Life in the UK test

[satchnz]

The next step in my UK visa journey is to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) in July of this year. So far I’ve crossed off some of the essentials such as:

• Received two prior visas under the partner visa plan
• Been to my first Premier League match
• Eaten plenty of beef roasts with Yorkshire pudding, and fish and chips (to be fair, both of these meals are staples in New Zealand too). I’ve however not eaten the traditional foods of Scotland (haggis - will never happen), Wales (Welsh cakes), or NI (Ulster fry). Now before anyone argues that these are not the traditional foods, this is what is in the Home Offices official study material…
• Stood in countless queues
• Got three max wins on slots
• Had a good old moan about things aplenty

But before I can apply for ILR, I need to pass the Life in the UK test. This test consists of 24 multi choice or true/false questions about UK life and traditions, as well as a health dose of history (I’ve got a low propensity for history which is going to be the hardest part for me). Some of the questions are sensible such as knowing what the main political parties are (although I had to laugh when two of the selections were Conservative and Office Party - didn’t they end up being one in the same? ). Some of them are downright stupid (identifying Eastenders and Coro St as either TV programmes or national landmarks).

The thing I wonder though is how many natural UK citizens would be able to pass this test? How many people know that the main two political parties in the 18th century were the Whigs and the Nationalists? Maybe this is taught here in schools, but what is the benefit in knowing this fact today? I get it that this tests is just as much about displaying the ability for the candidate to learn as they are about knowing a bit about the UK, but why can’t they be a bit more relevant about the UK today - stuff that would be much more useful to know?

Anyway I just passed the first practice test with 21/24 (17 is the pass mark) with little study, but you never know which questions will be thrown at you (such as who were the two British actors who won academy awards in 2023 or similar…).

Anywho the main purpose of this post is to feed my procrastination so I’d better get back to studying…

 

[mulven]

Remember that the Unicorn is Scotland's National Animal. I'm sure it'll come up.

I love a tattie scone but I'll always have a soft spot for irish potato farls as I grew up over there between the ages of 4-10.

18th century politics was part of my history curriculum, just can't remember if it was in the mandatory section or when I chose history as one of my "higher" subjects.

If you answer Cillian Murphy as one of the British Actors who won an academy award, keep an eye out for men in black balaclavas!

Got a link to your practice test? I want to have a go!

 

[satchnz]

Remember that the Unicorn is Scotland's National Animal. I'm sure it'll come up.

I love a tattie scone but I'll always have a soft spot for irish potato farls as I grew up over there between the ages of 4-10.

18th century politics was part of my history curriculum, just can't remember if it was in the mandatory section or when I chose history as one of my "higher" subjects.

If you answer Cillian Murphy as one of the British Actors who won an academy award, keep an eye out for men in black balaclavas!

Got a link to your practice test? I want to have a go!

My main goal is to add a passport with a unicorn to my passport collection (I have NZ and US passports already). The funny thing is that I’ve said this a few times before .

My better half loves having a couple of potato farls for breakfast. She covers them in Lyle’s golden syrup.

I don’t get your Cillian Murphy reference so will look that up

I’ve got a slightly older copy of the official test questions booklet that I “obtained” from the dark corners of the internet. It’s a pdf file. DM me if you are serious and we can work out how to send it to you.

 

[TheAddict]

Academy awards? Eastenders? Fookin 'ell. Suprised they didn't ask you what pronouns, if any, Graham Norton goes by.
Maybe they should update it to be more with the times, questions like "Which Asian shops can children visit with an expectation to be able to buy counterfeit tobacco that was grown in a Philippine cave?" "How likely are you to get stabbed or robbed if you travel on the underground daily?" .
Jeez, man.

 

[mulven]

I don’t get your Cillian Murphy reference so will look that up

He's an Irish actor that a lot of people call British by mistake. The balaclava stuff is referencing the IRA.

 

[geordiecolin]

I thought that you had said "my better half enjoys having a couple of potato farts" That is quite a thing in Ireland so I hear!

Here is a women arguing the case to get away from the UK

 

[justdoit]

they will also ask some old history like Stradioti, under what King they fight (Henry VIII)

 

[geordiecolin]

they will also ask some old history like Stradioti, under what King they fight (Henry VIII)

Or what is a Stottie Cake and what area it derives from

 

[slot_zombie]

I can only assume that this application is for family or employment reasons..?

There's no way anyone with a NZ or US passport would choose to inhabit this miserable island otherwise.

 

[justdoit]

I can only assume that this application is for family or employment reasons..?

There's no way anyone with a NZ or US passport would choose to inhabit this miserable island otherwise.

Indefinite Leave to Remain is permanent visa 2 years after you hold visa you can appley for British Citzen, only if you past the test after paying £1700

 

[johnnymcc1966]

Indefinite Leave to Remain is permanent visa 2 years after you hold visa you can appley for British Citzen, only if you past the test after paying £1700

I'd pay £1700 to leave.

 

[satchnz]

I can only assume that this application is for family or employment reasons..?

There's no way anyone with a NZ or US passport would choose to inhabit this miserable island otherwise.

Yeah, by better half is here for work and she was born here (although lived in NZ for most of her life like myself).

After Trump’s appalling display yesterday I’m embarrassed for the country I was born in. Feeling rather ashamed that I’m a US citizen right about now.

 

[satchnz]

Indefinite Leave to Remain is permanent visa 2 years after you hold visa you can appley for British Citzen, only if you past the test after paying £1700

In August this year I would have been living in the UK 5 years + 2 months. The extra 2 months is due to the fact that I arrived in the UK two months before my visa start date.

We were living in the US at that point and Covid was just starting to properly kick off. We arrived the afternoon before the first national lockdown, not knowing if I’d be let in, and with no accommodation sorted. We stepped up to border control at Heathrow and I handed my passport over. I said that I wasn’t meant to be here so early, but we had come from the US and that my partner needed to be here for work (and talked about how Covid was shutting the world down). The officer said “let me scan your passport and we’ll see.” He said “my computer is saying not to let you in, but my big rubber stamp says otherwise”. So he stamped my passport and let us on our way.

We couldn’t have gone back to the US as my partner’s visa wouldn’t have allowed that, plus our insurance would have expired and you don’t want to be in the US without health insurance. Going back to NZ wasn’t an option either as they had already shut their borders, and required all returning residents to book a quarantine hotel room to stay in for three weeks upon return. These rooms were booked out for months.

If I’m here beyond the required time between indefinite leave to remain approval and citizenship application date (I thought it was only 12 months but I’ll check), I’d be stupid not to apply for a passport. Gives me more options if the world continues to turn to shit…

 

[satchnz]

I'd pay £1700 to leave.

I think a lot of people in a lot of countries would say something similar!