Yet more changes to the Immigration Rules will reduce the number of acceptable English tests that can be used to show an applicants language skills.
A new Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules was rushed in yesterday (10 July 2014).
World-weary applicants and advisers will have spotted that this comes just one month after the last batch of changes to Appendix O , which removed tests administered by English Language Testing (ETS) after a cheating scandal. This time the Home Office states that the tests have been removed at the request of the providers, and there is no hint of wrongdoing.
Once again there are transitional provisions, so that if you want to rely on one of the deleted tests you can only do so before:
- 1 August 2014 - for applications made inside the UK
- 22 August 2014 - for applications made outside the UK
The transitional provisions that were put in place in the last Statement of Changes allowed for an older version of Appendix O to be applied to entry clearance (visa) applications made before 1 October 2014. However, these provisions do not apply to the tests removed from the list in this Statement.
If you have any concerns about your English-language test, or have had an application refused because your test has not been accepted, we can advise you on your options. Contact Kitty Falls using the details below.
Kitty Falls
Solicitor
Direct: 023 8021 3291
Email: k.falls@duttongregory.co.uk
