No Mention On Ukba Website About Change In Applying For Ilr (Oct 2013)

[kunash]

I looked on the UKBA website today to see if there is any news about the change in requirements when applying for ILR visa from October 2013 - where you will need both a B1 pass in English language and the life in uk test. - and there is no news.

this is very poor communication. i only found out the change by reading this forum, and confirming it by ringing the ukba.

because i found out, i changed my wife's course that she is starting in Januray 2013 to the B1 course. I was going to enrol her on an esol entry level 1 or 2 course with citizenship. but this will no longer be accepted.

but if i had not been reading this forum, my wife would soon be taking the citizenship course. which would be a complete waste of time

this is really frustrating. how is one suppose to find out about these changed if nothing is officially published.

when do you think they would publish this news? or has the change been announced on the website?

thanks for any replies

[7by7]

The Demonstrating your knowledge of language and life in the UK does still only give the current ways of doing this, i.e. passing the LitUK test or making satisfactory progress on an ESOL with citizenship course from an approved provider.

It does not, yet, give any details of the requirement effective from October 2013.

Unfortunately, this has always been the way the UKBA has done things; they change their guidance pages when the changes come into effect; which doesn't help when one has to plan ahead!

The only mention of this change which I can find on the UKBA site is in this announcement dated 13 June 2012.

[SGD]

The history of ESOL being an allowable qualification changed from it being valid, to not being valid, to being valid again and seemingly to not being valid in its own right come later on in 2013.

Absolute shambles of a system.

[poolie]

Any changes that may be coming into effect will not be of concern to those whose settlement visa was activated before June 2012. If you are applying for ILR in 2013 then surely you will fall under the old rules which mean your wife/partner will only have to complete one of the two language requirements. 1. An ESOl course or 2. Pass Life in Uk test.

Cheers

Steve

[7by7]

The financial requirements etc. which came into effect on 9 July 2012 apply to all those who applied for settlement via the family route on or after this date.

Those that applied before 9 July 2012 will come under the old rules, regardless of when their visa was actually issued.

However, the new language requirement for ILR will apply to all applicants from October 2013, regardless of when they applied for their initial visa, when it was issued, what type of visa it is or how long they have been in the UK.

[poolie]

7by7 - Thanks for clearing that up regarding the additional language requirement.

My fiancee is due to apply for her ILR around March/April time (entered UK for first time on 18 April 2011). She has been working part time ever since she arrived and can verify this. Around the time she intends to apply she will be finishing her job to go self employed opening her own Thai restaurant. I will continue to be employed by my firm, no changes. I understand that the new financial rules do not apply in our case, but do you think her change of circumstances will have any bearing on her application for ILR?

Any advice much appreciated.

Steve

[7by7]

Provided the two of you can continue to support yourselves without claiming public funds; no.

[poolie]

Thanks 7by7