UK Student and ILR, can I skip the LITUK test??

[UKMan07]

I was just wondering if I could get away with not taking the Life in the uk test, I can't concentrate on it especially with university studies!!


I have been in the UK since I was 5 (1989), I am now 23, all my family has ILR with no date of expiration (permenant residency). I have been to nursery, primary school, secondary school, college and university all in the uk.

I am sick of having to get a visa to visit countries in europe, especially when I got with my friends and they all have a british passport and I want to get mine asap but then I found out about the LITUK test lol

I don't doubt the concept but I have been brought up the same as any other kid that was born in the uk I am used to the british culture and I am a bit angry that I will have to take this test so that I can apply for british nationality. So I thought I'd ask around just in case they might grant me nationality, without the test???

Also on a side note, does anyone know when the new test rules will apply?? (you know, they are set to change in september, from being just units 3,4,5,6 to all of them!!?


Thanks, any help is appreciated.....

[JAJ]

I was just wondering if I could get away with not taking the Life in the uk test, I can't concentrate on it especially with university studies!!


I have been in the UK since I was 5 (1989), I am now 23, all my family has ILR with no date of expiration (permenant residency). I have been to nursery, primary school, secondary school, college and university all in the uk.

I am sick of having to get a visa to visit countries in europe, especially when I got with my friends and they all have a british passport and I want to get mine asap but then I found out about the LITUK test lol

I don't doubt the concept but I have been brought up the same as any other kid that was born in the uk I am used to the british culture and I am a bit angry that I will have to take this test so that I can apply for british nationality. So I thought I'd ask around just in case they might grant me nationality, without the test???

With the greatest of respect, if you are capable of university level study you have nothing to fear from doing the Life in the UK Test.

Your chance of an exemption is precisely 0%.

Read the book, do the test and get on with things.

[jimquk]

At least you will be able to feel smug at knowing lots of stuff your mates have no clue about. 99% of UK citizens would undoubtedly fail, which certainly causes me to "doubt the concept".

[sakura]

I was just wondering if I could get away with not taking the Life in the uk test, I can't concentrate on it especially with university studies!!


I have been in the UK since I was 5 (1989), I am now 23, all my family has ILR with no date of expiration (permenant residency). I have been to nursery, primary school, secondary school, college and university all in the uk.

I am sick of having to get a visa to visit countries in europe, especially when I got with my friends and they all have a british passport and I want to get mine asap but then I found out about the LITUK test lol

I don't doubt the concept but I have been brought up the same as any other kid that was born in the uk I am used to the british culture and I am a bit angry that I will have to take this test so that I can apply for british nationality. So I thought I'd ask around just in case they might grant me nationality, without the test???

Also on a side note, does anyone know when the new test rules will apply?? (you know, they are set to change in september, from being just units 3,4,5,6 to all of them!!?


Thanks, any help is appreciated.....

There are no exemptions for people of your age and ability. It isn't so hard (for you), so better to just do it. If you tried to apply without it, it'll be refused - with no refund! Are you applying for ILR or naturalisation?

How have you been in the UK for nearly 20 years - what visa(s) have you been on all this time? And your family...

[magsi23]

Agree with everyone above, why did you not apply for ILR before this rule was implemented? since you have been eligable for long time?


Unfortunately there is no way out, but with your skills i am sure you wont have any problems.

[UKMan07]

I duno, I've been in the uk nearly 20 yrs but my fam only got permenant ILR about 5 yrs ago, I thought I could just apply for a passport so I just left it and I was ok with getting a visa with my Indian passport but certain countries take the biscuit and its so much hassel so I decided to apply for naturalisation and then found out you have to take a test......

Yes it's fair and well studying for the test, but the reason I was asking the question was because I want to do a masters degree this year (starting september) and I want to fully concentrate on that without having to learn and revise for something else, ah well if there's no way around it then I have no choice lol

Does anyone know when the test regulations change and the new rules apply? (I mean when you have to study the whole book instead of just units 3,4,5,6 or whatever it is, I heard its sometime in september)

[sakura]

I duno, I've been in the uk nearly 20 yrs but my fam only got permenant ILR about 5 yrs ago, I thought I could just apply for a passport so I just left it and I was ok with getting a visa with my Indian passport but certain countries take the biscuit and its so much hassel so I decided to apply for naturalisation and then found out you have to take a test......

Yes it's fair and well studying for the test, but the reason I was asking the question was because I want to do a masters degree this year (starting september) and I want to fully concentrate on that without having to learn and revise for something else, ah well if there's no way around it then I have no choice lol

Does anyone know when the test regulations change and the new rules apply? (I mean when you have to study the whole book instead of just units 3,4,5,6 or whatever it is, I heard its sometime in september)

Hmm...so you have ILR?

OK...I think your family probably applied under the 14 years long stay - i.e. spent 14 years legally/illegally in the UK. Which is why you probably only got ILR 5 years ago despite being here for so long! Am I correct?

If that is the case, then do be aware of the need to have spent 5 years legally in the UK prior to applying for naturalisation, including holding ILR. You wrote you've had ILR for 5 years now - has anyone in your family tried to apply for naturalisation? If so, what happened; if not, why not?

Excatly what date(s) were you given ILR?

Also, have you actually looked at the booklet/questions? I mean, for someone planning on doing a Master's degree, you're concerned about a simple test? Someone with your ability will breeze through it - you probably only need a week or two to revise it. I know someone from Singapore who took the test and only got 2 answers wrong.

The test is only difficult/a pain for people whose first language is not English and who are not very well educated. You could do it by mid September if you stopped worrying and just got on with it. There are no concessions, so either you do it now, or you'll wait until you finish your Master's...in 2008, to obtain your British citizenship/passport.

If you want to know about the changes, visit www.lifeintheuktest.gov.uk for more details.

[IMMIGRATION LAWYER]

Unless you can show your ESOL level 3 certificate ?

The test is dead easy, by the way...