Urgent Help Please

[Thrallvice]

As stated in the UKBA website on applying Visa from outside UK, meeting the English requirement section that their are two ways to meet the requirement. First is by taking the examination (which is through the British Council IELTS Training and Examination) and by meeting thee requirements to be exempted. It states their that a person can be exempted if he holds and present a proof that he/she is a holder of a degree taught in English.

The case is, I had an appoinment with the VFS Global in the Philippines, presented my certification and Original Transcript of Records from my School as a proof that I am a graduate of BS Computer Science with which I believe that qualifies me to be exempted from the Examination. But upon presenting my documents to a VFS agent, she said that I still have to take the Examination before the VFS Global in the Philippines accepts my papers.

Is this a sort of discrimination? What should I do? Your Immidiate and honest advice will be much appreciated.

Thank You

[Mr Rusty]

It depends whether the institution which conferred your degree is accredited by UK NARIC, as not all colleges are regarded as of sufficient academic standard that their degrees are worth very much. Certainly in Thailand, where I hang out, only one or two universities are recognised.

You are justified in not accepting the judgement of VFS, who are merely a contracting company employed by UKBA to take in visa applications and do the biometrics etc before passing them on to the Entry Clearance Office where the application is considered. They have frequently been known to have given wrong information to applicants. You should try and contact the ECO direct by phone or email and ask them whether your degree is recognised by NARIC. Alternatively, you could apply to NARIC, but as you see from the link below, this involves cost and delay, and you might find it quicker and nearly as cheap to take the test, which judging from your post you would pass without difficulty.

http://www.ecctis.co.uk/NARIC/individuals/

[Thrallvice]

Pardon me but what does ECO mean? And can you please provide me the e-mail and is there any office in the Philippines?

[CR001]

ECO means Entry Clearance Officer

http://www.vfs-uk-ph.com/applicationcentre.html#3

[Thrallvice]

thank you sir

[manci]

you may be interested to read this:
http://www.recruitnurse.com/recruitment ... ssment.pdf

[Mr Rusty]

ECO means Entry Clearance Officer

http://www.vfs-uk-ph.com/applicationcentre.html#3

Not very helpful to pass on the contact for VFS, the company who are maybe giving out wrong information. I suggest that the OP contacts the telephone number for 'Visa' given on the British Embassy website here:-

http://ukinthephilippines.fco.gov.uk/en ... ontact-us/

He/she needs to make it clear that he needs to speak to an Entry Clearance Officer about exemptions for the English Language Test for settlement visa.