Life in the UK Test for Spouse – What are the Requirement and why do they keep getting tougher

After a year and a half relationship, you and your British husband have decided to get married. Your husband then suggests that you and your family move to the United Kingdom and permanently reside there. Ecstatic, you pack your bags and get ready for your new home and the UK life. No problem with that, since all you need is to pass the Life in the UK test, pass certain documents, and that’s it, right?

Until now, that is, as a new law has been enacted. It is required for anyone entering the United Kingdom to have knowledge of Basic English. This is to help control fake marriages, as it has been reported that there has been a staggering 54% increase of these sham marriages from 2009, according to the Home Office.

This problem was brought into light when a BBC reporter, posing as an illegal immigrant, found out that there were many people offering to help the reporter get married. According to the reporter, this is a thriving business in which “brides” are from the EU, abusing their rights and privileges, and prospective “bridegrooms” are the illegal immigrants. Marrying a “bride” gives you the right to reside, illegally, on the United Kingdom.

FACT: In 2004 alone, there have been at least 3,500 suspected cases involving sham marriages. After that, the government has introduced new laws to combat these fake marriages and illegal immigrants. Within months, rates dropped drastically every year, until 2009, as it is currently on the rise again.

The reason, Law lords deemed those laws as “breaching the human rights” as it unfairly affects all foreign spouses, whether they’re just trying to live legally or not.

Today, there have been only a couple of hundred cases reported, according to the reports received by the Home Office.

Life in the UK Test for Spouse – Foreign spouses currently residing in the UK

Foreign spouses currently residing in the UK need not to worry, as they are safe from deportation and the law, provided they have passed the Life in the UK test and have the proper documents. However, they are encouraged to still study Basic English should the need arise.

Last year, 38,000 were granted a spousal visa and 21,000 more were granted settlement rights. The government, particularly the Home Office, is investigating whether the 21,000 are legally married, have the proper documents, and have passed the Life in the UK test.

These new laws, according to Mrs. May, the Home Secretary, will, hopefully, reduce those numbers to a minimum.

New foreign spouses coming this autumn shall be required to have basic handle of the English language, in addition to taking the Life in the UK test, and other documents, as requirements for legally staying in the United Kingdom. An oral test will have to be taken by the spouse on an agency before proceeding to live on the United Kingdom.

This is only the first step, says Mrs. May, to combat sham marriages and are planning stricter and laws in the near future in order to further control increasing fake marriages rates.

The government has also suspended student visa applications in India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and other countries, fearing that these visas may be used by illegal immigrants.

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