University shortlisting and CAS letter
We focus on Russell Group plus strong second-tier universities — Birmingham, Leeds, Sheffield, Nottingham, Newcastle, Coventry, Greenwich, Hertfordshire — based on your CGPA, IELTS and budget. Application fees are minimal in the UK so we file 5 to 8 universities in parallel.
Once an unconditional offer is accepted, we coordinate the CAS letter request, deposit payment and CAS reference number entry into the visa form. CAS errors are the single largest cause of UK refusals; we triple-check tuition, fees-paid and course-start-date fields.
Fees and policy thresholds (maintenance amounts, UKVI fees, IHS surcharge) are reviewed annually by UKVI. Confirm the current figures with our team before paying anything.
IELTS UKVI / SELT and English requirements
UK Student route requires IELTS UKVI (Academic) at minimum 5.5 or 6.0 in each band depending on the university. UKVI is a Secure English Language Test — you must book it at an IDP or British Council UKVI-approved centre, not the regular slot. We book this for you at Ahmedabad.
Some universities accept Pearson PTE UKVI or Trinity ISE — we confirm with the admissions desk before you pay any test fee. Pre-sessional English at the university is an option if your CAS-stated IELTS minimum is just out of reach.
Maintenance funds — 28-day rule
You must show £1,334 per month for London or £1,023 per month for outside London, for the duration of your course up to 9 months, plus any unpaid tuition. Funds must be held in your or your parent's account for 28 consecutive days, on a balance that does not dip below the threshold.
Our Nadiad office handles the timing carefully — we do not file the visa until the 28-day window is locked. Bank certificate format is specific (UKVI prescribes wording) and we get this drafted with your branch manager directly.
ATAS, IHS and visa application
ATAS (Academic Technology Approval Scheme) is mandatory for some STEM postgrad programs — engineering, physics, materials science, certain computer science routes. CAS letters mark whether ATAS is needed. We apply for ATAS 4 to 6 weeks before the visa file.
IHS (Immigration Health Surcharge) is paid online during the visa application and gives you NHS access for the visa length. Visa fee plus IHS is the single biggest line item — we walk you through the payment so it does not get duplicated by accident.
Biometrics, decision and pre-departure
Biometrics at VFS UK in Ahmedabad — about 90 minutes from Nadiad. Standard processing is 3 weeks; priority service can compress to 5 working days for an extra fee.
On approval you get a 90-day vignette to travel; the BRP (or eVisa, as UKVI is digitising) is collected after arrival. Pre-departure session covers GP registration, Oyster card or local transport, council tax and accommodation deposit norms.
