UK FLR English test requirement and lenghth of time in UK

[matsky13]

Hello All

My wife and step daughter entered the UK on a visit visa and stayed the maximum 6 months in 2013 . They subsequently applied for and where granted the settlement Visas (IT says Spouse / CP on her visa in her her passport) and entered the UK on that in May 2014 she has been here since except 2 Holiday's back to Thailand for 60 days in total .

I have a number of questions that hopefully someone can help me with when should we be able to make the FLR application ,is it 28 days before the expiry date 28th Jan 2017 , or 28 days before the end of 30 months after she entered on her Spouse Visa MAY 2014 . or does any of the time spent in the UK on her previous visitors Visas count towards this 30 months ?

I am pretty sure its 28 days before the 30 months after she entered on her spouse Visa but I would appreciate clarification .

Secondly and more importantly , My wife has Just taken the English test from Trinity college SELT GESE Grade 5 exam. Which she passed . I understand it only has a validity of 2 years , SO can we submitt this at the FLR stage So tshe doesn't need to take it again at ILR or some other Qualifying English Exam .as the 2 year Validity of this SELT GESE Grade 5 exam will have lapsed by the time we are at ILR .

Lastly do I still need to prove my income at the FLR and the ILR stage

Any help will be greatly appreciated .

[TCA]

"I am pretty sure its 28 days before the 30 months after she entered on her spouse Visa but I would appreciate clarification."

Yes, that's correct. Time spent in UK on other visas isn't relevant.

"So can we submit this at the FLR stage so she doesn't need to take it again at ILR or some other Qualifying English Exam .as the 2 year Validity of this SELT GESE Grade 5 exam will have lapsed by the time we are at ILR ."

Don't know but I'd agree it would be daft if she has to prove she's at the same level of English in a further 2.5 years time. Presumably she scored B1 or higher?

"Lastly do I still need to prove my income at the FLR and the ILR stage"

Yes and yes. Although I believe if your wife is working her income can count towards the requirement as well. See here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/469692/Appendix_FM_1_7_Financial_Requirement_August_2015.pdf

[7by7]

Trinity College SELT GESE grade 5 is equivalent to B1 (see table one here) so can be used for her ILR application, where B1 is required, as well as her FLR one, where only A1 is required.

As she will be using the pass for her FLR application, she can also use it for her ILR application even if it has run out. Prove your knowledge of English for citizenship and settling

Applying to settle in the UK

You can use a B1 level qualification that’s run out if you’re applying to settle in the UK and it was accepted for another UK immigration application, eg when you got permission to enter.

Remember, though, that for ILR she will also need to have passed the Life in the UK Test.

She will then be able to use both passes when she applies for British citizenship; assuming she wishes to do so.

Edited January 20, 2016 by 7by7

[matsky13]

Thanks ,TCA and 7by7 as always your opinions are greatly appreciated !

Yes she passed on the day they said it was Topic Grade B and conversation Grade B.

The certificate came today and says Grade 5 GESE ....entry level ESOL international (speaking and listening) (entry 3)*
CEFR B1.1 with Merit (more ambiguity ) . B1.1 I'm guessing its slightly better than a B1 .

My wife will be very Happy If we don't have to pay out again for another English Exam ,Its just not that clear in the application FLR form or the guidance notes , The stress alone is bad enough , But the way this government keep adding to the costs of Visa aplications ,NHS Surcharge ,Life in the UK test /. Wow. The cost is crippling us . And The fear of being refused for a sending the wrong evidence .

Especially when we will be sending 2 applications at the same time ,I am Guessing if they refuse my wife then the Daughter will Automatically be refused . So as the fee stands today £1298 down the drain , just for sending the wrong English Certificate .

I am tempted to send both of her Trinity college certificates (the GESE Entry 1 with an A1 with merit that she used for her settlement visa , She also has a city and Guilds (Entry2) (QCF) . Might stick that in aswell , But Probably just confuse them .

In a week when Cameron comes up with even more nonsense of sending middle aged UK Pakistani women to college for free to learn English to stop the threat of ISIS in the UK. It just highlights that the Governments we are living under have no Idea what they are doing regarding Immigration .As usual

Just trying to grab a Newspaper headline to keep the masses occupied.

For all current Visa Applicants Incolme levels have to be way above the minimum wage .
The Life in the Uk test puts too much pressure on them, they are tested to a level that far exceeds the "average " UK citizens Knowledge. Many Questions are written to deliberately trip up the Applicant . Anyway that ground has been well trodden already.

Thanks again