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Arrangements for Tier 4 sponsors allocated zero CAS under the interim limit
26 November 2011
The UK Border Agency has announced new arrangements for Tier 4 sponsors who were granted their sponsor licence between 16 December 2010 and 28 February 2011, and were allocated zero confirmations of acceptance for studies (CAS) under the Tier 4 interim limit.
Sponsors who were granted their licence between these dates, and who did not assign CASs before 28 February 2011, were allocated zero CAS under the interim limit.
CAS allocation
These sponsors are now eligible to claim a CAS allocation in line with the policy and guidance for sponsors who did not have a Tier 4 sponsor licence during the period 1 March 2010 to 28 February 2011, as set out in Appendix A, paragraph 115H(i)(c) of the Immigration Rules.
Eligible sponsors can request this CAS allocation using the sponsorship management system in the usual way. If you need any further information, please contact our sponsorship team at SCOC@UKBA.gsi.gov.uk.
Educational oversight
The UK Border Agency, the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) and the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) have also agreed to allow these sponsors to apply for educational oversight, where they did not do so by the original deadline of 9 September 2011.
These applications must be received by QAA and ISI by 11 November 2011. The Tier 4 sponsor guidance, which you can download from our Tier 4 sponsors page, sets out the consequences for not meeting the deadline for applying for educational oversight. Those provisions of the sponsor guidance apply equally to sponsors to whom this notice and the extended deadline for educational oversight applications apply. Eligible sponsors should contact QAA at a.biscoe@qaa.ac.uk or ISI at Thommy.dewes@isi.net.
Highly Trusted Sponsor status
These sponsors will also be required to apply for Highly Trusted Sponsor status. We will require them to apply for Highly Trusted Sponsor status by the end of March 2012 or once they have held their licence for 12 months, whichever is later.
For details of the criteria for obtaining Highly Trusted Sponsor status, and how to apply, see the Tier 4 sponsor guidance. In particular, sponsors must be able to show a track record of monitoring student attendance.