David Cameron announces plans to introduce a further English langauge requirment for spouse visa extensions

At present for spouse visas applicants must meet an English language requirment by passing an approved English language test with at least CEFR level A1 in speaking and listening, 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 or by being a national of a majority English-speaking country.

However, David Cameron has now announced that he will change the rules and make an additional requirement that your English must have improved, most likely by requiring at least CEFR level B1 at the two and half extension stage. He stated: 

“They can’t guarantee they will be able to stay, because under our rules you have to be able to speak a basic level of English to come into the country as a husband or wife. We made that change already, and we are now going to toughen that up, so halfway through the five-year spousal settlement there will be another opportunity to make sure your English is improving. You can’t guarantee you can stay if you are not improving your language.”

It is expected that these changes will come into place by October 2016. At present these are only comments by the Prime Minister, however it is very likely that this will be in law by the end of the year.

We will continue to keep you updated.