English language requirement for spouses of UK citizens and for Points-Based System migrants: have you ever heard of NARIC? If not, time to read this as you can’t use an overseas degree certificate anymore without it.

By 1st 4Immigration - #1 UK Immigration Experts -
We previously posted some useful information for spouses and partners of UK citizens about English language tests. This post is for everyone who needs to meet the English language requirement when applying for a UK visa (including Points-Based System migrants).

As you may know, besides taking an approved English language test, you can also use a degree which was taught in English. For example, a Bachelor degree from a UK university – nice and easy. You can use it when applying for a UK Spouse visa, UK Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) visa, Tier 2 visa and so on. In other words, having a UK degree means there is no need to take a test.

Now, what to do if you hold an overseas degree, ie a degree from a university outside the UK but it was taught in English? Until approx mid-March 2016 we could use a Points-Based System calculator on the UKVI website and we could use it for both Tier 1 / 2 visas and Spouse/Partner/Fiancé visas. A Bachelor degree from South Africa, India or Nigeria as well as Master’s degree from the USA or Australia – all were accepted under the old system, thanks to the online database on what sued to be a PBS calculator.

So, what’s changed? The old PBS Calculator has now been disabled, so it is no longer possible to check overseas qualifications online. The current Immigration Rules require  confirmation from UK NARIC instead. In fact, the old PBS Calculator was indeed using the NARIC database!

If you have a degree from a university in a country, which is listed in the Rules as a majority English-speaking countries (except Canada), you need to contact UK NARIC and obtain a confirmation that it is an equivalent of a UK degree standard (equivalent of a UK Bachelor etc).

If you have a degree from a university in a country, which is not listed as a majority English-speaking country (such as South Africa or India) but that degree was taught in English, you need to contact UK NARIC and obtain a confirmation of 2 points:

- That it is an equivalent of a UK degree standard.

AND

- That it was taught in English language to a C1 level of CEFR.

UK NARIC is an organisation which compares foreign qualifications with the UK equivalents and also assess whether they were taught in English or not.

To read the rules about English: you need to go on the respective Part or Appendix of the Immigration Rules. Spouses/partners of UK citizens – Appendix FM; Points-Based System migrants – Appendix B and so on. List of countries which are recognised as majority English-speaking ones (there is an exhaustive list) can be found here (this is for those applying for ILR but these countries are same for all visa categories): https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-koll

For an individual advice or to make an application as successful please contact us:info@1st4immigration.com or visit   http://www.1st4immigration.com  

If you are an Immigration Adviser or a Solicitor please visit our immigration Training and CPD website: www.1st4immigration.com/training 

 

 

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