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Filipinos applying to be permanent residents in the
United Kingdom will have to be able to answer such questions as who
is the head of the Church of England, when was Queen Elizabeth II
crowned, or how many members does the Scottish parliament have.
Beginning Monday, applicants for
permanent residence must pass a test in English as well as British
politics, history and culture.
Such tests are already required
since 2004 for all those seeking British citizenship.
The test called “Life in the
UK” is composed of 24 questions, including those about British
history, the political system, customs and citizens’ rights.
Citizens of the European Union
member countries, except Romania and Bulgaria, which face
immigration quotas, will be able to continue to live and work in
Britain without restriction.
The test will cost 34 pounds (50
euros) and the test review pamphlet which people are advised to buy
will cost nearly 10 pounds (15 euros).
The Home Office said the measure
will help immigrants contribute to the economy by increasing their
employment prospects and making them more aware of their rights and
responsibilities.
However, Habib Rahman, chief
executive of the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants (JCWI),
was concerned about the impact of the new requirements.
“From Monday applicants for
indefinite leave to remain [ILR] and naturalization will pay double
for their application fees,” he said.
“In particular the new ILR
regime with its test requirements will make the integration of
refugees and other vulnerable migrant groups harder,” Rahman
added.
“The new rules could
effectively deny UK settlement and citizenship to some of the
children in these families indefinitely,” Rahman said.
Facing growing public concerns
about immigration, Britain, which has been more open to immigration
than many other European countries, is pursuing a strategy to limit
the influx and avoid social divisions.
 --AFP
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