CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies) detailed analysis

The CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies) is the single most-important document in a UK Student visa application. UKVI refuses applications where the CAS is invalid, expired, or inconsistent with the application data. Run a full forensic check before the applicant pays the GBP 524 application fee.

CAS DATA AS ISSUED:
"""
[CAS_TEXT]
"""

COURSE INFO AS APPLICANT UNDERSTANDS:
[COURSE_INFO]

TUITION DEPOSIT PAID: GBP [TUITION_DEPOSIT_PAID]
ATAS REQUIRED: [ATAS_NEEDED]

§1 — CORE CAS VALIDITY CHECK (150-180 words)

Confirm each field is present + valid:

  □ CAS number (format: E + 13 digits — e.g. E4G8A1B2C3D4E5)
  □ Sponsor licence number (8 digits)
  □ Sponsor name + address — match against UKVI Register of Student Sponsors
  □ Sponsor rating: A-rated (standard) or Probationary; cross-check current status
  □ Course title — exact match with university handbook
  □ RQF level — must be 3 (foundation), 4-5 (sub-degree), 6 (Bachelor), 7 (Master), 8 (Doctoral)
  □ Start date — within 6 months of CAS issue date
  □ End date — including thesis submission / dissertation period
  □ Mode of study — Full-time (required for Student route generally)
  □ Tuition fee per year (or total for course) — in GBP
  □ Tuition deposit paid — must match what applicant actually paid
  □ Maintenance held with sponsor (if any — counts toward 9-month requirement)

§2 — DATA CONSISTENCY (100-120 words)

Cross-check CAS data against:
  ▪ Applicant's passport: name spelling, DOB, nationality, passport number
  ▪ Applicant's English language evidence: matches what sponsor records as accepted
  ▪ Applicant's qualifications: degree certificates match the academic progression sponsor recorded
  ▪ Applicant's NARIC/ENIC report (if foreign qualifications used for entry)

Common mismatches that trigger refusal:
  ▪ Name in passport differs from name on CAS (middle name omitted, surname order swapped)
  ▪ Course start date in CAS differs from applicant's understanding
  ▪ Sponsor recorded English evidence not accepted by UKVI (e.g. unrecognised test centre)

§3 — APPENDIX STUDENT ST 8-12 REQUIREMENTS (100-120 words)

For the CAS to be valid under Appendix Student:
  ▪ ST 8.2: CAS issued no more than 6 months before application date
  ▪ ST 8.3: Course must be at a recognised RQF level
  ▪ ST 9.1: Sponsor must hold a Student sponsor licence at the date application is decided
  ▪ ST 11: Genuine Student requirement — the CAS must reflect a course the applicant is genuinely intending to undertake
  ▪ ST 12: Academic progression — for follow-on study after a previous Student visa, must demonstrate progression (higher level, OR same level different subject with reasoned justification)

If [CLIENT_NAME] is on a re-application or extension: cross-check academic progression evidence.

§4 — ATAS GATE (80-100 words)

If ATAS is required: the CAS must explicitly state "ATAS required: Yes" with the JACS code.

If [ATAS_NEEDED] = Yes:
  ▪ Verify ATAS certificate obtained BEFORE submitting visa application
  ▪ Apply at academic-technology-approval-scheme.service.gov.uk (free)
  ▪ Allow 20-30 working days; 50+ working days for clearance-sensitive subjects
  ▪ ATAS certificate validity: 6 months from issue to course start
  ▪ Recently the Foreign Office has tightened ATAS for AI, quantum, nuclear research — expect closer scrutiny

If [ATAS_NEEDED] = Unknown: contact the sponsor's admissions team to confirm — they have authoritative JACS coding.

§5 — RED FLAGS THAT KILL THE CAS (80-100 words)

Refuse to submit the visa application if any of these appear:
  ▪ Sponsor has just been suspended / revoked (check UKVI register the day of submission)
  ▪ CAS shows "withdrawn" status (sponsor can withdraw if applicant fails progression conditions)
  ▪ CAS issued for a course at a sponsor's "additional location" that is not yet approved
  ▪ CAS conditional on Pre-sessional English completion the applicant has NOT yet completed
  ▪ CAS shows tuition fee inconsistent with the sponsor's published fee schedule (suggesting CAS-mill fraud)

§6 — RECOMMENDED ACTIONS (80-100 words)

Based on the above analysis, recommend one of:
  (A) PROCEED — CAS clean, apply within window
  (B) REQUEST AMENDED CAS — specific field needs correction (e.g. name spelling, deposit amount)
  (C) HOLD APPLICATION — pending ATAS / progression / English evidence
  (D) ESCALATE TO SPONSOR ADMISSIONS — material issue requiring sponsor input
  (E) DO NOT APPLY — sponsor problem or applicant ineligibility

For each recommendation, specify: who does what, by when, and what triggers the next step.

End with: "DRAFT — for OISC/IAA-registered adviser or solicitor review. Re-check sponsor licence status on UKVI register on the day of submission; sponsors can be suspended overnight without applicant notification. Keep printed evidence of sponsor rating on filing day."