English Requirement Equivalent to B1

[dadageer]

Hello all,

I am currently on ILR which was granted to me in Jan 2013 and I will be applying for Naturalisation in Feb 2014. I was on HSMP+Tier-1 before getting ILR status.

My question is regarding this new requirement for English qualification Equivalent to B1. I have already passed Life in the UK test last year as I had to for ILR application. Previously in all my HSMP and Tier-1 application I met English requirement by showing NARIC certificate of my 4-year Engineering Bachelors degree which is Equivalent to British Bachelors.

Do I still need to sit in a PET/IELTS exams to show my English Qualification or my degree equivalency by NARIC will be enough?

Also, I did appear in IELTS way back in 2009-2010 with an overall score of 7.5 but I read somewhere it expires in 2 years..will that be ok for UKBA?

UKBA update:

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitec ... st+news%29

[dadageer]

Anyone?

[reabs]

I'm riding in the same boat. I recently asked about the english tests and was told by the school that I'd be best off doing the CPE/IELTS etc for C2 english as B1 was a waste of my money. I also have a NARIC certificate for my overseas undergrad (taught in english) and two UK masters degrees.

I note the following that has been raised elsewhere in this forum. Make your own conclusions of it as you will:

For Settlement (ILR)

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.

Both of these groups will, however, be required to pass the Life in the UK test to demonstrate
their knowledge of life in the UK.

For naturalisation

The KoLL requirement for naturalisation as a British citizen will be the same as that for settlement
and the same English language qualifications will be accepted.

ps: IELTS does run out after two years. I have never known UKBA to accept "expired" anything.

[dadageer]

Thanks Koll.

This is what I thought as well. Obviously I have met English requirement on the basis of my 4-year degree (NARIC Equivalent) in my previous applications so it should be ok now.

• Those who have obtained a degree taught in English.


I would love to hear more on this if anyone else has different opinion.