Changes to 'knowledge of language and life' requirements and application details

[Arthur Little]

Bugger! Freaking Home Office sent a response to my FOI request but it's the automated "Thank you for contacting the Home Office. You can no longer use this email address for general immigration enquiries." BLAH BLAH BLAH!!! You can't really get a definite answer from the !!!

Rayna ... to read about the lack of a proper response to the well~worded FOI request you sent to the *Home Office 3 days ago.

Question now is: WHICH of *its departments does deal with enquiries like yours? ... wish I knew the answer! Thing is, Myrna came here in March 2009 ... a year and a half before these (in my opinion) totally unnecessary (for Filipinos anyway) **English Language Tests came into being ... hence I am, what you might say, "in the dark" as far as **they're concerned.

Peter would be the person most likely to know, I should imagine. Meanwhile, I'd like to acknowledge the time and effort you've put into this exercise on members' behalf ... You're a 'STAR' ... again!

[Terpe]

...Peter would be the person most likely to know, I should imagine. Meanwhile, I'd like to acknowledge the time and effort you've put into this exercise on members' behalf ... You're a 'STAR' ... again!

Afraid not Arthur....
It's a mighty important issue and one that probably should have been worded better in the written statements from Home Office/UKBA

Whenever there is a questionable statement it's always important (imo) to seek definitive clarity.

This is why Rayna has quite rightly requested a straight answer to a straight question. Hopefully that answer will be made sooner rather than later.

There are two key documents published by UKBA and filbrit has already indicated an extract from one of them:-

Changes to the Knowledge of language and life in the UK requirement for settlement and naturalisation which states:-

If you already have a qualification at B1 level
Applicants who already have an English language qualification at B1 level or above will not be required to take another one. For example, someone who demonstrated a knowledge of English equivalent to B1 level when applying for entry clearance will not be required to take a further test in order to qualify settlement

The other one was from UKBA was issued and published as their Statement of Intent, changes to the requirement from October 2013 which supports the above writing by stating the following:-

English Language Qualifications
We will accept a range of English language qualifications as evidence that an applicant has met the requirement to hold a B1 level speaking and listening qualification. This will help ensure that all those needing to take a test will be able to find one suitable for their needs and, so far as possible, that no one who already has an English language qualification at B1 or above will be required to take another one. So, for example, a person applying for settlement as a Tier 2 (General) migrant who has already demonstrated a knowledge of English equivalent to B1 level in order to qualify for entry clearance, will not have to take a further test at settlement stage.

The following qualifications will be accepted:
• Qualifications covering speaking and listening at B1 or above from the Secure English Language Test (SELT) list in the Immigration Rules, Appendix O. The SELT list is available at:
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/si...lish-tests.pdf

There's not any definitive clarity on certificate validity, although the intimation is that expired certificates are acceptable.
Sadly, intimation doesn't 'cut the mustard' for such important and expensive applications when dealing with such hard edged organisations like UKBA

Just my 2 centavos

Can't understand why UKBA have difficulty to provide a quick simple answer.

[gWaPito]

Rayna ... to read about the lack of a proper response to the well~worded FOI request you sent to the *Home Office 3 days ago.

Question now is: WHICH of *its departments does deal with enquiries like yours? ... wish I knew the answer! Thing is, Myrna came here in March 2009 ... a year and a half before these (in my opinion) totally unnecessary (for Filipinos anyway) **English Language Tests came into being ... hence I am, what you might say, "in the dark" as far as **they're concerned.

Peter would be the person most likely to know, I should imagine. Meanwhile, I'd like to acknowledge the time and effort you've put into this exercise on members' behalf ... You're a 'STAR' ... again!

I must agree .....I got some time to kill at the moment so reading stuff I wouldn't normally...It's a bloody minefield......You all have my sympathy