• UKBA to be split in two
• Biometric residence permits to be made compulsory for all stays over 6 months
• Online applications for Tier 2 and Tier 5 visas launched
• Changes to Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) extensions for Business Persons and Innovators
• Revised student visa rules to come into effect on 5 April 2012
• Immigration fee increases proposed, changes due in April 2012
• ‘Apply online’ service will be unavailable from 10-12 February
• What does being British mean to you?
• Damian Green introduces idea of ‘contribution-based’ immigration system
• Phone lines now closed for biometric enrolment
• English language test requirements increased for Tier 1 and 2
• List of approved English language tests updated for Tiers 1, 2 and 4
• Biometric appointment booking service to be online only from February
• Online Tier 2 and 5 applications from February 2012
• Is immigration affecting unemployment?
• New application form for Bulgarian and Romanian nationals
• Immigration expected to fall because of economy, not policy
• New procedure for Exception Talent visas with Arts Council endorsement
• Fees for appeals apply from December 2011
• Appeal against English language requirements for spouses and partners fails
• Biometric residence permits to be issued with ILR
• Apply Online and Sponsor management services unavailable on 3-4 December
• UK Net migration hits record levels
• Working rights restrictions to continue for Bulgarian and Romanian nationals
• Skilled workers may have to meet minimum salary requirement for ILR
• Salary thresholds for sponsoring dependents proposed
• New Shortage Occupation List comes into effect
• Border control lapses put Home Secretary under pressure to resign
• New policy guidance on marriage visas for under-21s
• Over 500 colleges lose the right to sponsor students
• Unqualified financial institutions for Tier 4
• Settlement requirements amended for Tier 2 visas and work permits
• Shortage Occupation List reduced for skilled migrants
• Ban on marriage visas for under-21s thrown out by Supreme Court
• New style passports all now printed in the UK
• Further crackdown on immigration outlined by Prime Minister
• ‘We’re going to change the British citizenship test,’ says Prime Minister
• Changes to the Immigration Rules announced affecting Tier 2 visas
• New rules block stays in the UK for NHS debtors
• Fake university website closed down
• The Guardian asks, Do You Feel British?
• Apply Online service unavailable on Thursday 6 October
• Changes made to list of approved English language tests
• Online services unavailable on 30 September 2011
• UKBA announces changes for carers of British citizens
• 2012 editions are nearly here!
• Family migration consultation ‘to promote better integration’
• MAC advises shortage occupation list be restricted to limit migration
• UKBA request feedback on biometric residence permits
• Settlement consultation closes on 9 September
• UK Border Agency launches new website
• Student visas and International Baccalaureate qualifications
• Latest statistics show net migration up 21%
• The Migrant Journey - Second Report
• Marriage-related migration to the UK
• Biometric visa ‘clinic’ to open in Amsterdam
• Tier 1 (Exceptional talent) route opens
• UKBA launch improved online booking system
• Online services unavailable from 4-7 August
• Details of the Tier 1 (Exceptional talent) route confirmed
• New Tier 1 (Post-study work) forms and policy guidance published
• Payment methods for premium appointments in Glasgow and Cardiff
• Test booking process changes
• New chief executive of the UKBA announced
• Consultation announced on family migration
• Immigration Advisory Service enters into administration
• New approved English language tests and providers
• Changes to student visa rules implemented
• Further clarification on Tier 4 student visas
• UKBA strike action planned on 30 June
• Free extension of stay announced for skilled workers in closed work routes
• New forms published: EEA and BR1
• New scrutiny on private colleges
• More changes to student visas announced
• Breaking the link between temporary and permanent migration
• Q&A document on English language requirements for students
• Home Affairs committee finds UKBA failing to control immigration
• UKBA ‘reviewing’ impact of ECJ cases
• New immigration removal centre opened in Lincolnshire
• Test fee increased for Life in the UK test
• Net migration leaps by nearly 100,000
• Newport passport office to be closed to applications
• ‘Unnecessary’ immigration appeals curbed by new restrictions
• Passenger movement data to be tracked across the EU
• Tier 2 allocations made for April 2011
• Immigration Minister’s answers to your questions released
• Prime Minister defends immigration policy
• Reduced points based test calculator until summer 2011
• Changes to the ‘knowledge of language and life’ requirement for settlement
• ESOL rules change for ‘knowledge of life and language in the UK’ requirement
• Limits on Tier 2 visas and Tier 1 changes come into effect
• Damian Green answers your questions
• New immigration fees - April 2011
• Certificates of Approval abolished in May 2011
• BBC Oxford talks to lifeintheuk.net
• Finalised details of student visa programme announced
• NHS debtors to face restrictions on immigration
• Home Affairs Committee criticises student visa plans
• Re-entry bans reduced for voluntary departures
• Details of Tier 1 Investor and Entrepreneur visas announced

List of approved English language tests updated for Tiers 1, 2 and 4

A new list of approved English language tests has been published by the UK Border Agency (UKBA) affecting applications made under Tiers 1, 2 and 4 of the points based system as well as spouse and partner visa applications.

The amendments relate to various accredited bodies and are as follows:

• the City & Guilds test scores now show ‘pass’ and there is a separate English language test for spouse/partner applications.
• for City & Guilds tests the documents required for a migrants application have been amended.
• ETS have changed the way that the scores for their TOEFL ibt (internet based test) map against the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR).
• the ETS TOEFL ibt (internet based test) now includes scores for spouse and partner applications.
• there is a change to the web address for the TOEIC (The test of English for international communication) English language test.
• Cambridge ESOL (English for speakers of other languages) have amended the title of one of their tests from ‘International Legal English Certificate’ to ‘Cambridge English Legal’.
• for Cambridge ESOL tests the minimum grade requirements are clearer.
• Trinity College tests now have a 2 year expiry date.

You can download the updated list, including all the above revisions from the UKBA website here - New list of approved English language tests (PDF, 364KB).