English language tests for visa to be made more difficult

[brewsterbudgen]

Due the threat from Reform, the government are planning to increase the level of difficulty for the English language tests required for "work visas" but this could include Settlement visas and leave to remain.  It might not happen and even if it does it will need to go through parliament (I think?) but probably a good incentive for anyone planning to do this to do so soon.  The current A1 test is pretty easy!

 

"Migrants will reportedly have to be fluent in English if they want to remain in Britain under Government plans. 

The current standard required for work visa applicants is equivalent to GCSE level and only requires new arrivals to understand basic English in everyday situations. 

It is deemed by ministers to be insufficient for migrants to integrate effectively and will be raised to the equivalent of English as a foreign language A level, The Times reports. 

This requires people to ­express themselves “fluently and spontaneously without much obvious searching for expressions” and to speak English “flexibly and effectively for social, academic and professional purposes”, according to the Home Office. "

 

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/05/07/migrants-may-face-10-year-wait-tougher-english-tests/

[Drumbuie]

A large proportion of the indigenous population of the UK can't speak English fluently and certainly not to " academic" levels 

[Snackbar]

Too Queer’s too little too late again

[jippytum]

I applaude stffer immigration tests across the board. Especially for illegal immigrants who receive immediate benifits included in their Starmer welcome package. 

[ronster]

There are literally whole areas in the UK where a lot of people speak little to no English. See it on the UK news a lot when they are interviewing people from these areas and they aren't speaking English. Most seem to be of Pakistani or Indian origin .

[connda]

1 hour ago, Drumbuie said:

A large proportion of the indigenous population of the UK can't speak English fluently and certainly not to " academic" levels 

They should require that all foreigners speak with a snobby RP Oxbridge accent.

[connda]

On 5/8/2025 at 9:52 AM, brewsterbudgen said:

Due the threat from Reform, the government are planning to increase the level of difficulty for the English language tests required for "work visas" but this could include Settlement visas and leave to remain.  It might not happen and even if it does it will need to go through parliament (I think?) but probably a good incentive for anyone planning to do this to do so soon.  The current A1 test is pretty easy!

 

"Migrants will reportedly have to be fluent in English if they want to remain in Britain under Government plans. 

The current standard required for work visa applicants is equivalent to GCSE level and only requires new arrivals to understand basic English in everyday situations. 

It is deemed by ministers to be insufficient for migrants to integrate effectively and will be raised to the equivalent of English as a foreign language A level, The Times reports. 

This requires people to ­express themselves “fluently and spontaneously without much obvious searching for expressions” and to speak English “flexibly and effectively for social, academic and professional purposes”, according to the Home Office. "

 

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/05/07/migrants-may-face-10-year-wait-tougher-english-tests/

Translated:

If you attempt to migrate legally, such a with a UK husband, you'll be weeded out with language tests and rejected.
If you cross the channel in a rubber dingy, you'll be welcomed with open arms, receive benefits which even UK citizen don't have, and can continue to speak your foreign language and maintain your foreign customs.

[BritManToo]

10 minutes ago, connda said:

Translated:

If you attempt to migrate legally, such a with a UK husband, you'll be weeded out with language tests and rejected.
If you cross the channel in a rubber dingy, you'll be welcomed with open arms, receive benefits which even UK citizen don't have, and can continue to speak your foreign language and maintain your foreign customs.

When the UK government starts talking about restricting immigration, they always mean restricting legal immigration, so no hope for our wives and kids, but easy for the boat people.

 

It's a total deflection, it's the illegals that Brit citizens are concerned about.

[Purdey]

As mentioned by @Drumbuie a lot of native British people will not pass a stringent English test. Try it with Cockneys and Scots and see how that goes. The nationality test ("Who was Henry VIII's fourth wife?") would see many British sent into exile.

In fact, a lot of contributors to ASEANNow would fail! 

[johng]

41 minutes ago, Purdey said:

a lot of contributors to ASEANNow would fail!

