ILR or Citizenship?

[Tropcroc]

Apologies if I'm posting this in the wrong place, new to this site.

I'm British and my wife is Brazillian, we got married almost 5 years ago and have been going through the FLR M route. We are nearing the end of this route and I just wanted to know if we have to get the ILR now or can we skip that and go straight to citizenship. We were about to book her Life in the UK test and this question was put to us before we can book and to be honest I found myself a bit stumped. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.

[CR001]

Your wife requires ILR before she can apply for citizenship. ILR is mandatory for Citizenship, which she can apply for as soon as she has ILR and provided she meets all the requirements.

She needs LIUK test and English B1 for both ILR and citizenship.

[Tropcroc]

Ok thanks for the fast reply, she is going for the Life in the UK test soon and she already has her IELTS English certificates from previous applications, I'm sure they still accept this if you started the process before they changed the proof of English rules a while back.

It's as I thought the route we were going, thanks for help clearing it up for me.

[CR001]

she already has her IELTS English certificates from previous applications, I'm sure they still accept this if you started the process before they changed the proof of English rules a while back.

Her previous English test will only be accepted if it is at B1 level test still approved by HO AND from a test provider that is still on the HO approved test provider and approved test list.

B1 test has been the requirement since at least 2012/2013. What level needs to be submitted changes and applicants must plan accordingly and submit what is required under the CURRENT rules.

[Tropcroc]

On our last FLR M application they had changed the list of Proof of English tests that they were accepting, but we were allowed to use her certificate as it was in the approved list when we made our first application in 2013. Do you think we shall not be allowed to continue with this as before?

May I ask another question. It's not related at all to our visa applications but it was something I had wondered about. If I was an EU national working and living in the UK instead of being British, would that change the cost of my wife gaining ILR here and then Citizenship?

[CR001]

Yes it would but it would also put her on a new 5 year route to permanent residency.

Their are certain criteria that need to be met if you are a dual citizen and it becomes a bit more complicated as for immigration purposes, if you aren't usually consider an EU citizen in the UK if you are dual british.

What other nationality might you hold and since when?

You risk ILR refusal and loss of £3k if you don't have a B1 test that is HO approved and on the current list. The test is £150.