The English Language Test

[housepainter]

I may be wrong.

It would be helpful if I am.

I recently visited the UK Embassy and over heard a conversation between staff and a UK citizen wishing tom obtain a visa for his Thai wife.

The staff member informed him of an English Language Test that came into effect from the 29 November.

Briefly, I managed to hear her mention 'Speaking and Listening' but other than that and the fact she said you needed 'an A1 pass' I know nothing of it.

Have you heard of it? Is there such a test? Is it available to study? Has it been published? Are there any guidelines?

Am I completely wrong?

[VisasPlus]

There is a new requirement for settlement visas for the UK. Not for visit visas.

Applicants ( spouses, partners, etc) are required to take an English test. The test comprises the speaking and listening elements of the A1 level CEFR English test. Basically, without a pass in these two elements you cannot apply for a settlement visa ( there are certain exemptions ). You can find full details on our website under A1 English. There are also details of where you can take the test or a Pre-test seminar in Bangkok or Pattaya.

[Rolanddrums]

Hi, I have a query regarding the necessity / timing of this test too. My thai fiancee applied for her fiancee/settlement visa mid Nov 2010 ( ie before 29th Nov ), and received it mid Dec 2010. We are now in England and plan to marry May 2011. My question is does she HAVE to study and pass this 'A1' test. And if so must she pass it prior to the 6 months being up, or can she get the 2 year extension without it. Her English is (for a Thai) well above average btw.

Thanks in advance ....Roland.

[Eff1n2ret]

Hi, I have a query regarding the necessity / timing of this test too. My thai fiancee applied for her fiancee/settlement visa mid Nov 2010 ( ie before 29th Nov ), and received it mid Dec 2010. We are now in England and plan to marry May 2011. My question is does she HAVE to study and pass this 'A1' test. And if so must she pass it prior to the 6 months being up, or can she get the 2 year extension without it. Her English is (for a Thai) well above average btw.

Thanks in advance ....Roland.

She will have to pass it. She won't get the 2-year extension without it. My information is that a number of people in your situation are experiencing frustration because a number of the UKBA-appointed providers in the UK are language schools who tell would-be candidates that they must take a course of lessons before they take the test - and guess what, all their courses are full! Don't accept this, it's rubbish. Shop around. PM me if you need further advice.

[7by7]

From New English language requirement for partners

The new requirement applies to applications for entry clearance, leave to enter, leave to remain and further leave to remain. It does not apply to indefinite leave to remain or citizenship applications where the existing Knowledge of Life requirement continues to apply.

The required level is very basic, so as Eff1n2ret says, if her English is well above average then she should have no need for any lessons beforehand..

Remember that having obtained FLR she will then need to satisfy the harder Knowledge of language and life in the UK requirement before she can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain.

[Rolanddrums]

Hi, ok so we need to take and pass this A1 ? test to be able to get the 2 year extension. Where can we take the test? How much is it and how do we apply? Is there an online 'dummy' test we can take to establish if shes ready to take the test without taking a course.

TBH shes quite keen on studying further , but on the other hand I dont want to enrol in a course teaching her stuff she knows already.

ps we are in Poole Dorset. I see there are courses offered by Borough of Poole at the Oakdale Centre, but appear to be full already and I havn't a clue which one we should be looking at if any.

Thanks again in advance... Roland.

[7by7]

list of acceptable tests and approved test providers

[Eff1n2ret]

Hi, ok so we need to take and pass this A1 ? test to be able to get the 2 year extension. Where can we take the test? How much is it and how do we apply? Is there an online 'dummy' test we can take to establish if shes ready to take the test without taking a course.

TBH shes quite keen on studying further , but on the other hand I dont want to enrol in a course teaching her stuff she knows already.

ps we are in Poole Dorset. I see there are courses offered by Borough of Poole at the Oakdale Centre, but appear to be full already and I havn't a clue which one we should be looking at if any.

Thanks again in advance... Roland.

For a dummy test, try this website - http://www.emduk.com/pbs/points_based_system.php - and the link "Sample Tests" brings up an A1 test. Only Part 3, "Speaking and Listening" is used for the certificate for a settlement application. What is shown there isn't tremendously explicit, but the first task, Q & A, requires the candidate to answer relatively simple questions about him/herself. The trick is not just to give one-word or 'yes' or 'no' answers, but to answer in sentences, e.g. "are you married?" - "Yes, I've been married for x years" gets the marks. For the second part of the test I would refer you back to the first task in the Reading section, not to get your wife to read it, but for you to read it to her. Let her make notes while you're reading it, it's not a test of memory, and then see if she can answer the questions. If she does so easily, she's probably going to have no problems passing the real test. The third part is a role-play, of which an example is set out reasonably well in the dummy. The examiner has a script to play his part in it.

If you can't find a test centre locally you might have to go to London. EMD appear to have four there. But if your wife can make a reasonable attempt at the test described above, don't stand any nonsense from providers who tell you that she must attend a course of lessons before she takes the test.

