Dear Sir,

I am in UK on a Tier 4 visa and I wish to bring my husband to UK as a dependant spouse. I was told by a friend that since 29th November every one who applies from overseas as a dependant spouse needs to do the IELTS exam. Is it correct and does my husband needs to do the IELTS exam to come over to UK as my dependant?

Remya, London


Dear Remya,

The English language requirement only applies to those who apply to come over to UK as the dependant spouse of a British citizen or the dependant spouse of a person with indefinite leave to remain in UK. It does not apply to the dependant spouses of a person with limited leave to remain. This means that any one who wishes to come over to UK as the dependant spouse of Tier 4 migrant, dependant of a Tier 1 migrant, Tier 2 migrant or a Post study worker or the dependant of a work permit holder or the spouse of a domestic worker does not need to satisfy the requirement of the English test. Accordingly those persons do not need to do the IELTS exam. Therefore your husband does not need to do any IELTS exam. He can apply to join you as a dependant spouse.


Paul John