A Chinese woman recently came into my office with a letter from the Home Office immigration and nationality directorate. The letter stated that the woman had applied for British citizenship and that, along with her original passport, she needed to send to the Home Office 'confirmation of knowledge of English'.

To paraphrase the guidance notes that came with the letter, such confirmation could be in one of three forms - either a certificate stating that she had attained an ESOL certificate level 3 approved by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, or a certificate of at least as high academic standard issued by an educational institution, or confirmation from a solicitor or notary that she had sufficient knowledge of English.


Leaving aside the issue of whether or not it is right to require proficiency in English from citizens (which has generated pretty healthy debate in our diverse office), and having checked its Web site, I telephoned the Home Office for guidance on what, precisely, constitutes the sufficient knowledge I am supposed to certify. Is there a test I am supposed to administer? Is there a standard form of certificate I can complete?


I was referred back to the Home Office Web site. When I explained that there was no guidance on the site, the man from the ministry apologised and admitted that this was a new thing and that there were no standards. He thought that 'pretty basic' English would be OK.


What should I do? Should I spend half an hour chatting to our prospective citizen and then tell her I'm sorry but I don't think her English is good enough? Should I be angry that, apparently rather than resource a testing regime, the Home Office has placed solicitors (and notaries) in this position? Or should I be ashamed that, rather than ask her how much she believes it is appropriate to pay me to certify that her knowledge of English is sufficient, I sent her away saying I'm sorry I can't help?


Kahn Priestley, FitzPatricks, Burgess Hill, Sussex