CAS risk under UKVI RAG

Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) is central to UK student visa applications. Under UKVI RAG, sponsor band directly affects whether and how many CAS documents a university can issue.

How band status affects CAS

CAS policy varies by band:

• Green — full CAS allocation under the compliance framework
• Amber — CAS issuance may be completely frozen
• Red — CAS cut by at least 10%; licence risk elevated

CAS risk assessment for students

Before paying deposits, check whether your chosen sponsor is Green, Amber, or Red. An unconditional offer does not guarantee CAS if the sponsor is in Amber freeze.

CAS compliance monitoring for universities

Compliance teams should track refusal, enrolment, and completion metrics continuously — not only at annual BCA cycles. One weak metric triggers band change and CAS consequences.

Frequently asked questions

What is CAS issuance risk?

The risk that a sponsor cannot issue new CAS letters due to Amber freeze or Red band CAS cuts under UKVI RAG.

Which universities have low CAS risk?

Green band sponsors meet all compliance thresholds. Use the band checker and Green band list — always confirm with the institution.

Related guides and tools

• Amber band CAS freeze analysis
• Green band CAS universities
• CAS interview preparation

Help about band assignments

Band assignments on this site reflect independent compliance intelligence monitoring. They are not official UKVI publications. UKVI is expected to publish sponsor ratings on the register from summer 2027. Always verify status with your institution before applying or paying deposits.

Sources

• UK Home Office — Restoring Control Over the Immigration System (White Paper, May 2025)
• UKVI Register of Licensed Sponsors (Students)

Explore the UKVI RAG framework

Search sponsor band status or read the full compliance guide.