IMMIGRATION MATTERS
By Charles Kelly Immigration Adviser & Director of Overseas Consultancy Services and Co Author of “How 2 Come to the UK to Live Work Study or Visit".
The Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC) has recently announced that it would, effective from 1 February 2007, be raising the minimum English language overall IELTS pass score for overseas-trained nurses and midwives coming to work in the UK.
The IELTS, the International English Language Testing System, is compulsory for all nurses trained outside the European Economic Area (EEA), but the minimum overall score, in the academic version of the test, is currently set at 6.5 (out of a possible 9). From 1 February 2007, overseas-trained nurses and midwives in the academic test will have to achieve a score of 7.0 in the listening and reading sections, 7.0 in the writing and speaking section, and an overall average score of 7 (out of a possible 9).
Although compulsory for nurses, IELTS is a useful programme for anyone thinking of working or studying in the UK; the higher your level of English, the better your chances of succeeding in the English speaking world.
For further information on IELTS go to www.ielts.org or www.britishcouncil.org or see “Useful Websites" on
http://www.immigrationmatters.co.uk
If you should have any questions or views you would like to express concerning Work Permit, Visa Extensions, Leave to Remain please email Charles Kelly
info@immigrationmatters.co.uk.
I will be speaking on: “Are You Employing Staff Illegally?" at:
The Care Show - NEC 25th October 2006
HOW 2 COME TO THE UK to Live Work Study or Visit by Charles Kelly & Cynthia Barker2005 ISBN 0-9546338-3-0.
Available from our website, leading bookstores in the UK and National Bookstore, Glorieta and Manila Area.
