As an immigration lawyer, it is hard for me to stick up for the Home Office, but I had to respond to the letter from Kahn Priestley (see [2005] Gazette, 28 July, 14) on the subject of language tests for British citizenship applicants.

I too will leave aside the issue as to whether or not the language requirement is fair and just, but the comment made about the lack of information for solicitors administering the test is incorrect.


The Home Office Web site clearly provides guidance for solicitors administering the test in annex C of the language requirements section of the nationality Web pages. Not only is there guidance, but there is a standard form of certificate for solicitors to use.


The information that the official from the Home Office gave over the telephone is also incorrect, as a solicitor can only make the certification if the applicant is a native English speaker or has 'a knowledge of English to the level reasonably expected of a person of full age and capacity whose native language is English'.


The information is clearly there, it is just a shame that not everyone at the Home Office knows this.


Sophia Linehan, HCL Hanne & Co, London