u/southemlady

Hi there,

I'm applying for ILR from within the UK following the Global Talent (3-year) route. I submitted my biometric data yesterday morning (super priority). Later in the day I received an email asking for further proof that I meet the English language requirement (as my certificate was expired; they quoted EL 6) and giving me 10 working days to reply.

Now, I think I might have made a mistake. When I first applied to global talent (from outside the UK) in 2023, I submitted as part of my (successful) application a IELTS UKVI showing a C2 level. I always assumed that I could use this again for this application, so when I got the request for further documents from Home Office yesterday, I simply replied with a cover letter explaining that I used this test for my original visa application, showing proof that I had submitted it alongside my other supporting documents, and asking them to consider my test under EL 3.1 and not only under EL 6.

However, I realised later that my original application might not have had a language requirement at all. I was convinced it had, back in 2023, and that's why I sent the appropriate English certificate. But if it didn't, and I suspect it didn't, then UKVI never really reviewed my test back in 2023, and my cover letter does not make any sense.

So I panicked and I booked a SETL for this Wednesday. The certificate should arrive before the original 10 working days are up. I also sent a second cover letter to UKVI explaining that further evidence is on the way and respectfully asking my case not be closed before the period they gave me is up. I never got a confirmation email that they got this second cover letter, which might be useless anyway.

I'm now panicking further that they will reject my application before I even get a chance to send the new English language certificate next week. Would it be safer at this point to just withdraw my application and start over again? It would be so expensive but I'm so scared I'll get rejected and that will be forever in my immigration history.

Any insights on this situation would be greatly appreciated!

Hi! I just took the Life in the UK test this morning and wanted to share my experience in case it is useful for someone.

I had the appointment at 10, I got to the test centre at 9:30 and there were already some people waiting. We got called in order of arrival to do the ID check. I registered with my evisa so I didn't have to show anything, they already had all the info. If you want to take your share code just to be on the safe side, write it down on a piece of paper as you will be asked to turn your phone off before the ID check begins. They checked my ears for airpods and I think I saw a sign saying they might ask you to remove your headwear, so if you cover your head for religious reasons it is possibly a good idea to let them know in advance that you will need a private room to do so. I then proceeded to leave my bag in a locker, and took the test in a separate room. The layout is very similar to that of the mock exams you do online, quite intuitive, and they also let you do four practice questions at the beginning (which do not count towards your final score) to familiarise yourself with the different buttons on the screen. At 10:10 I left the test centre and when I turned my phone on I saw I already had an email with my results.

As far as I remember, the questions I got were (not putting my answers because I might have been wrong about some, but do ask in the comments if something is not clear):

What did Francis Crick get the Nobel prize for?
Which of the following is one of the duties of the Monarch?
Nick Park won several Oscars for his animated films, how are two of his more famous characters called?
What was the main source of work in Britain before 1800?
What were the supporters of the King during the English Civil War called?
What day is St David's Day?
When is Easter celebrated?
When was the last successful foreign invasion of England?
Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly are chosen by (choose one) first-past-the-post system OR proportional representation?
It is illegal to sell tobacco products to anyone under what age?
How are islands that belong to the Crown but are not part to the UK called?
In the Middle Ages a third of England's population died of the Black Death (true/ false)
Which two of the following are roles of school monitors?
Which court deals with most minor criminal cases in England, Wales and Northern Ireland?
What is the most famous tennis tournament in the UK called?
What is the capital of Scotland?
Germany and the UK fought a battle in the summer of 1940, how was the battle called?
As a UK permanent resident, you are expected to (choose two fundamental principles of life in the UK)
Which of these is responsibility of the Home Secretary?
When did men and women obtain the right to vote at the age of 21?
Which of the following is a play by William Shakespeare?
Which flower did William Wordsworth write a poem about?
What did the British government want to do that led to the rebellion of the North American colonies?
In which famous building are the Crown Jewels kept?

I prepared by taking the mock tests from this website again and again, and then for the last week before the exam I also subscribed to the paid tier of the app so I could practice more comfortably (not really neccesary, but it helped with my confidence). Best of luck to anyone preparing for this!

Did I mess up my ILR application? (English language proof)

Life in the UK Test - my experience in 2026