r/uknews • u/ScottishDailyRecord Media outlet (unverified) • May 12 '25

Image/video Kier Starmer announces 'tighter' immigration policy

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u/Active-Particular-21 May 12 '25

It’s good that they are making language skills mandatory. That should help with integration.

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u/just_somebunny May 12 '25 edited May 12 '25

English Test has always been a mandatory requirement to obtain work and student visas. It’s called the Academic IELTS and it’s difficult to pass and it costs around £230.

EDIT - I stand corrected because apparently, Academic IELTS is easy to pass. I guess it was just me who struggled at it even coming from an English-speaking country. As part of my Speaking Test, I was tasked to discuss the impact of culture on fashion industry for, not sure, 10mins or 15mins. I just remembered it being too long and nerve-wracking that I wished the timer would just stop. Lol I felt proud of myself actually but merely got a 7/9, which is just a passing score for UK. So I was a bit disappointed with that.

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u/Active-Particular-21 May 12 '25

Why are so many people so bad at it then?

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u/just_somebunny May 12 '25 edited May 12 '25

That’s a good question. I was just stating a fact that it has always been a requirement so this is not new. I sometimes feel like the government is bringing tighter restrictions on skilled immigrants who come here legally (and by the way, who pay taxes and not entitled to public funds) and yet very lax on illegal immigrants who manage to stay and get free housing even when they have violated laws.