Spouse IELTS

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Susan Wareham McGrath on April 2, 2010 at 22:07

Hi Prasanna

Thy need to have a band score of at least four and a half (4.5) based on all four components of the test and they must have taken the test no more than 12 months before lodging the application.
.
They can still apply if they don't have that level of English, but will have to pay a second instalment Visa Application Charge of AU$3510. That charge should not be paid until DIAC requests it.

Bes regards
Susan

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by YC1TEN/VK3 on April 2, 2010 at 22:34

Hi Susan,

Happy Easter....

Does the 12 months before lodging the application only apply if the IELTS's score is 4.5 based on all four components ?, i.e if say it is 5 across four bands the validity of IELTS's test is 2 years?

Best Regards,

Tendean

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Susan Wareham McGrath on April 4, 2010 at 13:50

Hi Tendean

Any secondary applicant (i.e. spouse) has to have taken their IELTS test within 12 months of the date of the visa application for it to be considered.

So even if they scored 9 across all four bands, it would still have to be from a test taken within 12 months.

For a primary applicant, the test needs to have been taken 24 months or less before the application was lodged.

Best regards
Susan

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by YC1TEN/VK3 on April 4, 2010 at 22:40

Hi Susan,

I copy and paste the following from IMMI's website regarding secondary applicant:

"Important: If you are using an IELTS test to show functional English, it must be from a test sat no more than 12 months before making your application.".

This is where I am a bit confused, It said "IF you are using an IELTS test to SHOW FUNCTIONAL English.....so does it mean if it is functional English (Average 4.5) a test taken must be within 12 months or if the test result is competent (5 in each band ) or higher, the test taken can be 24 months or less???

Appreciate you help

Kind Regards,

Tendean

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Susan Wareham McGrath on April 12, 2010 at 6:46

Hi Tendean

I see what you mean - DIAC could have explained it more clearly.

This is how it works:

DIAC wants all secondary applicants (people aged 18 or over who are not the main visa applicant) to prove that their English is sufficient to cope with everyday situations.

The actual wording of DIAC's requirement for evidence of functional English (in the case of secondary applicants), is:

a band score of at least four and a half (4.5) based on all four components.

So, it doesn't matter how good the secondary applicant's English is - they could achieve 9, 9, 9 and 9 in their IELTS test - DIAC would still call it "functional" English.

However, in the main applicant's case, DIAC would call a score of 9, 9, 9 and 9 "proficient" and would allocate extra points for it.

So the next part of DIAC's requirement then makes more sense - "if you are using an IELTS test to show functional English, it must be from a test sat no more than 12 months before making your application".

I hope that helps to clarify the issue.

Best wishes
Susan

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Prasanna on April 4, 2010 at 13:17

Dear Susan,
Thank you very much for your reply..


unfortunately my spouse got only overall band score of 4.0 She will have to do that again.

Prasanna

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Susan Wareham McGrath on April 4, 2010 at 13:58

Hi Prasanna

I'd like to say firstly that your spouse has done a great thing by achieving an overall score of 4. You must be very proud of her - she must have spent so much time studying and worked so hard to achieve that result.

Just as a point of clarification, even if your spouse does not do the test again, you can still continue with your application. But until she gets 4.5, you will have to pay the secondary Visa Application Charge I mentioned above.

Best wishes to you both
Susan

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Prasanna on April 4, 2010 at 14:11

Dear Susan,

Thank you very much for your encouraging reply.

I have submitted our medicals and on 25.03.2010, online application stated "received". I did medicals only during the first week of March. So I understand that they are procesing it in a speedy manner.

I lodged in June 2009 (under CSL). my CO had sent a mail to reply within 60 days for PCC, medicals and spouse IELTS. According to that the deadline would be 30.04.2010. My agent advised to submit all the receipts for those three and we did. However, we will not be able to meet the deadline for spouse IELTS, i feel. Is it madatory to submit all those before 30.04.2010? What would happen we try again in IELTS and submit, probably in first or second week of May?

Thanks again

Prasanna

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Farzana Khan on April 5, 2010 at 5:59

Hi Susan !

Pls clarify the "Thy need to have a band score of at least four and a half (4.5) based on all four components of the test and they must have taken the test no more than 12 months before lodging the application."

My 175/CSL/MODL/Paperbased/Offshore application in under process. meanwhile I got married and intimated DIAC regarding this and provided all docs/forms for my spouse as secondary applicant. My spouse appeared in IELTS after that and got overall 6.0 band.So my spouse IELTS test date is after the date, I added her as secondary applicant in my already lodged application.
Do the conditionality of test date of 12 months before lodging the application also applies in my case or not. Pls explian. Morover, My CO has not yet demaned IELTS. Should I wait for his/her request or just provide IELTS TRF in advance.
Regards
Farzana

.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Susan Wareham McGrath on April 12, 2010 at 6:59

Hi Farzana

In order to avoid paying an additional Visa Application Charge for your spouse, they will need to prove they have an IELTS score of 4.5 or more on each band; and they must have taken the test 12 months or less before the application was lodged.

For example, if you lodged your application on 1 June 2009, DIAC would accept results from an IELTS test your spouse took any time between 2 June 2008 and the date the case was finalised.

As you already have your spouse's results, it would be appropriate to provide the report to your CO now, so they will have it on hand when they are ready for it.

Best wishes
Susan

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Farzana Khan on April 12, 2010 at 12:20

Dear Susan ! Thank you very much for your kindly reply.
But I am sorry that I couldn't explain you my point of view.
My application has already been lodged last year and I have been married after that. Now I have included my spouse in my visa application ( say in Jan,10) and after that my spouse appeared in IELTS test ( Feb,10) and got the required band. In this case would my Spouse's IELTS would be valid or not ?

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Susan Wareham McGrath on April 12, 2010 at 6:36

Hi Prasanna

You can continue to attach new information to your application during the entire processing period, so you can send in your spouse's updated IELTS results any time before your visa is granted.

Remember, your spouse's English level will NOT affect the success of your application.

The only problem will be that it will be more expensive if she does not meet the functional English requirement, because you will then need to pay the second Visa Application Charge.

Best wishes
Susan

• ▶ Reply

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• 3
• Next ›
• Page