Query About Uk Ilr Requirements

[Heyal]

Hello, I was hoping that someone might be able to clear up what appears to be a grey area to me about the UK ILR requirements. My Thai wife is currently in the UK on a 27-month settlement visa and will be applying for ILR early 2012. With regard to satisfying ILR requirements to demonstrate knnowledge of English language and life in the UK, my wife successful passed ESOL entry level 2 last year. She has now recently passed ESOL entry level 3 with citizenship materials by an accredited college.The UKBA website states that if you are below entry level 3 then you must take an ESOL with citizenship course, which is what we have done. But in having done this, my wife is now classed as an English speaker and according to the UKBA website now has to pass the Life in the UK test(?). Is this the case, or is the completion of the ESOL course as stated above adequate?The other query I have is, for the ILR application, are joint bank statements and council tax statements adequate to show that we have been living together for the past two years?I would be very grateful for any clarification on this.Many thanks.

[7by7]

Completing her ESOL with citizenship course is fine; she does not now have to take the LitUK test as well.

For the documentary evidence of you both living together, joint bank and council tax statements are fine, but they want 6 documents from at least 3 different sources covering the whole 2 years. If you are unable to provide enough addressed to you jointly then ones addressed to each of you individually are acceptable; provided they show the same address, of course.

Examples of acceptable documents are given in Section 10, note 8 of the application form.

[madmin]

Hope you don't mind me butting in, Does the ESOL course counter act the new a1 english requirement and if you take the ESOL to level 3 also counter act the life in the uk test too

Completing her ESOL with citizenship course is fine; she does not now have to take the LitUK test as well.

For the documentary evidence of you both living together, joint bank and council tax statements are fine, but they want 6 documents from at least 3 different sources covering the whole 2 years. If you are unable to provide enough addressed to you jointly then ones addressed to each of you individually are acceptable; provided they show the same address, of course.

Examples of acceptable documents are given in Section 10, note 8 of the application form.

[bellboy86]

Me and my wife sent joint bank statements and council tax bills, the rest of the documents we sent had our individuals names on them, and we were successful I'n our application good luck

[bobrussell]

The ESOL college should fill in the standard letter confirming your wife has completed the course as required. My wife has an ESOL level 2 certificate (she started at level 1). I admit I am tempted to send this certificate with her ILR application rather than the level 3 in case this is viewed as 'she is now ESOL level 3 so should be able to take the Life in the UK test'. Your wife has gone from ESOL level 1 to ESOL level 2 and that is all they require.

It would be very unfair to make an applicant do an exam just because they have improved their English skills. I would be very surprised if they took this approach but logic is not always a strong point for immigration authorities!

[kunash]

Hope you don't mind me butting in, Does the ESOL course counter act the new a1 english requirement and if you take the ESOL to level 3 also counter act the life in the uk test too

Completing her ESOL with citizenship course is fine; she does not now have to take the LitUK test as well.

For the documentary evidence of you both living together, joint bank and council tax statements are fine, but they want 6 documents from at least 3 different sources covering the whole 2 years. If you are unable to provide enough addressed to you jointly then ones addressed to each of you individually are acceptable; provided they show the same address, of course.

Examples of acceptable documents are given in Section 10, note 8 of the application form.

I have talked to by girlfriend what she may find easier to take, when she is in the UK. - Obtain level 3 English Language or higher and complete the 1 day, life in the uk test. or study for 6 months on an ESOL english language test with citizenship, and hopefully pass at the end - this is 6 hours a week. Your English language ability is assessed when you start the ESOL course. This can be at either level 1 or 2. ( i think ). At the end of the course you must have gained 1 level in English and of course passed the test. My girlfriend wants to do to the ESOL course, as this may be the easier route for her

[7by7]

Hope you don't mind me butting in, Does the ESOL course counter act the new a1 english requirement and if you take the ESOL to level 3 also counter act the life in the uk test too

The new A1 requirement must be obtained before applying for the initial settlement visa; one can do this either in one's home country or in the UK if there as, for example, a visitor.

The Knowledge of Life and Language in the UK requirement is for ILR and can only be done in the UK. One cannot take an ESOLwith citizenship course if in the UK as a visitor, but one can sit the LitUK test. Attempts to get an answer to the question "Does passing the LitUK test count as meeting the A1 requirement?" from the UKBA have gone unanswered!

Once in the UK there are two ways of satisfying KOL; increasing one level in an ESOL with citizenship course or passing the LitUK test.

It is one or the other, not both.

If one's English ability is at ESOL entry level 3 or better then one should be able to understand the study materials for the LitUK test and the test itself, and so take the test. As taking the test is quicker and cheaper than an ESOL with citizenship course, this is the preferred option if one is able.

If taking an ESOL with citizenship course, one's ability will be assessed at the start of the course; to satisfy KOL one must rise one level. So if originally assessed at entry level 2 and one rises to entry level 3 then KOL is satisfied and there is no need to take the LitUK test as well.

