English Language requirement for Spouse visa extension in UK

[ssamartha]

Hello All

Hope everyone is healthy and safe.

I am preparing documents to apply for extension of my wife's visa (depeendnat of British Citizen) and have a question regarding English Language requirement.

For Entry clearance from India my wife passed IELTS Life Skills – B1 from UKVAI approved center and her visa (spouse visa) was approved in Nov 2017 and she came to UK on 2nd Dec 2017. At the time of entry clearance, the requirement was to have IELTS A1 life skills passed but she did higher exam i.e B1 and her visa was approved without issue. I was on ILR during entry clearance and I am currently British Passport Holder.

For Spouse visa extension in UK, as per the UK.gov website the applicant need to pass IELTS Life Skills A2.

Question:
1) For extension of spouse visa, do you think IELTS Life Skills B1 will be accepted as it was accepted for entry clearance? or she will need to pass IELTS Life Skills A2?
2) Is there a expiry date fo B1 qualification

I am under the impression that B1 is at higher level compare to A2.

thank you for your help.

[CR001]

1. Yes, B1 is acceptable.

2. It is valid for 2 years. However, if expired, you can still use it for ILR provided it was used for a previous application AND the test and test provider is still on HO approved test list at the point in the future.

[brother88]

i thought you you need to pass the A2 GESE grade 3 for visa extension?

trinitycollege.com/qualifications/SELT/UKVI/A2-GESE-grade-3

[CR001]

i thought you you need to pass the A2 GESE grade 3 for visa extension?

trinitycollege.com/qualifications/SELT/UKVI/A2-GESE-grade-3

A2 is the minimum requirement. B1 is also accepted and is highe than A2 and B1could be used for ilr.

[ssamartha]

1. Yes, B1 is acceptable.

2. It is valid for 2 years. However, if expired, you can still use it for ILR provided it was used for a previous application AND the test and test provider is still on HO approved test list at the point in the future.

Thank you CR001 for your response. Very much appreciated. So even if B1 is expired I can still use it for Spouse visa extension? sorry if this is repetitive question.

[seagul]

1. Yes, B1 is acceptable.

2. It is valid for 2 years. However, if expired, you can still use it for ILR provided it was used for a previous application AND the test and test provider is still on HO approved test list at the point in the future.

Thank you CR001 for your response. Very much appreciated. So even if B1 is expired I can still use it for Spouse visa extension? sorry if this is repetitive question.

Yes

[ssamartha]

Thanks Seagul

[brother88]

so why bother with A2 at all if you want citizenship in the end?

shouldn't everyone try to do B1 as soon as possible?

[AmazonianX]

so why bother with A2 at all if you want citizenship in the end? Not everyone one of us will have an easy grasp of a second or additional language. For such persons haven stayed in the UK for 2-2.5 years, such time would have allowed improvement of English through interactions with people or studying. This also shows integration hence reason for A2.

shouldn't everyone try to do B1 as soon as possible?

If everyone feel confident enough in their ability. There are people who did B1 from the first Spouse visa application.

[brother88]

we did the B1 and passed!

[AmazonianX]

we did the B1 and passed!

That's you totally sorted for English test, congratulations.