Perthforme

Hi to all, just joined.

Have done tra ok and need to know what proof to give in the main application of speaking english as all in our family are native english speakers having lived in uk all our lives.

JAJ

If you are British then DIMIA normally accept that you are an English speaker without specific evidence.

Jeremy

jaxowen

My family are all british - 'born and bred' - our visa is based on my skills assessment so i am ok, but we haven't got any proof for my husband paul. We have submitted his service records from four years in the airforce twenty years ago - our agents said this might be ok! so we are just waiting to hear. If you have some proof of passing some kind of exam then it is assumed that you speak/understand english well enough. aparently any kind of exam will do - first aid course, school leavers certificate etc.
I was very surprised to hear that it is not assumed that you can speak english even if you have lived in england for all 44 years of your life .

gogdownunder

Not fair is it? It's not like he'd been living in Wales or anything.

JAJ

I have not heard of a British citizen being asked to prove English ability through IELTS. That's not to say it's never happened, just that it's not that common if it does happen.

Jeremy

JackTheLad

Didn't they used to have the authority, in the bad old days, to make immigrants have to read and write in any bizarre language they could think of? Therefore basically giving them the ability to reject anyone the didn't like.

I read an Oz history book that said they once asked an immigrant to read and write in some weird language (say esperanto or gaelic or something) and they couldn't so they were rejected.

Please don't make me dig out the book again, it was true wasn't it?

Cheers,
JTL

BillyGoatGruff

it was indeed. back in the dark old days of the "white australia" policy they could apparently ask you to do stuff in "a european language of their choice" which of course included gaelic/welsh/christ knows what is they didn't like the look (colour) of you. thank god that all got scrapped - it has led to a wonderful multicultural society.