Guys help me out here Please ! Re British Citizenship

[Chivas]

I despair with my Ex here in the UK we have been divorced 8 years but there's only one Guy she coming running to every time !

In short after nearly 16 years here shes applying for British Citizenship. Never mind why hasnt she done it before, I totally agree !! Now by some miracle shes passed the Life in the Uk test, turned up here with an armful of forms and naturally I am having to deal with it.

Now she says there's another test that needs to be completed. Naturally shes got no idea what, so is it this one......ESOL ENTRY 3/B1 Exam....??

Thanks if you can help....

[Chivas]

Can I just bump this apologies

[MaprangHolmes]

ESOL entry level 3 wont be accepted after 5th November this year she will need to do a B1 Speaking and Listening test from a approved supplier

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/466639/2015-10-08_-_Approved_Secure_English_Language_Tests_and_Test_Centres.pdf

https://www.gov.uk/browse/citizenship/citizenship

Hope it help

Edited October 14, 2015 by MaprangHolmes

[theoldgit]

Can I just bump this apologies

The guys that give advice on this forum are scattered around the globe, so in different time zones, they cannot always give advice quickly, you will appreciate that guesses are often wrong, so to do so wouldn't be appropriate to do so.

As I understand it, the English Language requirement was introduced relatively recently, certainly before your wife obtained her ILR all those years ago.

Applicants now have to pass a basic English test when they make their initial settlement application and a slightly harder one when they apply for ILR.

Your wife wouldn't need to have done either test at the time, but because she didn't complete the process and go for citizenship then, I believe she now has to do so if she wants to be a citizen.

I have to admit that I'm not 100% sure I've given you the correct answer, and apologies if I'm wrong.

You might find this helpful https://www.gov.uk/english-language/exemptions

[7by7]

You are correct, OG.

If she had satisfied the knowledge of life and language in the UK (KoLL) requirement in order to obtain ILR she would not need to do so again for citizenship.

But she didn't.

So if she wants to apply for British citizenship she now has to do so. Which means, as MaprangHolmes says, passing the LitUK test and achieving at least B1, or the equivalent, in English speaking and listening from an approved provider.

See Become a British citizen and links from there for all the requirements, how to apply, fees etc.

[Chivas]

ESOL entry level 3 wont be accepted after 5th November this year she will need to do a B1 Speaking and Listening test from a approved supplier

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/466639/2015-10-08_-_Approved_Secure_English_Language_Tests_and_Test_Centres.pdf

https://www.gov.uk/browse/citizenship/citizenship

Hope it help

Thanks for assistance always last bloody minute with her excuse my language.

Are you suggesting because of time scales just go for whatever B1 is anyway now......?? Shes obviously nigh on fluent after 16 years

[7by7]

She could only use a test from the old list up to 5th November 2015 if she had taken it on or before 5th April 2015.

So she will need to pass one from the new list linked to above.

B1 is a level from the CEFR

B1 - intermediate

Can understand the main points of clear standard input on familiar matters regularly encountered in work, school, leisure, etc.
Can deal with most situations likely to arise while travelling in an area where the language is spoken.
Can produce simple connected text on topics that are familiar or of personal interest.
Can describe experiences and events, dreams, hopes and ambitions and briefly give reasons and explanations for opinions and plans.

[bobrussell]

Trinity English tests are run all over the country. I bet she was told about them when she did her LitUK because the staff there often have links with testing centres.

She will find it a doddle compared to LitUK but it is worthwhile doing the short preparation course they usually offer. Generally a couple of hours on the same day as the course. This helps with the prepared topic section.

[Chivas]

Trinity English tests are run all over the country. I bet she was told about them when she did her LitUK because the staff there often have links with testing centres.

She will find it a doddle compared to LitUK but it is worthwhile doing the short preparation course they usually offer. Generally a couple of hours on the same day as the course. This helps with the prepared topic section.

Oh almost certainly she was but in their typical style its "what my friend told me" rather than establishing what test and where which as you say no doubt she was told anyway......!!

Never ever again would I marry a Thai and she overall is one of the best ones at that !

[nickynalack]

Hi,sorry to jump in on this thread, but I would like some clarification about this new rule coming in on 5th Nov. Noi (my wife) is panicking about applying for naturalization before 5th Nov because she thinks that her esol entry 3 passes and liuk wont be any good after this date. Noi got her ILR/Biometric card on 10/10/2014 so it has just gone past the one year mark so can apply for citizenship.My question is does everything still stand as being acceptable even after the 5th Nov....or will she have to do another English test if we dont get the application in before the 5th?.

