would the test only apply to immigrants over 18 years old? my thai girlfriend, has two children, 8 and 5, who she will bring to the UK with her.

i would guess they would not have to take the test as they are too young, am i right?

When the mother has passed the life in the UK test or taken an accredited ESOL course,She can apply for Indefinate leave to remain with her children put on the same application form.

If the children are in Thailand and apply for settlement and the Mother has ILR they will get a visa to match their Mothers.

With a fee for each child applying for settlement.

I suspect that children of that age would not be required to take the test, though the UKBA website doesn't make it clear, and neither does the Ministerial Statement.

The website does say that 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, which would clearly rule out the children.

I suspect a lot of kids will be teaching their mothers.

thanks for replies,

Good, they wont need to do the language test , but they will still need to study english hard, before they go to school here. i think both the children do at least 50 minutes of english a day at school, which is good. I just need to find my GF an english language teacher i think. though she is reluctant - she wants me to teach her

The original question was whether the children need to obtain an English language qualification post-29/11.

From what I've read on this thread, the answer has not yet been provided, although some replies are more witting than others.

I'd also like to know the answer.

Scouse.

Approved English language tests for partners

The term 'partner' means husband, wife, civil partner, unmarried partner, same-sex partner, fiance(e) or proposed civil partner.

Regards Paul

thanks for replies,

Good, they wont need to do the language test , but they will still need to study english hard, before they go to school here. i think both the children do at least 50 minutes of english a day at school, which is good. I just need to find my GF an english language teacher i think. though she is reluctant - she wants me to teach her

Don't panic about the children when they get to the UK. They are like sponges and soak up the language quickly. Our daughter has been at school in the UK for less than a year and constantly corrects her mothers pronunciation and grammar. Once they make friends you will be amazed how quickly they become confident in English.

The new rules apply to adult partners only, eligible children get the same visa type as the mother unless already British citizens.

Don't panic about the children when they get to the UK. They are like sponges and soak up the language quickly. Our daughter has been at school in the UK for less than a year and constantly corrects her mothers pronunciation and grammar. Once they make friends you will be amazed how quickly they become confident in English.

Trouble is Bob they tend to learn 'playground slang' from their friends before 'correct grammar' from the schools.

When, after being in the UK for just a couple of months, my wife asked her daughter why she hadn't put her dirty clothes out to be washed......... "cos I couldn't be arsed" wasn't really the answer we wanted to hear. Our daughter honestly thought, with her limited knowledge of English, that was 'good English' because her friends said it to each other 'all the time'. I dread to think what the teacher would have said if she'd put that in an essay.

Don't panic about the children when they get to the UK. They are like sponges and soak up the language quickly. Our daughter has been at school in the UK for less than a year and constantly corrects her mothers pronunciation and grammar. Once they make friends you will be amazed how quickly they become confident in English.

Trouble is Bob they tend to learn 'playground slang' from their friends before 'correct grammar' from the schools.

When, after being in the UK for just a couple of months, my wife asked her daughter why she hadn't put her dirty clothes out to be washed......... "cos I couldn't be arsed" wasn't really the answer we wanted to hear. Our daughter honestly thought, with her limited knowledge of English, that was 'good English' because her friends said it to each other 'all the time'. I dread to think what the teacher would have said if she'd put that in an essay.

So far the playground slang has stayed there, in the playground! I do know that the swearing that does happen at home is in Thai!! This gets stamped on but fortunately nobody understands it!!!