CAS Request Form for Returning/continuing SOAS Students

Before a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) can be issued, SOAS is required by UK Visa and Immigration (UKVI) to collect information about your UK  immigration history and/or current and previous UK study to ensure that you are  eligible for Student Visa sponsorship. We cannot issue you with a CAS until we have received your fully and accurately completed form. Failure to complete the form as required may affect your ability to continue your studies with us.

Please answer the following questions and submit the completed form to the Student Visa Compliance (SVC) team for review. Failure to provide accurate and honest information may result in your CAS application being delayed.

Documents you must upload with this form (as appropriate to your circumstances):

• Bio/ID page of your current passport
• Copies of all your current/previous UK study visas and/or Biometric Residence Permits (if you have previously studied in the UK) or digital immigration status (e-visas)
• Copies of any other current/previous UK Immigration permission held (e.g. under Tier 2/5) or digital immigration status (e-visas)
• Copies of any UK visa refusal notice (if you have previously applied for a Tier 4/Student visa to study in the UK and it was refused)
• Evidence of any tuition fee payments to SOAS (if applicable)
• Evidence of scholarships or sponsorship (if applicable)
• Any evidence/correspondence to support your request for a new/further CAS

The below information must match the information as printed on your passport.

If you plan to renew your passport before applying for your visa we suggest that you wait until you have the new passport before requesting your CAS, if possible. Your passport should be valid for at least 6 months before applying for your visa.

Please note that before we can issue a CAS the SVC team will assess whether you meet UKVI’s requirements for academic progression, unless exempt, study time limits (max 5 years for degree level (6) study or 2 years for below degree level study) and active course engagement.  

You can upload any supporting documentation at the bottom of this section (Section 4).

Resits: If you have resubmissions for modules/dissertations/exams. SOAS would consider your request if there will be academic engagement and it is supported by your department/academic team.

Please attach confirmation from your Academic supervisor/relevant academic confirming that they support your request for further visa sponsorship and there will be academic engagement (e.g. weekly meetings, reviewing the progress of assignments), clearly outline why you need to be in the UK to complete the outstanding work as well as a plan for their meetings with you during the period and how it will be monitored. The letter/email should include the relevant academic’s name, role, and contact details.

Sponsorship for Part-time study

Please note that SOAS does not normally support visa sponsorship for part-time study unless there is an exceptional reason to do so. You can only study a course part-time on a Student visa if the course is above degree level (PGT/PGR). Request for a CAS to undertake part time study will be considered by the SVC team on a case by case basis and will need to have the relevant School approvals (Registry and academic department).

You should also be aware that the part-time Student route is restrictive and students on a part-time visa are not permitted to work (including unpaid work and internships) in the UK, bring dependants to the UK or switch from a full-time Student visa to a part-time student visa or vice versa from inside the UK. You will also be required to pay the new application fee and Immigration Health Surcharge to cover the full duration of your course.

Please note UKVI has time limits for the number of years you can study at certain levels. For below degree level (e.g. International Foundation, Pre-Masters, Presessional) the limit is usually 2 years. For degree level (Undergraduate) the limit is usually 5 years. SOAS will assess your request for a further CAS to ensure that the extension will not take you over the study limit

Please note that your fees can be updated after your CAS is issued and before you have submitted your visa application however it is not usually possible to update the fees after you have submitted your visa application once it has been reviewed (used) by UKVI.

Please ensure that you have the relevant funds in place and they have been held for the length of time specified by UKVI before you submit your visa application, unless you are exempt from meeting the financial requirements. Failure to meet the financial requirements could result in a refusal of your visa application.

Only certain students are eligible to bring family members to the UK on a dependant visa. Please carefully read the guidance on which students are eligible to bring dependants, who can come as a dependant and how to apply for a dependant visa. Please visit our Visas and Immigration page and UKCISA for more guidance on eligibility requirements.

By submitting this form, you are confirming the following:

• I have attached all relevant documentation regarding my immigration history and suitability for a Student visa (including, but not limited to: copies of all UK visas, enrolment/CAS letters, completed UK qualifications, permission to switch, appeal letters, academic progress, Home Office correspondence or any relevant government department, etc. as appropriate.)
• I confirm that the information is complete, true and accurate and no information has been withheld.
• I understand that failure to provide SOAS with a complete and accurate information may result in immediate cancellation of my offer to study and CAS.
• I understand that any visa refusal due to withheld or inaccurate information submitted as part of this CAS request is not the fault of SOAS.
• I have read and accept the terms and conditions of my offer to study at SOAS.
• I have read the UK government requirements for student visas: https://www.gov.uk/student-visa
• I confirm I authorise SOAS University of London to make Student Eligibility Checks and discuss my visa application with the Home Office/UKVI and for them to share the relevant information with SOAS. I also authorise SOAS and Home Office/UKVI to share information about my immigration history and immigration permission(visa) application(s) as and where relevant during my studies at SOAS.
• I understand that if my visa application is refused, I must notify SOAS and submit my visa refusal letter as soon as possible to compliance@soas.ac.uk
• I understand that it is my responsibility to ensure that documents submitted to UKVI as part of my Student route immigration permission application meet UKVI's requirements including the financial requirements.
• I have read and understood SOAS Fee refund and charging policy on the website.

 

Please note that once you receive your CAS from SOAS you can apply for your Student route visa up to a maximum of:

• Six months before the start date of your course, if applying from outside the UK
• Three months before the start date of your course, if applying from inside the UK

Before you submit your visa application, you should also take the time to familiarise yourself with the UKVI’s Student Caseworker guidance. As well as our Visa and Immigration page.

Tuberculosis Screening:

Anyone (unless exempt) applying to enter the UK from a country listed in Appendix T must present at the time of the visa application a valid medical certificate issued by a medical practitioner approved by the UK (listed on the Gov.uk website). 

How we collect and use your personal information:

The Data Protection Act 1998 (DPA) (the General Data Protection Regulation GDPR from 25 May 2018) protects the rights of individuals by setting out certain rules as to what organisations can and cannot do with information about people. A key element to this is the principle to process individuals’ data lawfully and fairly. In order to meet the fairness part of this we need to provide information on how we process personal data.

The School’s Data Protection Policy outlines what personal data we collect, how we use it and who we share it with. It will also provide guidance on your individual rights and how to make a complaint to the Information Commissioner’s Office, the regulator for data protection in the UK.