Many thanks for any clarification

Nick

[wooloomooloo]

Nick. I believe you'll find your answer in posts #3 and #7.

Please also refer to the contents of the links kindly provided by MaprangHolmes and 7by7.

[nickynalack]

Hi thanks for the reply So it's looking like the Gov't are saying that even though you've already run through the hoops to do all the liuk tests and Esol entry 3 tests to get ILR/Biometric card. After all this if we apply for citizenship after the 5th Nov her £1000 English course is worthless??

That's nice of them

[wooloomooloo]

Eh? Not at all. LitUK is sound and maybe she's got to pass a B1. Big deal.

[nickynalack]

£1000 is a big deal to me....It's just frustrating that after all the expense and hard work on behalf of my wife that her English qualifications aren't worth diddly squat after 5th Nov....and so now we potentially have to pay more money to take yet another test unless we can get an application in asap

rant over

[wooloomooloo]

Nick, it's a B1 test. The £1,000 English course isn't worthless by any stretch. Her LitUK test is sound.

Your wife will have a ten to twenty minute speaking and listening test. It really isn't the end of the world.

Calm down and carry on.

[nickynalack]

Hi wooloomooloo.....yes I have calmed down lol (apologies to the forum for my little out burst yesterday). I have already printed out the form AN and 99% completed it. There are a couple of sticking points on it though that some advice would be greatly appreciated but I will start a new thread for my queries. I think we should get the application off before the 5th Nov ....but as you say if it doesn't happen then Noi will just have to do the other test which shouldn't be any problem for her.

Regards

Nick

[wooloomooloo]

That's the attitude, Nick. No need to apologise as it's always a stressful time at these occasions.

Citizenship is the easiest of the lot. My wife breezed through it as I made sure that her application was watertight. My wife merely signed and dated on the dotted line. I absorbed the stress of filling forms like every other application, but wasn't so bad.

It's all over now and we're presently holidaying in LOS and in two weeks time will be in Amsterdam and seeing my favourite band at Paradiso. Happy days.

Don't underestimate the power the British passport.

[nickynalack]

Ok thanks wooloomooloo, yes I'm sure we will be fine .......enjoy your holidays and enjoy again in two weeks too.....you lucky so and so's lol

[bobrussell]

£1000 would be a waste if it was only to pass settlement and naturalisation tests. Any formal education is good as far as I am concerned and taking this course will make B1 a doddle with a tiny amount of preparation. Anyone passing LitUK will have little problem with B1 IMO!

[mark131v]

That's the attitude, Nick. No need to apologise as it's always a stressful time at these occasions.

Citizenship is the easiest of the lot. My wife breezed through it as I made sure that her application was watertight. My wife merely signed and dated on the dotted line. I absorbed the stress of filling forms like every other application, but wasn't so bad.

It's all over now and we're presently holidaying in LOS and in two weeks time will be in Amsterdam and seeing my favourite band at Paradiso. Happy days.

Don't underestimate the power the British passport.

Completely agree and that is exactly how I did it back in 2008, it is stressful, bloody expensive and it seems like they keep changing the goal posts but it really is worth it and as above the citizenship is a piece of piss compared to the rest

I have friends and colleagues who managed to get ILR for their significant others then just left it there but it really is worth the final push as immigration and citizenship is only ever going to get harder to do, longer and more expensive

We returned to Thailand in 2010 with the intention of staying here but education for the sprog is having us return to the UK and the wife having the passport makes life way more easier if we had just stayed at ILR the headaches would be starting all over again....

[7by7]

Indeed; as both Thailand and the UK allow dual citizenship, I can see no reason for not naturalising as soon as eligible; provided one can afford it of course.

Remember that ILR expires if the holder spends more than two years continuously out of the UK.

It can also be cancelled by immigration at a port of entry if it becomes apparent that the holder lives outside the UK and is just using their ILR for visits; though they will be allowed in as a visitor on that occasion.

(There are situations, such accompanying a British spouse who is a member of HM forces whilst they are stationed abroad, where if one's ILR has lapsed it can effectively be renewed by obtaining a returning resident visa; but even if eligible, it's expensive.)

If ILR has lapsed or been cancelled, then one will need the appropriate visa to enter the UK again; which if returning to live and not eligible for a returning resident visa means going through the whole settlement procedure with all the costs and requirements that involves.

Once obtained, British citizenship cannot be removed no matter how long one spends out of the UK.

Unless it was obtained by deception or one is convicted of a serious criminal offence or terrorism or similar.