New UKBA Requirements for Settlement and Naturalisation

[stevie c]

Thanks Peter - it's crazy that someone can live here for 3yrs & still needs to pass an English speaking test

[melovesengland]

I know Stevie. Ridiculous! Tsk Tsk Tsk

[Bluebirdjones]

Thanks Peter - it's crazy that someone can live here for 3yrs & still needs to pass an English speaking test

Stevie, I disagree.
If you're going to be a citizen of this country.... then a certain standard of English should be required.
I also think that successful applicants should also be on a "trial period", of for example 5 years.
Certain criminal convictions should mean their citizenship (and British passport) being rescinded.

... as an aside...
For many years I've worked as an Electoral Registration officer in SE London, getting people to fill out & return their electoral registration forms.
I'm now no longer amazed at the number of people I encounter who claim British citizenship, but who can't string more than 5 words of English together in a sentence, or grasp any concept of what is required from them (re registration).

[purple]

Thanks peter its crazy that someone can live here for 3yrs & still needs to pass an english speaking test

I think that's pretty understandable. I can understand it from UKBA point of view.

I've seen some people here who are residents and been here for 10 years and still not fluent with the English language.
I think that is only fair, like there are children who go to school and don't even speak a word of English because their parents who are residents here are not good with it.

You guys here are lucky because Filipinos speak decent conversational English