 

I tried the mock version when they first started the language test in the early 2000's ??   and yes  failed    must ave been me  Cockneys.  😋

[theoldgit]

3 hours ago, BritManToo said:

It's a total deflection, it's the illegals that Brit citizens are concerned about.

Yes you’re right, but there is far more legal migration than those arriving illegally.

 

There is a large black market in non existent jobs, social media is awash with dodgy job offers, many entering the country via these routes subsequently seek asylum. Many others are students who do not take up their courses and then disappear into the black economy. HMG are bringing in legislation to address these routes, though a massive reduction of overseas student visas being issued is severely affecting colleges and universities.

 

The language tests are pretty easy, it’s the Life in the UK tests that many struggle with.

 

Of course the boat people are an issue because they’re in the public eye, ideally they would build more Immigration Detention Centres, but there is a massive NIMBY movement making this difficult, hence the use of expensive hotel accommodation.

[Somjot]

4 hours ago, ronster said:

There are literally whole areas in the UK where a lot of people speak little to no English. See it on the UK news a lot when they are interviewing people from these areas and they aren't speaking English. Most seem to be of Pakistani or Indian origin .

Isn't that just disgusting?

Same in the country where I live. Foreigners wherever you look, none of them speaks the language, let alone being interested in learning it, have no respect for the culture and mentality, the majority of them being men. They are out on the streets every night in a loud and aggressive way leading to brawls almost daily and are  permanently chasing women .

By the way, I live in Thailand.

 

[brewsterbudgen]

5 minutes ago, Somjot said:

Isn't that just disgusting?

Same in the country where I live. Foreigners wherever you look, none of them speaks the language, let alone being interested in learning it, have no respect for the culture and mentality, the majority of them being men. They are out on the streets every night in a loud and aggressive way leading im brawls almost daily and are  permanently chasing women .

By the way, I live in Thailand.

 

 

In order to get Permanent Residence in Thailand or Thai citizenship some evidence of being able to speak Thai is required.  The vast majority of expats here are non-immigrant, so there is no requirement to learn the language.  Similarly the UK visas in this thread can lead to Indefinite Leave to Remain and UK citizenship, hence the language requirements.  It would be nice if the UK offered 'easy' annual extensions of stay for various purposes like Thailand!

[ronster]

9 minutes ago, Somjot said:

Isn't that just disgusting?

Same in the country where I live. Foreigners wherever you look, none of them speaks the language, let alone being interested in learning it, have no respect for the culture and mentality, the majority of them being men. They are out on the streets every night in a loud and aggressive way leading to brawls almost daily and are  permanently chasing women .

By the way, I live in Thailand.

 

Need to move to middle of nowhere Thailand it seems 😀👍

[Somjot]

5 hours ago, brewsterbudgen said:

 

In order to get Permanent Residence in Thailand or Thai citizenship some evidence of being able to speak Thai is required.  The vast majority of expats here are non-immigrant, so there is no requirement to learn the language.  Similarly the UK visas in this thread can lead to Indefinite Leave to Remain and UK citizenship, hence the language requirements.  It would be nice if the UK offered 'easy' annual extensions of stay for various purposes like Thailand!

I know that; I have permanent residency for almost 20 years now, never seriously thought about applying for citizenship though.

However, my comment was meant to be some kind of critical remark to all those westerners living or spending most time of the year in Thailand, yet ranting about foreigners in their own country, who won't integrate and don't speak the language.

Most expats may legally not be immigrants, so there is no requirement to learn the Thai language but factually they are, as they are spending most of their time here and one reason for those language requirements is to be able to master any everyday situation, an ability, which so many expats lack. Consequently their whole everyday life depends on others, who can be some kind of life partner, who may have her own interests or some agency which definitely has its own interests.

 

 

[NoDisplayName]

9 hours ago, Purdey said:

"Who was Henry VIII's fourth wife?"

 

That's easy!

She was Mrs. VIII.

 

In fact, all his wives were Mrs. VIII.

Trick question, follow-on wives don't get junior or senior or numbers added.