BUILA and UUKi call for enhanced terms of engagement from UKVI

Monday, 27 April 2026

BUILA, working with Universities UK International, has submitted a series of data requests to UK Visas and Immigration on behalf of members, following feedback from across the sector. 

The asks reflect growing concern that universities are being expected to make critical recruitment and compliance decisions without sufficient access to timely, transparent and actionable data. This is particularly important as institutions prepare for changes to the student sponsor compliance framework and the impact this could have on Basic Compliance Assessment outcomes. 

The requests focus on practical improvements that would help universities manage risk proportionately, support genuine international students and maintain confidence in the UK’s student visa system. 

Why this important 

BUILA members have consistently highlighted the need for better information from UKVI during live recruitment and admissions cycles, with institutions often required to make decisions on CAS issuance, withdrawals, deferrals and market activity without a full picture of visa outcomes, refusal trends, processing delays or emerging risk signals. Recent BUILA survey findings show that universities are taking more cautious recruitment decisions ahead of tougher visa rules, with many reporting higher visa refusal levels, delays and concerns about inconsistent decision-making, reinforcing BUILA’s call for a more proportionate and transparent framework. 

The key areas BUILA and UUKi have raised with UKVI 

The 20+ data and engagement requests submitted to UKVI cover both operational and policy issues. They include asks relating to: 

Live and timely visa outcome data 
Members have identified real-time or close-to-real-time information as a priority. Institutions need better visibility of visa application progress and outcomes during the cycle, so they are not reliant on delayed, incomplete or self-reported information when making decisions that may affect students and compliance metrics. 

Clearer information on refusals and decision-making 
Improved transparency regarding visa refusals has been requested, including clearer explanations of decision-making and better access to information that would allow applicants and institutions to understand where issues have arisen. 

Forward-looking intelligence and market insight 
The requests call for more proactive intelligence from UKVI, including earlier signals on emerging risks, changes in refusal patterns, market-level trends and areas where additional scrutiny may be developing. This would allow universities to make evidence-based decisions in-cycle, rather than relying on retrospective data or anecdotal information. 

Regular data on refusal rates, processing and interviews 
Members have asked for more consistent data on refusal rates, visa processing times and the prevalence of UKVI interviews. This would help institutions understand changing operational patterns, advise applicants more accurately and distinguish between issues within institutional control and wider systemic or market-level factors. 

Transparency around Basic Compliance Assessments 
A significant strand of the asks relates to BCAs, including clearer visibility of the data used in compliance calculations, routine reconciliation of figures and more detailed guidance on how different scenarios are treated. 

Ongoing engagement between UKVI and the sector 
BUILA and UUKi have also called for stronger, more structured engagement between UKVI, the Home Office, the Department for Education and sector bodies. This includes mechanisms for prioritising data-sharing improvements, identifying emerging issues early and ensuring that compliance expectations are matched by the systems and information available to sponsors. 

BUILA have also made a renewed call to action for the organisation to support with the training of UKVI staff. 

A constructive agenda for better data sharing 

BUILA fully support the integrity of the student visa system and the need for robust sponsor responsibilities. However, BUILA stresses that effective compliance depends on timely, accurate and transparent information, and without this, institutions can be forced into decisions that may restrict opportunities for genuine students, damage the UK’s competitiveness and create unnecessary instability in key international markets.