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Changes to the knowledge of language and life requirement
On 6th April 2011, the UKBA agency announced changes to the knowledge of language and life (referred to as KOL) requirement for settlement applications. Skilled and highly skilled migrants are now required to pass the life in the UK test in order to qualify for settlement in the UK. This means, as of 6th April 2011, migrants will not be able to satisfy the requirements solely on the basis of completing an ESOL course unless they qualify for settlement under the transitional arrangements (see below).
The new requirement will affect those in the UK in the following category:
· Tier 1 (exceptional talent, general, entrepreneur , investor
· Tier 2 general, intra company transfer, Minister of religion, sportsperson
· Work permit holder
· Highly skilled migrants (except those covered by HSMP ILR judicial review policy document)
· Overseas Government employee
· Representative of overseas newspaper, news agency, broadcasting organisation or business
· Ministers of religion or members of religious orders
· Persons intending to establish themselves in business under ECAA
· Writers, composers and artists
· Investors
· Airport based operational staff of overseas-owned airlines
Transitional arrangements
These will apply to those migrants who have enrolled on an ESOL course or who has gained an ESOL qualification prior to 23 November 2010. These migrants can rely on that ESOL qualification for settlement regardless of the date they make their application. Any migrant who has enrolled or passed an ESOL course after this date will still be required to undertake the Life in the UK test in order to qualify for settlement.
11th April 2011