Massive ILR problem caused by Oct 13 rule change pls help

[streetracer]

My wife will be applying for ILR in Jan 2014, she is here on a spousal visa. She had planned to do the ESOL with citizenship course to meet the requirement for Life in UK Test as she finds the Life in UK Test difficult.

However from Oct 2013 you must do the Life in UK plus an English course which gives you a B1 level in speaking and listening. Does this mean English with citizenship courses are no longer valid after Oct 2013? If so, were could she start an english speaking course, as most colleges will only accept applicants from September this year for new courses, which means she won't be able to take the test and get a cert in time to apply.


My wife will struggle to meet the new B1 grade, what options do we have?

Also

I am really confused because the statement about the rule change has that the applicant must pass a B1 level is speaking and listing

Qualifications covering speaking and listening at B1 or above from the Secure English Language Test (SELT) list in the Immigration Rules, Appendix O.

However in the next bullet point they state

Qualifications in English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) at Entry level 3, Level 1 or Level 2, that include speaking and listening and that have been regulated by the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual). The qualification must be listed as an ESOL qualification on the Ofqual Register of Regulated Qualifications and have been taken in England, Wales or Northern Ireland. The Ofqual register is available at: http://register.ofqual.gov.uk/.

However you can pass Entry level 1 in ESOL with a grade that is equal to a A1 level, so does that mean you don't need to reach the B1 standard if you take ESOL?

Here is the link to the UKBA statement: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/s ... t-koll.pdf[/url]