The BSA Group Legal Services will offer a range of free and discounted immigration legal support including CAS support, mock UKVI audits and due diligence checks to assess financial and pupil eligibility.

“We are delighted to be able to offer this new service to our members,” Kate Hollyer, Legal team lead and qualified immigration solicitor, said.

“A focal part of BSA Group’s mission is to support excellence in boarding and, through BSA Group Legal, we seek to ensure our schools holding UKVI sponsor status remain compliant and have access to expert legal guidance.”

BSA has also revealed a due diligence service partnership with Verisio, which carries out comprehensive financial and background checks on the source of fee revenue for independent schools recruiting international students.

“Compliance with stringent sponsor duties, ever-changing legal policy and guidance is often burdensome for our member schools. Navigating the complexities of UK immigration laws can be challenging and mistakes are costly; sponsor schools cannot afford to get it wrong,” Hollyer continued.

“We want to make UKVI compliance as straightforward, stress-free and cost-effective as possible”

“We want to take that burden away from our schools and make UKVI compliance as straightforward, stress-free and cost-effective as possible, so that our schools can focus on providing a fantastic international student experience.”

The service also offers agent and guardian checks, bespoke immigration training and advice, individual student and family visa application support.

Home Office escalation support will assist with replacement biometric residence permits, delayed application decisions, ISI compliance issues, CAS reinstatement and visa refusals.

“Whether schools seek full support with issuing CAS to their international students or want to check their current processes are compliant, we offer services to suit all needs. Our unique position within the BSA Group ensures we offer a holistic understanding of the boarding sector; our advice is truly integrated,” Hollyer added.