[madmin]

So the A1 English test is only for applying for settlement visa or for (FLR) Further Leave to Remain, You not need for ILR but you do need an ESOL course of at least 1 step up from where you started to show progress the course should also contain with citizenship,However if you reach level 3 you must do an extra life in the UK test citizenship courseClose If your English skills are below ESOL Entry 3 level (or Intermediate 1 level in Scotland), and you are not a skilled or highly skilled migrant, you must take an ESOL with citizenship course and obtain a relevant qualification to demonstrate your knowledge of language and life in the UK.

ESOL courses are available throughout the UK. The Directgov website can help you find a course at the right level in your area.

The course must be at an accredited college, and must include citizenship materials derived from the document 'Citizenship Materials for ESOL Learners' (ISBN: 1-84478-5424).

You must obtain a relevant ESOL qualification from an approved awarding body, and you must demonstrate that you have made relevant progress.

An 'accredited college' is:

• a publicly funded college that is subject to inspection by Ofsted (if it is in England), the Education and Training Inspectorate (Northern Ireland), HM Inspectorate of Education (Scotland), Estyn (Wales); or an inspection programme that has been approved by the Island's Government (in the Channel Islands or Isle of Man): or
• a private college that has been accredited by Accreditation UK, the British Accreditation Council (BAC), the Accreditation Body for Language Services (ABLS) or the Accreditation Service for International Colleges (ASIC).

A college meets the definition of an 'accredited college' if it is accredited on the date when you obtain your qualification, or if it is accredited on the date when your settlement application is decided.

A 'relevant ESOL qualification' is:

• an ESOL qualification in speaking and listening at Entry 1, Entry 2 or Entry 3 level approved by the Office of the Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual); or
• one National Qualifications Unit in ESOL at Access 2, Access 3 or Intermediate 1 level approved by the Scottish Qualifications Authority.

'Approved awarding bodies' in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are:

• Ascentis (formerly Open College of the Northwest)
• Cambridge ESOL
• City & Guilds (Pitmans)
• Edexcel
• Education Development International (EDI)
• English Speaking Board (International) Limited
• National Open College Network
• Trinity College London

In Scotland, the only approved awarding body is the Scottish Qualifications Authority.

To demonstrate 'relevant progress', your college must confirm that you have progressed by at least 1 level from the level at which you were assessed at the beginning of the course that led to your relevant qualification. For example, if you were initially assessed by your college as being below Entry 1 level, you must obtain a relevant ESOL qualification at Entry 1 level or above.

You should check with your college to ensure that it is accredited as described above, and that the course meets all of the above requirements. If your college is not accredited, or if the course does not meet all of the above requirements, your application will be refused. Your college should provide a letter confirming that the relevant criteria are met. We have drafted a template of the letter (PDF 27KB opens in a new window) which you can use. The college should also provide evidence to show how it meets the definition of an accredited college.

Hope you don't mind me butting in, Does the ESOL course counter act the new a1 english requirement and if you take the ESOL to level 3 also counter act the life in the uk test too

The new A1 requirement must be obtained before applying for the initial settlement visa; one can do this either in one's home country or in the UK if there as, for example, a visitor.

The Knowledge of Life and Language in the UK requirement is for ILR and can only be done in the UK. One cannot take an ESOLwith citizenship course if in the UK as a visitor, but one can sit the LitUK test. Attempts to get an answer to the question "Does passing the LitUK test count as meeting the A1 requirement?" from the UKBA have gone unanswered!

Once in the UK there are two ways of satisfying KOL; increasing one level in an ESOL with citizenship course or passing the LitUK test.

It is one or the other, not both.

If one's English ability is at ESOL entry level 3 or better then one should be able to understand the study materials for the LitUK test and the test itself, and so take the test. As taking the test is quicker and cheaper than an ESOL with citizenship course, this is the preferred option if one is able.

If taking an ESOL with citizenship course, one's ability will be assessed at the start of the course; to satisfy KOL one must rise one level. So if originally assessed at entry level 2 and one rises to entry level 3 then KOL is satisfied and there is no need to take the LitUK test as well.

[Heyal]

Thanks for all the replies. That's helped a lot. The college and the course meet the requirements as given above, so hopefully we won't have any problems when the time comes to apply. Cheers.

[7by7]

However if you reach level 3 you must do an extra life in the UK test

For the third and final time:

NO!

Read my post above, which you quoted, again. It is either an ESOL with citizenship course or the Lituk test; not both!

[marcjaiyenyen]

However if you reach level 3 you must do an extra life in the UK test

For the third and final time:

NO!

Read my post above, which you quoted, again. It is either an ESOL with citizenship course or the Lituk test; not both!

if going down the esol course make you book it well in advance but, LITuk TEST IS FAR BETTER AND QUICKER, it is either not both !!