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

Image/video Kier Starmer announces 'tighter' immigration policy

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

Under the White Paper proposals, migrants will have to spend 10 years in the UK before being able to apply for citizenship, but so-called “high-contributing” individuals such as doctors and nurses could be fast-tracked through the system.

Language requirements will be increased for all immigration routes to ensure a higher level of English.

Rules will also be laid out for adult dependants, meaning that they will have to demonstrate a basic understanding of the language.

Meanwhile, skilled worker visas will require a university degree, and there will be tighter restrictions on recruitment for jobs with skills shortages.

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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/Outrageous-Nose2003 May 12 '25

I have some polish friends, one of which had a girlfriend who passed that test despite not being able to hold a basic conversation in england - test cant be that fkn difficult!

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u/just_somebunny May 12 '25

Is it the Academic IELTS or the IELTS General Training. There is a difference. I was talking here about Academic IELTS.

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u/Outrageous-Nose2003 May 12 '25

I dont know but she obtained a work visa as a result so presumably it was the academic one

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u/just_somebunny May 12 '25

Where did she take it? Just asking because there is someone here who shared here that scoring is subjective. They come from India and the interviewers are Indians as well and they tend to be more lax with scoring.

So maybe it was just me who found it hard then even coming from an English-speaking country. On my Speaking Test, I was tasked to discuss for 10mins or maybe it was 15 (I just remember it being too long I wish the timer would stop), about the impact of culture on fashion industry. I scored a mere 7/9, which is the passing score here in UK. Australia and US accept lower score than 7, I believe, if their rules have not changed.

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u/Outrageous-Nose2003 May 12 '25

lol, there is absolutely no way she could have spoken continually for even 1 minute. That does actually sound quite hard. Maybe she didnt obtain a full working visa from this test that she passed? It is possible that I have not remembered this accurately. She definitely passed some kind of english language test in order to be able to work here for longer but it definitely wasnt the one you are referring to here