Flr - Home Office Email Address

[durhamboy]

A couple of months ago I started a thread regarding the English Language requirement for FLR. Basically the query was that English Language Test Certificates (for spouse UK settlement) obtained in Thailand are valid for 2 years but the application for FLR is after 2 1/2 years so in fact the original test certificate is out of date when applying for FLR and, as such, would it still be accepted by the Home Office?

No one in this forum was able to give a definitive answer to this query and someone advised me to ask the Home Office directly. Looking through their website there doesn't seem to be an email address for these kinds of queries - anyone know if they have one?

Thanks.

[7by7]

Go to the UKBA home page, click on 'About Us.'

Then click on 'Contact.'

Then click on 'Enquiries.'

Then 'Enquiries when applying in the UK.'

Then scroll down to 'Immigratiomn enquiry bureau.'

Immigration enquiry bureau

The immigration enquiry bureau can provide information about the Immigration Rules' requirements for permission to stay and settlement in the UK. They cannot provide estimated completion dates for applications.

Please note that you may experience longer than usual wait times. We apologise for this and would like to assure you that we are doing everything we can so that your call is answered as quickly as possible.

It is often easier to get through later in the day. The cost of your call will vary depending on your network provider, and it is likely that calls from mobile phones will cost considerably more. We strongly recommend that you check with your network provider for potential costs. Please be aware that phone calls may be recorded for quality purposes.

Contact details Phone:

0870 606 7766

Textphone:

0800 389 8289 (the contact centre also accepts calls by text relay and other similar services)

Address:

UK Border Agency, Lunar House, 40 Wellesley Road, Croydon, Surrey CR9 2BY

Opening Hours:

Monday to Thursday 09:00 to 16:45, Friday 09:00 to 16:30 (excluding public holidays).

[Stanaris]

Durhamboy

I would have thought your partner would have been attending English classes and passed at a higher level 1 within 2 and a half years, considering that the future requirements for ILR have increased.

I am sure the next step will be to increase the requirements for FLR soon, so my advice would be to take more English courses to achieve the required certificates and study for LiUK test too

[durhamboy]

Thanks 7x7 - so it would seem that they do not allow email enquiries as there is no email address given.

Stanaris - yes it's a good idea to do English courses and LITUK and things may change in the future. However, I would like to know how things are now and what UKBA have to say about the anomaly between the validity of the test pass (2 years) and the applying for FLR after at least 2 1/2 years.

[7by7]

If you look at the list of approved test providers you will see that many tests have no expiry or are valid indefinitely.

This leads me to believe that any decision to place an expiry date is made by the test provider, not the UKBA.

But I guess one would have to query this with the test providers concerned to establish exactly why their tests have a limited validity.

[durhamboy]

That's right - some of them don't have expiry dates but the ones obtained in Thailand (BULATS and CPA) both have 2 year validity. I don't know why the test providers in Thailand stipulate 2 years - maybe they are just guaranteeing them for that time. I think the relevant question is would the Home Office accept them for FLR purposes?

[7by7]

I think the problem is that the government introduced the new residency rules and the extra FLR application without thinking this through; previously it would not have been a problem as most FLR applications would have come from people entering as a fiance or proposed civil partner who would have made their FLR application within 6 months of entry.

Also, the test providers in Thailand are more geared towards business and student customers, which is why they use the tests they do and insist on everyone taking reading and writing even though it is not required for spouse, partner and fiance applicants.

What we need is a test provider in Thailand aimed at the spouse/partner/fiance applicants, but I suspect that would not generate enough custom to be profitable without the business and student pupils too.

Maybe when I win the lottery and retire to Thailand I'll start one to give me something to occupy myself with; fancy a partnership?

Be grateful if you let us know what the UKBA reply is; when (if?) you receive it.

[durhamboy]

Am I right in thinking that this problem has not yet surfaced because of the new FLR rules and that it will be about 2 years before this possible problem becomes apparent?

[durhamboy]

I wrote to the UKBA and explained the anomaly of the timing of FLR applications versus the validity of the English Language Test Certificates obtained in Thailand.

The good news is that I got a reply within 9 days the bad news is that they failed to answer the question - mostly the reply just briefly trotted out the requirement to pass an English test before a spouse visa is granted for entry clearance - yes we all know that, that's how she got here in the first place!

The only paragraph that had some possible usefulness was :-

"However, you are advised to check the validity, date of expiry, and level of English test before you submit a FLR(M) application in the UK as these can change by the test providers."

So does this mean that everyone who obtained an English Language Cert in Thailand will be rejected for FLR in the future? Assuming they don't get further qualifications whilst in the UK.

My wife will not be applying for FLR until September 2015 and who knows how many times the regulations will have changed by then. I am therefore reluctant to go back to the Home Office until nearer the time of her FLR application. There will be many more in the queue before her who may discover they have a problem.