Post
by 20shamat » Wed Dec 18, 2013 9:07 pm
Hi All,
I like to share the response from the home office to my queries. Hope it will be useful to some of you with similar queries.
Dear Sir/Madam
With the new requirement for Naturalisation from 28/10/2013, I have the following queries regarding satisfying the knowledge of language and life in the UK requirement,
1) I have already passed the Life in UK test (copy enclosed) when I applied for Indefinite Leave to remain in 15th Jan 2013, can I enclosed the same document for my Naturalisation application?
2) Can I submit my Engineering degree certificate, final transcript and a Letter from University stating the degree was taught in English medium. OR
3) Is it compulsory to submit ‘Statement of comparability’ from UK NARIC as a requirement for have obtained an academic qualification (Civil Engineering from Bangalore University, India) deemed by UK NARIC to meet the recognised standard of a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree or PhD in the United Kingdom and (i) UK NARIC has confirmed that the qualification was taught or researched in English.
4) In lieu of above item 2 & 3, can I submit IELTS test taken in 2003 (enclosed for your information) for applying for naturalisation? I found the below two responses from Home Office representative for the expired IELTS on the forums,
'The fact that an applicant’s qualifying English language certificate had expired would not prevent them from using their pass notification as evidence that they had reached level B1 (CEFR) English for a settlement or British citizenship application. They would not be expected to take another English language test, but will need to pass the Life in the UK test.'
An IELTS (International English Language Testing System) qualification awarded by Cambridge English (previously known as Cambridge ESOL), which is at a level equivalent to level B1 CEFR or above, is an acceptable qualification for the purposes of demonstrating language ability for settlement and citizenship purposes.
Please note that the 2 year validity attached to these qualifications only applies to entry clearance applications and are therefore still accepted for settlement and citizenship applications after this validity date.
5) Finally, in the ‘Life in the UK’ pass certificate, it is mentioned as below, kindly clarify if I still need to provide/satisfy the Knowledge of Language as per items 2 or 3 or 4?
‘ Following your test today in knowledge of life in the United Kingdom this is to certify that you have reached the level required for the purposes of obtaining indefinite leave to remain under the Immigration Rules or for naturalisation as a British citizen under section 6 of the British Nationality Act 1981 . Your success at this test also demonstrates that your level of competence in English meets the required standard for naturalisation or indefinite leave to remain. No further proof of this is needed’.
Your earliest response will be highly appreciated.
Dear Sir,
Thank you for your e mail. I will address each point in your e mail in the order you raise them:
1. A Life in the UK test pass certificate does not have an expiry date, therefore can be used to make a British citizenship application.
2. If an applicant intends to use their degree to evidence English language skill, evidence from the PBS calculator can be submitted, along with the original degree certificate, provided the degree has been awarded an additional 10 points for English language.
3. UK NARIC confirmation will only be required when the degree is not recognised by the calculator, and/or if no additional points for English language have been awarded. UK NARIC will provide a Statement of Comparability (SoC) and an English language assessment (ELA).
4. The expiry date on an IELTS is not relevant for a settlement or citizenship application. We simply require evidence that the applicant has passed the qualification with an approved test provider, and that the qualification is listed on the Ofqual register.
I trust this answers your question.
Regards
Ann
Ann Woodall | Nationality Operational Policy| Operational Policy & Rules Unit|Immigration and Border Policy Directorate | Home Office
Blue Zone, 5th Floor, The Capital | Liverpool | L39PP
