I’ve seen this too.  It is a big change, along with the new eligibility criteria which state that non EU new spouses have to be in the UK for a minimum of three years before being able to study and pay co-funded fees.

 

Essentially the government are raising the bar in terms of the English language requirement for naturalisation/citizenship and at the same time they are saying that families should cover the full cost of learning English for new spouses.  I’m not completely against the changes given the inevitable backdrop of cuts to adult funding.  It is a cost families will have to factor in before arranging/deciding on marriage outside the EU.  

 

It means we have to increasingly target the public funding we do get on active job seekers,  refugees and EU.  There is an opportunity for providers to provide full cost provision for new spouses- we have to look at blended learning in order to keep this provision affordable (we are looking at something in the region of £250 per term).

 

 

 

Have you seen this document? http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/news/soi-fam-mig.pdf  I think it was published last week.

 

Unfortunately, the government has decided to change (among other things) the language requirement for settlement/citizenship from October 2013.  

 

ALL applicants will be required to pass a Speaking & Listening exam at Entry 3 as well as pass the Life in the UK test, and the length of time before they can apply has also been extended – from 2 years to 5 – see extract below (p.7).

 

‘From October 2013, all applicants for settlement will be required to pass the Life in the UK test and present an English language speaking and listening qualification at B1 level or above, unless they are exempt from the requirement to do so. Until October 2013, applicants for settlement, including partners of British citizens and settled persons, will be required to meet the current knowledge of life and language criteria, by passing the Life in the UK test or an English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) course using Citizenship materials.

 

The requirements for settlement of a five year probationary period (on a route to settlement), and (from October 2013) to pass the Life in the UK test and present an English language speaking and listening qualification at B1 level or above, will also be applied to the partners of migrants with a route to settlement under the Points Based System.

 

Applicants for settlement currently required to take the Life in the UK test will from October 2013 be required additionally to present an English language speaking and listening qualification at B1 level or above.

 

 

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