English test not acceptable

[warren_sa]

Hi all,

I'm currently due to apply for my ILR in March.

I've tried to be prudent and start the application process a bit ahead of time to save on the stress.

One of the requirements is to have 6 letters with either both of our names on it or 12 with single names on each.

I have a load of letters, but they are all addressed differently in terms of my wife's maiden name.

Her passport for both South Africa and the UK (she was born in the UK) have her maiden name in it and our marriage certificate also includes her maiden name.

Is this going to create any issues?
Do I need to submit the letters with only one of the names or could it be a mix of both?
What should we do?

Any advice on what to do here would be much appreciated!

[CR001]

It is not an issue.

There is no legal requirement in SA or the UK that the surname and official documents must be changed after marriage.

[warren_sa]

It is not an issue.

There is no legal requirement in SA or the UK that the surname and official documents must be changed after marriage.

Ah that is such great news, thanks CR001!

Just so I'm not misunderstanding, I can submit the letters with my surname on both our first names and then my wife's passport with her maiden?

[CR001]

Yes and any letters in her name alone.

Plus marriage cert.

[warren_sa]

I've started preparing all of my documentation for the SET (M) ILR application, but had a question about the English requirement.

When originally applying for my first UK spousal visa back in 2013 and then applying for the following 2.5 years in 2016 I used the below certificate proving that I have passed the test:

Now that I am applying for ILR my lawyer is insisting that it is no longer an acceptable form of evidence and that I will need to redo the test.

According to the below page even if the certificate has expired I'm still allowed to use it if it was used in my original entrance application over 2 years ago.
https://www.gov.uk/english-language/app ... ifications

Am I missing something, or are the lawyers correct?

[warren_sa]

I'm currently in the process of gathering all documentation for my ILR SET (M).

I've used a lawyer to help check all of my documents, but they he has said:
The English language test you have taken is no longer sufficient for this application as the list of approved tests has since been updated. Please may you retake the test?

The certificate I provided is the same one I was granted entrance with and then used again when applying for FLR back in 2015.

Does that sound right to you?

Would my passed test certificate (IELTS – General Training) from 2013 that was used in my original visa application not be acceptable anymore?

If this is so and my visa expires in March, do you think that is enough time to get a booking, redo the test and receive results?