Gentle Reminder: AN deadline approaching

If anyone's been procrastinating with their AN form, next Tuesday is the deadline for submitting British naturalisation applications without having to take the English language proficiency test.  After that date, applicants will need to take the test *OR* show some extra paperwork, and people who don't pass may need to take a remedial course at their own expense.

Not that anyone here would fail it, but you could avoid the extra headache of having to sit an exam or gather an ESOL certificate from someplace else.  The IND needs to receive the application by Tuesday, so it might be best to post it by tomorrow evening.  The instrument itself is posted here http://www.hmso.gov.uk/si/si2004/20041726.htm

I have been gathering a list of what sorts of certifications are acceptable, but haven't finished it yet.

OH MY GOD. I had no idea! I have to have my application to the Home Office no earlier than WEDNESDAY next week!! Surely there must be some exception for native English speakers! *pulls hair out*

PS: Ive just sent an email off to the Home Office regarding this issue. I can hardly find it reasonable to have to go out of my way to obtain a qualification via testing simply to say that I am capable of communicating in English. Clearly I can. For pete's sake, I ONLY speak English! Ive spent my etire life of 22 years speaking English!

Ive asked them to come back to me quite quickly with an answer because I wanted to send my application on the 28th of July, the very day they intend to release the official and complete documentation regarding the language requirement. We'll see what happens.

Garry,

I've had a look at the statutory instrument to which you refer. Is there any chance the Home Office would accept a US college transcript to prove that fact (containing, e.g. university-level English courses with a grade of  "C" or better)?

Surely there must be some way for American expats to be exempted. Or do they make the Aussies and Kiwis take the exam? That seems wrong-headed to me.

I've had a look at the statutory instrument to which you refer. Is there any chance the Home Office would accept a US college transcript to prove that fact (containing, e.g. university-level English courses with a grade of  "C" or better)?

Sadly, we've been told nothing about the acceptable substitutes for the certificate or who can be designated to attest.   On behalf of someone else here, I have asked for a reading on whether an SAT or PSAT certificate can be substituted, but have received no reply. 

I doubt that there will be a blanket exemption for Americans, however, because they can correctly point out that it's a very multi-lingual country.  It looks like we'll have to sit it out until a little bit more is known...

No, Garry, I think that the idea that the US is "multi-lingual" is a myth.

The exception is the Hispanic population in certain parts of the US, but even there I think you will find that unless the person has citizenship from being naturalised in the US, their English will be native-speaker level (though perhaps not beautiful or well-spoken).

In other parts of the US, there is as little a multilingual population as there is in Britain (with the exception of London).

Again - if someone has grown up in the US and has gone to school there, it will be an absolute given that the English will be native-level. I would certainly challenge the Home Office on that assumption.

It is laughably wrong-headed, not to be "rightly pointed out".

I agree, misch.  I think it's absolutely ridiculous that US citizens (or Australians, Canadians, New Zealanders, etc.) would have to prove their ability to speak English.  A crucial part of the naturalization process involves the ability to speak and understand basic English, so even those who gained their citizenship by naturalization should still have a grasp of the language.

Still, if it's made a requirement, we'll have to put up with it, I suppose.  At least it's one we won't have to worry about passing!

Lola,

Within one or two hundred miles of the part of Virginia I grew up in, I bet there might not be 50  people who can fluently speak anything but English (except of course for Mexican migrant workers, who aren't usually citizens).

What a joke, the US and multilingual! And by the way: per capita, I would be surprised if you could find as many people in the US who speak anything other than English as here! Canada, Australia are different, they have a much higher proportion of immigrants per capita!

Michael

Lola,

Within one or two hundred miles of the part of Virginia I grew up in, I bet there might not be 50  people who can fluently speak anything but English (except of course for Mexican migrant workers, who aren't usually citizens).

It's so true.  I can't think of anyone I know who is bilingual, let alone multilingual.  I have a rough grasp of written and spoken Spanish, but I wouldn't even count myself as bilingual. 

What a joke, the US and multilingual! And by the way: per capita, I would be surprised if you could find as many people in the US who speak anything other than English as here! Canada, Australia are different, they have a much higher proportion of immigrants per capita!

