Hello Everyone,

It's that time again!

A Further Leave to remain 2 year extension , an ever increasing fee £515 and a stack of paperwork.

My Wife just missed the Indefinate Leave to remain old visa before the policy was changed

Yes she's had ample time to pass the life in the U.K test or take a ESOL course, however we've been busy bringing up our family.

1, How many extensions can you have?

2, what is the future for this policy (ID cards etc now there is a coalition between Lib dem and Con)

3, would anyone else like to share there experience.

Thankyou for your time and answers.

CHJ

Please do not post all in bold italics; it makes it difficult to read.

I have deleted your duplicate topic.

To answer your questions.

1) At the moment, no limit; but who knows about the future. Labour were looking at the possibility of imposing a limit in late 2008, but nothing came of it.

2) Only time will tell. I can't see the KOL requirement being abolished. To most people, me included, it makes sense for those who wish to live indefinitely in a country to be able to communicate in the language of that country. (Before you ask; yes, I am learning Thai.)

3) This requirement has been in force for some time now; I imagine that most people's experience is that they have knuckled down and passed the LitUK test or progressed one level on a relevant course. It's not difficult and most people seem able to manage it, even those with young children. Still, up to you if you want to continue paying an ever increasing fee every two years.

My wife got both her ILR and her British citizenship before this requirement was introduced. However, she did attend English classes, even though we had a young daughter. She did so because she wanted to be able to communicate with people, to make English friends, to be able to work. She wanted to be able to lead an active life in the UK; not be stuck at home with only a few Thai friends to talk to and having to rely on me every time she wanted to speak to the doctor or similar; or even just go shopping!

Please do not post all in bold italics; it makes it difficult to read.

I have deleted your duplicate topic.

To answer your questions.

1) At the moment, no limit; but who knows about the future. Labour were looking at the possibility of imposing a limit in late 2008, but nothing came of it.

2) Only time will tell. I can't see the KOL requirement being abolished. To most people, me included, it makes sense for those who wish to live indefinitely in a country to be able to communicate in the language of that country. (Before you ask; yes, I am learning Thai.)

3) This requirement has been in force for some time now; I imagine that most people's experience is that they have knuckled down and passed the LitUK test or progressed one level on a relevant course. It's not difficult and most people seem able to manage it, even those with young children. Still, up to you if you want to continue paying an ever increasing fee every two years.

My wife got both her ILR and her British citizenship before this requirement was introduced. However, she did attend English classes, even though we had a young daughter. She did so because she wanted to be able to communicate with people, to make English friends, to be able to work. She wanted to be able to lead an active life in the UK; not be stuck at home with only a few Thai friends to talk to and having to rely on me every time she wanted to speak to the doctor or similar; or even just go shopping!

My wife's oral English is good and she has many English friends from playgroup and school probally due to the fact that she doesn't have any Thai friends here, however having three children age 1,4 & 5 has made attending english courses difficult. When all the children are at school fulltime im sure she'll be enrolling at the local college.

Interesting to know that Labour where looking at the possibility of imposing a limit, i wonder how the new goverment will fair.

The local college course here is only one half-day a week and finishes well in advance of school going home time. My wife speaks good English and took the University of Cambridge ESOL first level exam after a few weeks at college. She passed first time. It is almost totally a test of spoken English so I suspect your wife would have little trouble with it.

Once the children go to school it seems quite a good way to spend a morning. She has had fun and will continue with them for interest. If your children are at school, your wife will probably enjoy the experience and it will save you a small fortune in the long-run!

My wife's oral English is good and she has many English friends from playgroup and school probally due to the fact that she doesn't have any Thai friends here, however having three children age 1,4 & 5 has made attending english courses difficult. When all the children are at school fulltime im sure she'll be enrolling at the local college.

The local college course here is only one half-day a week

We know people who have sat the course, and in this area it is usually one or two mornings a week. Surely your wife can find someone to look after the children for her on that basis? What about evening classes?