This will cause a huge problem to many people especially British Pakistanis who mostly originate from not very educated rural backgrounds. So many still prefer to marry from Pakistan.
Compulsory English language tests will be introduced for non-European migrants applying to come to the UK to join or marry their settled partner, the UK government announced today. From autumn 2010, they will need to demonstrate a basic command of English which allows them to cope with everyday life before they are granted a visa.
The new rules will apply to anyone applying as the husband, wife, civil partner, unmarried partner, same-sex partner, fiance(e) or prospective civil partner of a UK citizen or a person settled in this country. They will be compulsory for people applying from within the UK as well as visa applicants from overseas.
Home Secretary Theresa May said:
'I believe being able to speak English should be a prerequisite for anyone who wants to settle here. The new English requirement for spouses will help promote integration, remove cultural barriers and protect public services.
'It is a privilege to come to the UK, and that is why I am committed to raising the bar for migrants and ensuring that those who benefit from being in Britain contribute to our society.
'This is only the first step. We are currently reviewing English language requirements across the visa system with a view to tightening the rules further in the future.
‘Today’s announcement is one of a wide range of measures the new government is taking to ensure that immigration is properly controlled for the benefit of the UK, alongside a limit on work visas and an effective system for regulating the students who come here.’ Anyone wishing to come to the UK as a partner will need to demonstrate basic English at A1 level, the same level required for skilled workers admitted under Tier 2 of the points-based system.
A partner coming to the UK from outside Europe will need to provide evidence with their visa application that they have passed an English language test with one of our approved test providers.
Under the current rules, people applying for visas as partners must already meet a range of criteria before being allowed to enter the UK. All applicants must show that their marriage or partnership is genuine, and that they can support themselves financially.
Whether they have married in the UK or overseas (or not at all), the non-UK partner must apply for a two-year settlement visa to come and live in the UK as a husband, wife, civil partner, unmarried partner or same-sex partner. At the end of the two years, they can apply to us for permission to settle in the UK (known as ‘indefinite leave to remain’).
Partners who apply for settlement after completing their two-year period of temporary residence will still need to meet the ‘knowledge of language and life in the UK’ test. This is in addition to the new basic English language requirement, which forms part of their initial application.
SO WHAT? why should we complain, do you know how much of tax payers money is given to institutes which are needed for the people who cannot speak english......millions.....and its common sense, why go somehwere where you dont know the language.....my dad never wants to live in peshawar, because he cannot speak pushto, evne though mum is pushtoon, so they bought house in islambad...common sense....
whats even more annoying, is people who have been here well over 30 40 years and still cant utter a word of english yet are the first in the line at the dole que/benefit line....sorry no excuses.
I see absolutely no problem with this requirement. Actually all western countries should've implemented this years ago.
This does not specifically target South-Asians.. besides desis there are plenty of chinks and eastern europeans who move to the west without knowing any English or having any intentions to learn it.
Agree with Nadz.. actually think this should have been brought in a long time ago.. it's not targetting desis but imo it'll affect them more than any other group, it's pretty unheard of for any other group of immigrants to live in the UK for 30-odd years and not learn English.. One of my mum's best friends is an English teacher and told me that unlike other races she literally had to beg a lot of Pakistani and Bengali husbands to allow their wives to go to classes and then u get many desi women themselves from 'back home' who couldn't be bothered to learn..
I see absolutely no problem with this requirement. Actually all western countries should've implemented this years ago.
This does not specifically target South-Asians.. besides desis there are plenty of chinks and eastern europeans who move to the west without knowing any English or having any intentions to learn it.
Most of them do have the intention to learn it.. in the case of the Chinese u only have to look at how academically successful their kids have been to see how career orientated and driven they are..
Husband has a Masters which he has done from cardiff university, although he came from pakistan to do it. he also has done the life in uk test. will he still need the language test? at the moment hes on a post study work scheme, we are going to apply for spouse visa later this month or july.
There is nothig wrong with introducing it after all its their country and they have the right to run it how they want.
Although it will cause a lot of problems for many families.
I dont see how it will encourage integration though. Its not as if Goray Log are overtly keen on speaking to people with strong accents from back home anyway