NEW ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEST - A1 LIFE SKILLS
Most applicants for the UK Spouse Visa, UK Fiancée Visa, and other UK settlement Visa should be aware that the UKVI had recently changed its English Testing Language requirements.
Under the old rule, applicants for the UK Spouse Visa, UK Fiancée Visa and other UK Settlement Visa need to apply for and pass the "General Training" module carried out in different testing centers by accredited UKVI Engish testing centers.
Under the old procedure, all the applicants need to take the Speaking, Listening, Writing and Reading, but only need to pass the "Speaking" and "Listening."
The accredited testing sites did not have the module for the "Speaking only" and "Listening only" so test-takers were compelled to carry out the four (4) tests.
ECO-Friendly explains that the former testing fee for taking all the four (4) tests was Php8,986.00. Thus, for this amount, the applicants for the UK Spouse Visa, UK Fiancée Visa as well as other UK Settlement Visa would take the test for two days.
The first day of exams (Speaking only test) took only 15 minutes and the other three tests was to be conducted a day after the "Speaking only" test.
Since the UK Visa applicants will be taking three (3) tests on the second day (they have to take it for almost a whole day)
Comes now the A1 Life Skills... Under the new system, the accredited testing sites of the UKVI only ask the applicants for the UK Spouse Visa, UK Fiancée Visa or other UK Settlement Visa to take a 30 minute test.
Since the test is only for Speaking and Listening, the whole test only takes half an hour. Although shorter, the testing fee was increased to Php11,125.
ECO-Friendly emphasized that the new rule took effect last 06 April 2015.
The UKVI website thus clarified that those who have taken the old "General Module" test prior to 06 April 2015 can use the result of the old test.
According the the UKVI website, "Anyone who has taken a previously approved test on or before 5 April 2015 may still use it in a UK immigration application until 5 November 2015 providing the test is one of those detailed in the transitional approved tests list."
As always, ECO-Friendly explains that aside from this A1 Life Skills Test, the applicant for the UK Spouse Visa, UK Fiancée Visa and other UK Settlement Visa may prove their knowledge of English test by, "having an academic qualification that was taught in English and is recognised by UK NARIC as being equivalent to a UK bachelor's degree," as published in the UKVI website. (https://www.gov.uk/remain-in-uk-family/knowledge-of-english)
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