[baltazarsam]

Happy New Year All,

Myself (UK Citizen) and my Thai girlfriend plan to register our same-sex Civil Partnership in Vietnam in February. We then will go back to Bangkok and apply for the Spouse visa. Which course does she need to do...is it the English Language Test or English Life Test course in order to submit her visa?? She lives in Phuket and am having difficulty in finding somewhere that does it. Or would an IELTS or TOIEC course suffice?? I so would value your advice.

Cheers Sam

[Basil B]

Both are listed in the list of acceptable tests and approved test providers as posted by 7by7 yesterday :jap:

[7by7]

Sam,

See New English language requirement for partners and Contact details of 'A1 level' test providers in Thailand (I understand this list is not exhaustive and other providers are available).

When you refer to the "English Life Test" do you mean the Knowledge of language and life in the UK requirement? This is required for Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK which your partner will be able to apply for after she has been resident in the UK for a minimum of 24 months.

[RAZZELL]

Happy New Year All,

Myself (UK Citizen) and my Thai girlfriend plan to register our same-sex Civil Partnership in Vietnam in February. We then will go back to Bangkok and apply for the Spouse visa. Which course does she need to do...is it the English Language Test or English Life Test course in order to submit her visa?? She lives in Phuket and am having difficulty in finding somewhere that does it. Or would an IELTS or TOIEC course suffice?? I so would value your advice.

Cheers Sam

Your gf isn't your spouse..your gf is your civil partner and you will be applying for FLR because of that.

http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/en/howtoapply/infs/settlementguide#22393572

http://ukinvietnam.fco.gov.uk/en/help-for-british-nationals/living-in-vietnam/civil-partnerships

RAZZ

[7by7]

Your gf isn't your spouse..your gf is your civil partner and you will be applying for FLR because of that.

FLR is Further Leave to Remain. One cannot apply for leave to remain in the UK unless one is already in the UK!

Sam's partner will apply for settlement as a civil partner, which to all intents and purposes is the same as a spouse except spouses are of different sexes, whilst civil partners are the same sex. That they registered their CP in Vietnam and it is not recognised by the Thai government is irrelevant; the UK government does recognise it.

SET04 - Civil partners

Like a spouse visa, a CP visa lasts for 27 months and once the holder has been resident in the UK for 24 months they can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain; provided they satisfy the KOL and other requirements. There is no need for any FLR application, unless for some reason they do not qualify for ILR when their initial visa expires.

[RAZZELL]

Your gf isn't your spouse..your gf is your civil partner and you will be applying for FLR because of that.

FLR is Further Leave to Remain. One cannot apply for leave to remain in the UK unless one is already in the UK!

Sam's partner will apply for settlement as a civil partner, which to all intents and purposes is the same as a spouse except spouses are of different sexes, whilst civil partners are the same sex. That they registered their CP in Vietnam and it is not recognised by the Thai government is irrelevant; the UK government does recognise it.

SET04 - Civil partners

Like a spouse visa, a CP visa lasts for 27 months and once the holder has been resident in the UK for 24 months they can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain; provided they satisfy the KOL and other requirements. There is no need for any FLR application, unless for some reason they do not qualify for ILR when their initial visa expires.

Sorry...It was a mistake...been a long day

I was just trying to point out that although in essence it is the same a "Spouse" is defined by the UKBA as a husband or a wife...not a civil partner.

RAZZ

[charliemike11]

Good luck with all your exams and visa applications folks!!

"Life in the Uk " training websites are all over the internet, the home office sample test gives a really good idea of what to expect. My civil partner passed two months ago! If I remember rightly the Britishness test website was a good one! Tell your partner she can use the headphones during the exam it helps to better understand the questions which are multiple choice answers...... Rambling now sorry people Tired

We didn't need to pass this test to enter the uk, It was not necessary for a marriage/Fiancee visa but that was two years ago, It was necessary for the ILR though.

Best of luck

[7by7]

This test is a new requirement.

The LitUK test/ESOL with citizenship course requirement for ILR is unchanged.

[Rolanddrums]

Hi, thanks for the info . Just going back to the A1 'listening/talking' test required for the 2 year extension after we get married. My fiancee's friend is telling her that she cannot take the test unles she has received a certificate from a school running a relevant course that she has attended. Apparantly ' friend of the friend' went to London to take the test only to find she wasnt allowed to take it as she didnt have this certificate. .....Is this right? ......roland.

[Eff1n2ret]

Hi, thanks for the info . Just going back to the A1 'listening/talking' test required for the 2 year extension after we get married. My fiancee's friend is telling her that she cannot take the test unles she has received a certificate from a school running a relevant course that she has attended. Apparantly ' friend of the friend' went to London to take the test only to find she wasnt allowed to take it as she didnt have this certificate. .....Is this right? ......roland.

No. Please re-read my post #8, particularly the last sentence. Find a test provider who will give her the test without insisting on a course of tuition. No prior qualification or certificate is required.

[yidiyido]

My GF is going for her test when i go over in 4 weeks its a TOEIC test

have been told its reading writing , speaking and listening , not sure why as i have read that its only required to have speaking and listening

[7by7]

The UKBA requirement is speaking and listening only.

Unfortunately many providers (not all) have decided to offer a speaking and writing test and a separate listening and reading test. So candidates have to take, and pay for, both tests to get the speaking and listening elements that they require.

Moral; shop around.