Migrants marrying Brits to be forced to take language exam
By politics.co.uk staff
All migrants planning on joining their British partner in the UK will be forced to sit language exams, it has been announced.
The plans, due to be announced by home secretary Theresa May today, are due to come into force from Autumn 2010 and will apply to all non-European partners, including spouses, civil partners, unmarried couples, same-sex partners and fiancés.
“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,” Ms May said.
“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.”
Anyone wishing to come to the UK as a spouse will have to demonstrate basic English at A1 level, the same level required for skilled workers admitted under the skilled tier of the points-based system.
A spouse coming from outside Europe will need to provide evidence to the UK Border Agency with their visa application that they have passed an English language test with one of the UK Border Agency’s approved test providers.
