the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) as a pre-requisite electronic document to substantiate your student visa application for the United Kingdom.
Before submitting an application for a student visa, international students must obtain a CAS letter from a UK-based academic institution. This is due to the fact that the student visa is only issued after the student has accepted an offer and submitted the aforementioned deposit.
The CAS letter typically includes all of your fundamental information, including the name of your university, the course of study, the duration of your studies, and a CAS number that is exclusive to you. This is the appearance:
The following details will be included in your CAS letter, as demonstrated in the sample CAS letter above:
- 14-digit CAS reference number
- Course title and duration
- Scores from English language proficiency examinations, such as the International English Language Testing System (IELTS),
- The Sponsor License Number (SLN) of the university you wish to attend
- The first-year tuition fees or the full course fee, including any scholarships that may be available.
- The university has received partial tuition expenses.
- The accommodation expenses have been partially paid.
Importance of CAS number
Unique to each pupil, the CAS number is 14 digits in length. It is used as a reference by the UKVI (UK Visas & Immigration) to verify that the applicant is a legitimate international student enrolled in a UK Academic institution.
This number is used to maintain all of your information in secure databases that are accessible to both the university you enroll in and the UKVI. During the visa application procedure, these details are consulted to cross-reference your personal information.
Requirements and validity for CAS
Certain prerequisites must be satisfied in order to submit an application for a CAS letter. The following documents must be submitted to satisfy these requirements:
- Marksheets and transcripts of academic work
- Credentials and documents that are valid
- Updated visa
The CAS letter is effective for six months; however, it is feasible to apply for it three months prior to the commencement of your academic program.
How to apply for the CAS letter
In order to submit an application for a CAS, the following prerequisites must be met:
- You are required to satisfy all of the mandatory prerequisites specified in your conditional offer letter.
- Submit all pertinent academic and other documents to the university’s website.
- After the initial deposit has been paid, please confirm your admission.
Points to note
- Some universities, particularly those offering undergraduate programs, do not require an initial deposit for CAS.
- You can access the websites of UK universities to obtain all the necessary information to obtain a CAS letter.
- A pre-CAS interview is conducted by UK universities to assess your academic background, financial situation, career aspirations, and study plans.
CAS letter deadline
Typically, applications for CAS letters are considered within 90 working days of the official commencement of the study program. Nevertheless, if your university has granted you an extension request to have your case treated differently, it may be postponed.
The UK CAS letter is typically distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Applying for your CAS letter at the earliest opportunity is regarded as a secure course of action. It is crucial to acknowledge that there is no predetermined duration; rather, it is contingent upon the university.
You may receive CAS letters from numerous UK universities; however, you will be required to select one of them for the visa application process.
A word of caution: Your student visa request may be denied if the university provides inaccurate or inconsistent information in your CAS letter. This is due to the fact that the CAS letter is a critical component of the visa application approval process.
Therefore, it is imperative that you verify all the information to ensure that you submit a visa application that is entirely accurate.
Need help?
To prevent any errors, it is possible to schedule a complimentary consultation appointment with one of Liveabroad’s certified education counselors to address all of your inquiries.