B1 vs. B2 English: the March 2027 settlement deadline and how to book your test now
For tech professionals navigating the UK's incoming Earned Settlement framework, the financial hurdles around the £50,270 salary threshold are getting most of the attention. A quieter, absolute deadline is approaching that could derail thousands of ILR applications regardless of salary. As of March 26, 2027, the Home Office is officially raising the English language requirement for permanent settlement from CEFR Level B1 to Level B2. Failing to pass a Secure English Language Test at the new higher standard — or timing your test incorrectly and letting it expire — results in an automatic ILR rejection regardless of your other qualifications. This change is already enacted: it was published in the Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules HC 1691 in March 2026 and takes effect on a fixed date, independently of when or whether the broader Earned Settlement framework is formally enacted. This post is informational, based on published Home Office statements and immigration rules as of...