Immigration Matters » Videos

UK Border Agency Video on English language tests for migrant partners

Charles Kelly — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 17:58:21 +0000

The UK Border Agency has released a new video explaining the new English language requirement for migrant partners, which will be introduced this month.

From 29 November 2010, any migrant from outside the European Economic Area will need to show that they can speak and understand English if they want to enter or extend their stay in the UK as the partner of a British citizen or someone settled here. For many, this will mean taking an English language test with an approved test provider.

The new requirement affects anyone applying as the husband, wife, civil partner, unmarried partner, same-sex partner, fiance(e) or proposed civil partner of a British citizen or a person settled in this country. It covers those applying to extend their stay in the UK, as well as applicants from overseas.

You can find details of the English language requirement in the Partners and families section of the UK Border Agency website. A list of approved test providers is available for downloading.

The video outlines how applicants already in the UK can meet the requirement and describes some of its benefits for migrants wishing to settle in the UK.

Overseas applicants required to take a test will need to do so before they apply to come to the UK. Source: UK Border Agency

There are thousands of English Schools and Colleges both in the UK and abroad offering English or ESOL courses.

Applicants only need to demonstrate a basic command of English (speaking and listening) at level A1 of the Common European Framework of Reference. This is a basic starting level, which is judged to require 40 to 50 hours’ tuition for most learners. Someone assessed at level A1 can understand and use simple, everyday expressions and very basic phrases.

You will not need to demonstrate your reading and writing skills, just speaking and listening.

Exemptions

There are exemptions. For instance, you will not need to meet the English language requirement if you provide satisfactory evidence that:

you are aged 65 or over at the time when you make your application; or
you have a physical or mental condition which would prevent you from meeting the requirement; or
there are exceptional compassionate circumstances which would prevent you from meeting the requirement.

Also, if you are a national of a what the UK government considers a ‘majority English-speaking country’, you will meet the English language requirement automatically and will not need to take a test.

The following countries are deemed to be majority English-speaking countries:

Antigua and Barbuda
Australia
the Bahamas
Barbados
Belize
Canada
Dominica
Grenada
Guyana
Jamaica
New Zealand
St Kitts and Nevis
St Lucia
St Vincent and the Grenadines
Trinidad and Tobago
the United States of America

Degrees taught in English

If you have an academic qualification which is deemed by UK NARIC to meet the recognised standard of a Bachelor’s degree, this will be accepted as evidence that you can speak and understand English to level A1 of the Common European Framework of Reference. Therefore you will not need to take a test. For details, see the Statement of changes in Immigration Rules – October 2010 (Cm 7944).

Master’s degrees and PhDs are not acceptable as evidence, because UK NARIC can only assess whether Bachelor’s degrees (and not Master’s degrees or PhDs) were taught in English.

If you need any immigration advice or help with Sponsorship or Work Permits, Visa, ILR/Settlement, Citizenship, dependant visa or an appeal against a refusal please email:

info@immigrationmatters.co.uk or visit www.immigrationmatters.co.uk

A Student’s Story

Charles Kelly — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 16:52:30 +0000

This film follows the life of a student visa holder over 18 months of studying in the UK.

Gee, a student visa holder from the Philippines, starts off on an NVQ course in Customer Service and after graduation takes up a CMI (Chartered Management Institute) Level 5 management diploma with Majestic College.

http://www.majesticcollege.org

Majestic College NVQ Graduation Student Interviews

Charles Kelly — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 13:09:45 +0000

Majestic College NVQ graduates discuss their success at the official graduation ceremony held at Allum Hall, Elstree on 22nd October 2010.

The event was attended by 300 people including Deputy Mayor Cllr Sandra Parnell.

Many of the students have progressed to higher level management courses, such as Majestic’s CMI Business Management or L4 Leadership and Management, whilst some have obtained Tier 2 Sponsorship (Working Visa).

Congratulations to all the hardworking Majestic College students!

www.majesticcollege.org

NVQ Student Graduation!

Charles Kelly — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 12:51:02 +0000

Majestic College NVQ graduates celebrate their success at Allum Hall, Elstree, on 22 October 2010.

The event was attended by 300 people including Deputy Mayor Cllr Sandra Parnell.

Many of the students have progressed to higher level management courses, such as Majestic’s CMI Business Management or L4 Leadership and Management LMC, whilst some have obtained Tier 2 Sponsorship (Working Visa).

