On the 1st Jan 2011, new regulations have been introduced into the non-EEA student immigration regime. As you may know, all non-EEA students (visa & non-visa) who are staying in Ireland for over 90 days must register at the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) upon their arrival in Ireland.
The Student Visitor Visa (SVV) is being extended to 11 months. Students can apply for this from 10th January 2011. This means that students can now come to the UK for up to 11 months without proving their level of English. The criteria remain the same as the existing SVV – students can not extend from within the UK and there is no right to work.
We’ve recently received a lot of questions from students about the approved UKBA English tests and required scores to receive apply for the UK Tier 2 Skilled Worker Visa.
We’ve recently received a lot of questions from students about the approved English tests and required scores to receive a Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies (CAS) and apply for the UK Tier 4 General Student Visa (GSV).
A few days ago, we wrote a post announcing the English level requirement change for those applying for a UK Tier 4 GSV. Unfortunately, the UK Border Agency has today released the following statement in a newsletter:
Level of English language study
Following the judgment made in the Judicial Review case brought by English UK, which challenged the method by which the change to the minimum level of study from A2 on the CEFR to B2 was made earlier this year, we have today made a further amendment to the Immigration Rules setting out the minimum levels of study permitted for different course types under Tier 4.
With effect from 23 July 2010, the minimum level of English language course that will be permitted under Tier 4 will be CEFR level B2, restoring the position in place before the judgment was handed down. Please note that the exemptions on the minimum level which applied previously to Government-sponsored language students and those undertaking a pre-sessional English language course before pursuing a degree course remain, and further information is available in the revised guidance.
What does this mean in practice?
What this means in practice is that the English language sector will continue to operate as it has been since March of this year, whereby General Student Visa applicants must be able to follow a course of study at level B2.
Whilst this is obviously disappointing news, we expect that EnglishUK will be considering its options regarding further challenges to this ruling, and we will keep you informed of developments on a regular basis.
If you have any questions or require further information, please do not hesitate to contact us.
UPDATE on September 21, 2010: Download a list of the approved UKBA English tests and required minimum scores to apply for a Tier 4 GSV.
UPDATE on July 22, 2010: Following the judgment made in the Judicial Review case brought by English UK, the UK Border Agency has today released a statement restoring B2 as the minimum level. Read more details about this change in UK immigration rules for the UK Tier 4 GSV.
We have good news to share for international students interested in studying English in the UK for over 6 months and therefore need to apply for the UK Tier 4 General Student Visa (GSV).
After last week’s win in the High Court judicial review case on English language courses under the points based visa system, the required language level for General Student Visas has been dropped to A1 for A2 courses.
The change has taken effect as of last Monday (12th July 2010) and now we are able to accept and issue CAS numbers for students who wish to travel on a General Student Visa as long as they can prove to be A1 level. The change on the General Student Visa application relates only to the level part, the other rules remain the same.
For students who wish to travel on a General Student Visa, all schools in the UK are able to accept a completion of A1 level certificate from other institutions, but we may require you to submit extra information such as syllabus etc depending on the certificate. Students who can produce a recognised exam result such as TOEFL, IELTS etc or a certificate from a recognised language school taken in the last two years will not be required to submit extra information.
Students who can not prove their level are advised to take a recognised exam. As a last resort, some of our partner language schools are also happy to send a written test followed by a Skype or MSB interview to establish their level. For tests, we kindly ask you to contact our student advisors so that we can check with the school.
For students who wish to study in the UK for less than 6 months, there are no changes on student visitor visas — the requirements have remained the same.
We would like to inform you of further developments regarding the UK Visa and Testing Policy. As many of you are aware, there have been significant changes to the visa application process for students going to the UK.
For the September intake, while we continue to wait for the UKBA to clarify which third party tests will form part of the Tier 4 General Student Visa (GSV) system, we have taken the decision to recognize Password as an accepted third-party English language test, as we anticipate that this will become a UKBA-approved test.
For those who are not familiar with the Password English language test, Password tests are securely delivered and assessed online, and test-takers receive instant test results. Here’s an overview of the Password test:
If you intend to take the Password test and would like to prepare for it, take a practice test.
All students from countries who are currently required to provide evidence of their English proficiency by way of a formal English test.
Anyone who can provide the following documentation:
The test can be taken online at home. For more information, please visit the Password website.
If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact us.
Alternatively, you can contact your student advisor directly.
Please note that the UKBA guidelines and regulations remain unclear in several areas. Language Intenrational will monitor the situation closely and will advise of any changes to the above procedures.
Two weeks ago, we wrote a post about the new UK Tier 4 General Student Visa (GSV). It has come to our attention that there has been some confusion regarding the new minimum language level introduced by the UK Border Agency for students who want to apply for a General Student Visa (GSV).