Michael

I would be willing to bet that the UK is more multilingual than the US.  I used Australia and Canada as examples because I was talking about citizens of the countries...as far as I know, one must meet basic English competency in their naturalization processes as well.  Just seems strange that there couldn't be an exemption for primarily-English speaking countries.  We wouldn't ask the Germans to PROVE they knew German, would we?   

*sigh* tried all morning to get though to the nationality group at the Home Office by phone. I got through the menus a few times but when I got "in the que" it would ring until it disconnected or just disconnected straight away. several days I emailed the nationality group and I havent yet had a reply. According to the message on the phone line there is "more" info on the Home Office web site which at the time was just a LIE. Also they say that more info will be released to the international press on friday. lotta help that was then!!! I hate being delayed! Ive waited long enough already. I just dont get why they had to make this new rule go through ON THE DAY I could apply. Talk about nightmare!

after hours of searching for information - ANY information - online I finally stumbled on this: http://194.203.40.90/default.asp?PageId=3696

I have NO idea how recent or old it is but it seems to address the issues that are just now coming into practice. I found it TOTALLY disturbing and Im wondering now if its even worth applying for citizenship. Theyve gone and made the process so damn unreasonable (according to the data in this document) that I just dont know if I can be bothered. I AM leaving after all. Im so utterly pissed off.

check this out:

essentially these are the requirements for us Yanks...

"Has been assessed as already at ESOL Entry 3 or higher

 and . . .
   

 . . . can pass a short written test and oral assessment in English (having prepared by private study items 1 - 5 of the Programme of Studies) and having prepared item 6 on 'British National Institutions' either on a short course equivalent to 10 two-hour adult education sessions in a recognised educational institution subject to inspection, or else by self study under the supervision of a mentor or tutor whose qualifications are recognised by such an institution. (In both cases we are considering whether some evidence of civic participation should be required)."

So basically - if this info is up to date - we have to go out of our way to get assessed by someone who teaches Adult ESOL and make sure were assessed at entry level 3 or above (thats the speaking, reading, and writing age of a 10 year old child apparently). Then we have to be tested, having prepped under an approved Mentor? Are they sh*tting me?

*tears hair out* someone tell me this document is old and that this is just an insane evil nightmare.

Marsbar,

It looks like to me the "British National Institutions" test is like the US citizenship test - not related really to language. You would have to prepare for and take a test relating to British politics and government, I expect.

They also want proof of "civic participation" from those whose English is already good - that seems pretty onerous - it's treating English-speakers worse than non-English speakers, it seems to me. I would expect it to be challenged on ECHR grounds in the courts.

Weird.

any development on this topic? Im a week behind on my original plan and I STILL havent heard a peep of real information from ANYONE. I still cant get through to the Nationality Group by phone and theyre not answering my email. What do I do?

any development on this topic?

No word.  Nada.  I'll send a fax to the advisor hotline tomorrow asking for some guidance if it will be of any use to you.   They have really botched the roll-out on this one.   Normally they are right on the money and well organized...

Of particular interest are the so-called "designates" who can sign for someone in lieu of a test certificate.

Golly Garry - whats your link to "The Powers That Be"? You seem to be able to get info none of us can. If you can get any information at all I would appreciate it SOO SOO SO much. Ive been minutes from writing to my MP for days.

In the pathetic little document thats been posted to the HO website for weeks it does mention those designates. If only we knew who they were! Hehe.

Anyway, thanks SO much Garry. Your help is much appreciated. *HUG*

Golly Garry - whats your link to "The Powers That Be"? You seem to be able to get info none of us can.

I have no access beyond what everybody else has.  It's simply a matter of trying to stay informed and up-to-date, and I use sources that are available to the general public.  Of course some of the material requires a membership fee, but the bulk is out there for the picking.  If there's sufficient public curiosity, I'll open a different thread on which sites I read to keep up-to-date.

As to the question at hand, i.e., what's going on with the English language requirement, I finally got through on the hotline and the answer I got was (quote) "We don't know anything about it".