Congratulations to all the hardworking Majestic College students!

www.majesticcollege.org

Majestic College NVQ Graduation 22 October 2010

Charles Kelly — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 21:59:16 +0000

Majestic College students celebrate their graduation.

www.majesticcollege.org

Barrio Fiesta 2010 Lampton Park Hounslow

Charles Kelly — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 16:24:28 +0000

Bison UK and Majestic College students supports the 2010 Barrio Fiesta, Lampton Park, Hounslow, Middx, UK.

This year the Filipino fiesta, sponsored by ABS CBN, attracted crowds of over 100,000 people making it one of the largest events in Europe!

Congratulations to all who helped put on the biggest ever Barrio Fiesta!

www.immigrationmatters.co.uk

NVQ Student Graduation Ceremony

Charles Kelly — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 17:01:03 +0000

Majestic College international student graduates receive their OCR NVQ certificates.

Many Tier 4 students have used their NVQ Health and Social Care qualification to successfully apply for a working visa (under Tier 2 of the points based system) and Social Care Workers.
www.majesticcollege.org

This week Business Secretary Vince Cable acknowledged the ‘huge export earnings from overseas students’.

Majestic College NVQ Graduation

Charles Kelly — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 18:19:40 +0000

Majestic College international student visa graduates receive their OCR NVQ certificates.

Some Tier 4 students have used their NVQ qualification (e.g. Health and Social Care Level 3) to successfully apply for a working visa as a Care Worker under Tier 2 of the points based system.

www.majesticcollege.org

This week Business Secretary Vince Cable acknowledged the ‘huge export earnings from overseas students’.

Majestic College NVQ Graduation July 2010

Charles Kelly — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 00:42:22 +0000

www.majesticcollege.org

Tier 4 students receiving their NVQ Certificates from Majestic College

Charles Kelly — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 23:00:56 +0000

As another batch of Tier 4 and old student visa graduates happily display their OCR awarded NVQ certificates, many ponder their future in the UK. With daily news of recession, higher unemployment and a cap on immigration, the future may not look too bright.

However, for students with the right skills and qualifications for in-demand ’shortage’ occupations, for instance in the care industry, there are still plenty of available jobs and employers willing to sponsor them. In the run up to the recent election former Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced that he would be removing Chefs and Care Workers from the official Shortage Occupations list by ‘2012 and 2014 respectively’.

Mr Brown did not explain exactly how he was able to predict that the occupations currently on the shortage list (under advice by the independent Migration Advisory Committee or MAC) will not be in need of staff in two and fours years time.

Overseas students, on student visas (Tier 4 of points based system), are worth £8 billion to the UK economy, according to Home Office figures.

The private education sector provides UK jobs for many thousands of people including: teachers, assessors, verifiers and admin support staff.

Many graduates of Majestic’s vocational, work related, courses have gone on to find Tier 2 employment opportunities in the care sector, which despite high unemployment figures still suffers staff shortages.

Employers willing to register under Tier 2, of the points based system which replaced the work permit scheme, can sponsor qualified migrant workers to work for them on a working visa.

Tier 4 student visa holders are allowed to switch whilst in the UK into the Tier 2 working visa category.

Sponsoring employers should take care when issuing Tier 2 Certificates of Employment to non-EU migrant workers, as many businesses are issuing Tier 2 work permits to unqualified migrants according to an immigration specialist.

Employers are risking fines and the loss of their Tier 2 sponsorship by issuing ‘Certificates of Employment’ (formerly known as a work permit) to unqualified or unsuitable migrant workers, says Immigration Adviser Evelie Padadac.

During her consultations with candidates and their employers Evelie has seen widespread misunderstanding of the rules leading to employment certificates being dished out to migrant workers without the proper checks.

Evelie of Bison UK, which specialises in work and study related visas, said:

“Employers issue the certificates directly to the candidate who then comes to us to arrange the further leave to remain or visa extension.

“However, when looking through the paperwork I frequently find that the candidate does not qualify under the Tier 2 rules.”

If in doubt, take legal advice. It’s cheaper than a £10,000 fine and a lot less hassle than losing your Tier 2 Sponsors Licence.

Migrants seeking work should also be wary of internet scams and fake job offers through unsolicited emails.