If you booked and paid for your IELTS general training in March 2015 or before the changes in April 2015 and your exam date is after April 6th you might have a problem like we have.

The British council changed their website and added a UKVI Ielts test.

We have been in touch with the British Council and it appears the IELTS general exam we booked and paid for is no longer valid for the UK spouse visa because of the venue. The new IELTS lifeskills/general training that is valid can only be taken at select venues in the Philippines if hosted by the British Council.

After many emails and telephone conversations we have worked out what to do in this case and wanted to share it with you.

The new tests costs more than it did previously. Unfortunately the British Council has stated to us that they we were unable to pay the difference and re book.

This is what you have to do:

You need to be refunded the money for the original exam.

1) Download refund request form http://www.britishcouncil.ph/exam/ie...rms-conditions (It is at the bottom) Fill it out and print.

2) Print confirmation/acknowlegement of Ielts general training email.

3) Register and pay for the UKVI Ielts. (As we are going for spouse visa it was Ielts general skills A1). Print confirmation email.


send all 3 documents together to British council using DHL account no 642210981 (this is free and is the British council DHL account)


Must be done before the date of the original exam to get a refund.

They are allowing refunds in this case as there has been such a recent change that was not reflected on their website till it was too late for us.

Once sent the refund will take two weeks. A cheque will be issued. You will need to call them to check its ready and then give them an address to send it to.

Sadly a long process. It would be better if you could just pay the difference and re book but they wont allow it.

Hope this helps someone.