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Immigrants have to prove they have basic English
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Date posted: 26 July 2010
The government are bringing forward to the autumn measures requiring many immigrants marrying UK citizens to prove they have a command of English to November 29th 2010
These measures, which Labour had planned to introduce in July 2011, will apply to partners coming to the UK from areas outside the EU, such as South Asia.
Under the new rules, anyone from outside the EU applying for a visa to join their spouse or partner will have to prove they have a basic command of English, to help them get by in daily life, before their application is approved.
At present, visa applicants have to show only that their marriage or partnership is genuine and that they can financially support themselves.
Officials estimate that the new language test will lead to 10% fewer applications overall and it is likely to affect most the UK's Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi communities.
Anyone wishing to come to the UK as a partner will need to demonstrate basic English at A1 level, the same level required for skilled workers admitted under Tier 2 of the points-based system.
A partner coming to the UK from outside Europe will need to provide evidence with their visa application that they have passed an English language test with one of our approved test providers.
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/applicationforms/pbs/approvedenglishtestst2.pdf
Under the current rules, people applying for visas as partners must already meet a range of criteria before being allowed to enter the UK. All applicants must show that their marriage or partnership is genuine, and that they can support themselves financially.
Whether they have married in the UK or overseas (or not at all), the non-UK partner must apply for a two-year settlement visa to come and live in the UK as a husband, wife, civil partner, unmarried partner or same-sex partner. At the end of the two years, they can apply to us for permission to settle in the UK (known as 'indefinite leave to remain').
Partners who apply for settlement after completing their two-year period of temporary residence will still need to meet the 'knowledge of language and life in the UK' test. This is in addition to the new basic English language requirement, which forms part of their initial application.
ESOL and citizenship
http://www.natecla.org.uk/news_details.asp?NewsID=497
Click 'more' to go to UK Border Agency
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