| The newly elected Conservative Liberal Democrat | | | | Home Secretary told the media that the ability to |
| coalition government has made it a point to stop | | | | speak English is a pre-requisite for anyone who wants |
| immigrants with poor English to come into the UK. | | | | to stay in the UK in the future. The proficiency in |
| Under the new rules, any immigrants originating from | | | | English will ensure that all new immigrants are able to |
| outside of the European Union will have to take a | | | | integrate into society without any problems. |
| compulsory English language proficiency exam. | | | | The Home Secretary said that the first step is to |
| Non-EU immigrants who married British citizens and | | | | toughen up the requirement of English test across the |
| would like to move to the UK are not spared either. | | | | UK visa application system. Secondly, the government |
| They are also required to take the same English test. | | | | will want to put a limit on the numbers of work visas |
| Some experts said that the problem stems from the | | | | as well as student visas being issued each year. |
| overpopulation of London, and further increase in | | | | New Rules Apply to Non EU Immigrants Already Living |
| immigration will devastate the City in terms of | | | | in UK |
| accommodation, sanitary, transportation, and basic | | | | The new test regime is not only limited to new |
| amenities. | | | | immigration applicants outside of the European Union; it |
| Although the previous Labour government also | | | | also applies to those fiancées, spouses, or unmarried |
| proposed the same test regime to be introduced in | | | | couples who are already residing in the UK. The |
| year 2011, it is now estimated that the new English | | | | government said that the new system aims to |
| proficiency test system will be brought forward one | | | | promote integration, water down cultural differences |
| year. The current government has said that it is keen | | | | and protect public services. However, the government |
| to push on with this new requirement and would want | | | | has not revealed whether the applicants will have to |
| the system to kick in as soon as possible. This was | | | | pay an extra fee to take the test. |
| one of the Conservative party's manifestos prior to | | | | Critics said the new test system in reality, is aiming at |
| the 2010 election when David Cameron said that the | | | | Asian immigrants especially those from India, Pakistan, |
| immigration rate is too high and pledged to take swift | | | | Bangladesh, Myanmar and China. We have seen a |
| action to slash the numbers. | | | | huge influx from these countries in recent years while |
| The compulsory English proficiency test will set a | | | | other EU migrants are also coming to the UK. |
| minimum standard on communication skills expected of | | | | However, the UK government has to adhere to the |
| all non-EU migrants. The Home office will roll out | | | | EU policy of freedom movement of workers and |
| requirements for all non-EU citizens to take the test | | | | therefore, the only way to slash population increment is |
| when applying for UK visa. Theresa May, Britain's | | | | on non-EU immigration. |