Popular English language tests TOEIC and TOEFL are no longer accepted for UK visas

By 1st 4Immigration - #1 UK Immigration Experts -
From 1 July 2014 these 2 popular English language tests have been struck off the list of approved tests. The list is used by the UK Home Office to meet the requirements of the Immigration Rules for visa categories like Spouse/Partner/Fiancée visas as well as Tiers under the Points-Based System (PBS). It is also used to meet the new English language requirement when applying for permanent residency (Indefinite Leave to Remain) and later for British Citizenship.
 
There are some problems with the way the tests were administered by the provider, Educational Testing Services (ETS), one of the biggest English language testing companies in the world. Some of those were featured in BBC Panorama.  
 
 
If you need to apply for a UK visa, which requires to demonstrate English language ability then you have a choice of providing a degree which was taught in English, being a national of a majority English-speaking country (there is an exhaustive list, so do not make any assumptions!) or passing an approved English language test. An updated list of the tests can be found in Appendix O of the Immigration Rules.
 
 
Those who passed either a TOEIC or a TOEFL test can still make an application outside the UK before 22 July 2014 and for some Tier 4 applications until 1 October 2014. Those applying inside the UK cannot use them anymore, as from 1 July 2014.
 
 
Those who are already in the UK with visas which were issued on the basis of using one of these tests are not affected in terms of further extensions, such as a Tier 1 Entrepreneur extension or a Spouse visa extension.
 
 
However, those who achieved a higher grade than needed back then and later need that higher level to qualify for an Indefinite Leave to Remain (permanent residency) may be affected - it is not clear at the moment. For example, an applicant for a Spouse visa only needs a most basic A1 level of English, however, many achieve a higher level anyway, such as a B1. When such a spouse is later applying for an ILR he/she needs a B1 level. Under the current Rules an old test can be used again, even if it has expired, as long as a B1 level was achieved back then (because the Home Office has its record in their system). It's not clear what to do for those spouses/partners with a TOEIC/TOEFL test on a B1 level when applying for an ILR in the future but a safe and logical assumption would be they'd need to demonstrate English in a different way, such as take a different test (ESOL, IELTS etc) from a list applicable on the date of application.
 
 
For an individual advice or to make an application please contact us: info@1st4immigration.com or visit www.1st4immigration.com
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