Please note that students DO NOT need to be at B2 level upon entry. The UK Border Agency clearly states that a student must be at CEFR Level B1, ready to study a course to attain Level B2.
The UKBA website provides further information regarding this matter:
We have raised the minimum level of English language course that Tier 4 (General) students can study, to level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). Before you can apply to study an English language course in the UK, you will need to show that your English language skills are at CEFR level B1 or higher. (There are exceptions if you are a government-sponsored student or if you want to study a pre-sessional English course that meets certain requirements.)
Below is a summary of the CEFR levels:
| Level | Description |
|---|---|
| A1 | Can understand and use familiar everyday expressions and very basic phrases aimed at the satisfaction of needs of a concrete type. Can introduce him/herself and others and can ask and answer questions about personal details such as where he/she lives, people he/she knows and things he/she has. Can interact in a simple way provided the other person talks slowly and clearly and is prepared to help. |
| A2 | Can understand sentences and frequently used expressions related to areas of most immediate relevance (e.g. very basic personal and family information, shopping, local geography, employment). Can communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar and routine matters. Can describe in simple terms aspects of his/her background, immediate environment and matters in areas of immediate need. |
| B1 | Can understand the main points of clear standard input on familiar matters regularly encountered in work, school, leisure, etc. Can deal with most situations likely to arise whilst travelling in an area where the language is spoken. Can produce simple connected text on topics which are familiar or of personal interest. Can describe experiences and events, dreams, hopes & ambitions and briefly give reasons and explanations for opinions and plans. |
| B2 | Can understand the main ideas of complex text on both concrete and abstract topics, including technical discussions in his/her field of specialisation. Can interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers quite possible without strain for either party. Can produce clear, detailed text on a wide range of subjects and explain a viewpoint on a topical issue giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options. |
| C1 | Can understand a wide range of demanding, longer texts, and recognise implicit meaning. Can express him/herself fluently and spontaneously without much obvious searching for expressions. Can use language flexibly and effectively for social, academic and professional purposes. Can produce clear, well-structured, detailed text on complex subjects, showing controlled use of organisational patterns, connectors and cohesive devices. |
| C2 | Can understand with ease virtually everything heard or read. Can summarise information from different spoken and written sources, reconstructing arguments and accounts in a coherent presentation. Can express him/herself spontaneously, very fluently and precisely, differentiating finer shades of meaning even in the most complex situations. |
A Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) is a requirement for obtaining a UK Tier 4 General Student Visa (GSV). Since February 22, visa letters are no longer be valid. The UK has started using an electronic system.
The electronic system will use a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS). Unlike the Form I-20 used for US visa applications, this is not an actual paper certificate – it exists only as a number on the UK Border Agency website. What will happen is as follows:
In many ways, this new electronic system will be an improvement. In particular, the CAS will be available for use as soon as we’ve processed it, so there will no longer be any need for us to send you visa letters. Students will therefore save money on hefty express mail fees!
Please remember that a CAS costs £10 and we will add this to your invoice. The £10 fee is non refundable, compulsory in all cases where a CAS is required. It is not an administration charge we have added but the actual cost of the process.
None of these changes affect Student Visitor Visas. They will continue to be processed using visa support letters.
There have been significant changes to the visa application process for students coming to the UK. As of 22nd February 2010 all applicants for Tier 4 General Student Visas (GSV) and Child Student Visa (CSV) are required to have a Certificate of Acceptance of Studies (CAS) issued by their sponsor school. A CAS is a unique electronic reference number and will replace visa letters for students applying for a GSV or CSV. We hope that this will make applications quicker and faster in future and allow both school and agent to track a student’s visa progress.
We are committed to following UKBA rules to the letter and demonstrating good practice in our student recruitment. This way, we can be a reliable partner to you and provide you with the excellent service you expect. For this reason, it would be helpful to clarify a few of the key UKBA policies which will affect students applying for General Student Visas (GSVs) for the UK.
- A secondary school attendance record or leaving certificate showing the student has had English classes for 3-5 years
- A secondary school examination certificate showing a level of English achievement
- An attendance certificate from evening classes in English language
- College or University certificate showing attendance and achievement in an English course
- Previous IELTS test score
- University of Cambridge ESOL certificate
- TOEFL certificate
- TOEIC certificate
- A reference from an appropriately qualified person to state that the student has previously studied English, citing course name and dates. The referee must also give their contact details on headed paper and interview the student to confirm their level of English is sufficient for the course.
If you have booked a course to start after 22nd February 2010 and are still applying for your Tier 4 GSV, please contact us as soon as possible to obtain a CAS.
If you have not yet done so, we recommend that you also check the UK Border Authority website:
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/
Alternatively, please contact us with any questions you may have