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Hi Friends,

I'll be applying for naturalisation in Jan 2014.
I need your advice on the KOL.
I have a degree in Engineering from Indian University. Is it sufficient to satisfy the condition as per the below,

The following groups are considered automatically to meet the English language component of the KoLL requirement and will not be required to show a formal speaking and listening qualification:

• Nationals of majority English speaking countries (Annex A).
• Those who have obtained a degree taught in English

1) Do I need to obtain UK NARIC Statement of Comparability? if yes, can you please advice what information and documentation do I need to submit to UK NARIC.

2) Also do I need to take ESOL citizenship tests along with the above? which is the best, easy and quick test that will satisfy the criteria of Home Office?

3) If I have to fulfil one of the above points 1 or 2, can you please advice the earliest possible solution.

Since I have already passed the Life in UK test for my ILR, I suppose I dont have to retake it. correct?

If your degree was taught in English medium throughout and if it is assessed as equivalent to the UK undergraduate degree by NARIC then you don't need to take the B1 test and also you don't need to take ESOL as you have already passed LIUK test but wait for the experts to help you out with this bit of your query.

Earliest possible solution would be to take the B1 test to avoid the hassle of getting letters from university, attestations etc. and long wait which again might not give the desired reply.

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

Whatever you enquired about is already in public domain. If you browse the forum, all this has been explained, and links posted to UKBA website. There are about 5000 posts related to this topic.

Ayyubi72 wrote:Whatever you enquired about is already in public domain. If you browse the forum, all this has been explained, and links posted to UKBA website. There are about 5000 posts related to this topic.

Thanks Ayyubi,

Can you also please advice, I obtained my ILR with my work permit, how do I use the PBS calculator to check the english language skills on the basis of my engineering degree. The PBS it seems is for people on the Tier Visas.
Thanks in advance.

Yes, PBS is for tier visas. But in your case, you are not using it for tier visa. You are just using it to check if the degree is accepted and gives 10 points if you were applying as a PBS migrant. If it gives you 10 points (imagining you are a pbs migrant), then the degree is good enough to meet english requirement.

The criteria UKBA has is, that if a degree gives 10 points for english to a PBS migrant, then that degree is also good enough to meet B1 requirement for settlement/naturalisation.

Ayyubi72 wrote:Yes, PBS is for tier visas. But in your case, you are not using it for tier visa. You are just using it to check if the degree is accepted and gives 10 points if you were applying as a PBS migrant. If it gives you 10 points (imagining you are a pbs migrant), then the degree is good enough to meet english requirement.

The criteria UKBA has is, that if a degree gives 10 points for english to a PBS migrant, then that degree is also good enough to meet B1 requirement for settlement/naturalisation.

Many Thanks Ayyubi72,

I applied Tier2 to get 10points for english requirement, will attach the pdf showing the 10 points to my application and submit my original degree certificate. Hope that will satisfy the Home office.

Is it the same for FLR(M) application , for english req?
thank you

Ayyubi72 wrote:Yes, PBS is for tier visas. But in your case, you are not using it for tier visa. You are just using it to check if the degree is accepted and gives 10 points if you were applying as a PBS migrant. If it gives you 10 points (imagining you are a pbs migrant), then the degree is good enough to meet english requirement.

The criteria UKBA has is, that if a degree gives 10 points for english to a PBS migrant, then that degree is also good enough to meet B1 requirement for settlement/naturalisation.

Did the Home Office not respond to your 5th question? I clearly remember that when I took my Life in the UK test, it mentioned that it also shows one's knowledge of English. How can they introduce a new requirement is just annoying especially for professionals. These English tests are an insult!

[quote]Many Thanks Ayyubi72,

I applied Tier2 to get 10points for english requirement, will attach the pdf showing the 10 points to my application and submit my original degree certificate. Hope that will satisfy the Home office.[/quote][/quote]


Hi Shamat

How did it go for you with PBS calculator Print our & Degree ,Was it accepted or was there any issue

Will appreciate if you can update

Rgds

Aa

Please remember along with 10 points to English language requirement, the PBS calculator should also give you atleast 20 points for education. Only then the UKBA will accept the PBS print out to satisfy the requirement.

Thanks Aruni,This is very useful info

Will check again

Any body else in this forum who submitted the print out & was successful

Will appreciate if any responses

Rgds

Aarnav

Hi Aruni

In PBS I didn't see any points for Education (20 points),I could only see 10 points for english

Can you confirm where do we check that

Rgds

Aarnav

You need check the points breakdown (maybe page 3). Under attributes, see if gives you point s for education.

See the below link..on page 3

http://www.sendspace.com/file/kvkuyc

Hi aruni4470

You need to go via Tier 1 to see points for qualification in attributes.

I had this problem this morning, home office have recently changed this as i had an email from them in Nov saying 10 points for english will suffice but this morning i was given the same fact sheet but slightly amended to say you need points for your degree too in addition to 10 points for english and then i used the PBS using tier 1 option and provided the summary to the NCS caseworker and it was accepted.

Fingers crossed that all goes well.

Thanks to Aruni & DCchugh

It is helpful,I wrote to Home office also & got a response that I can try with Tier-1 & then Then select Tier-1 General

Tried that ( Even though i had got my ILR via WP route) & got points from calculator

Rgds

Aa

I need some advice for current English requirement for citizenship.
I got my ILR in March 2013
I passed my life in the UK Test in 2011 that was included with my ILR application
I have passed my ESOL test from SQA in 2011 at level 4 and 5 that include listing,writing, reading and speaking. I did not include these certificate when I applied for settlement but I passed this test before my settlement. I included only Life in the UK test when I applied for ILR
My concern is that do I need to pass another level to demonstrate my English knowledge as I passed these test before my settlement?
See this paragraph
Web link of below paragraph
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitec ... hip/kol-uk
""If you were granted settlement under the old rules
When an application for naturalisation is made you will need to satisfy the current KOLL requirement. For some people this will mean passing a relevant speaking and listening qualification for the first time. Others will need to pass a speaking and listening qualification at a higher level.""

I think you are fine

https://www.gov.uk/english-language

Check this link

RGds

AA

Hi Guys,

I have photocopy of life in UK test, can I apply for Naturalization process with photo copy, please let me know. Can someone forward me UK BA home office contact email -ID.

thanks
Manju