...for non-English-speaking spousesQuote:
Immigration rules requiring people to speak English before joining their spouse in the UK are racist, a lawyer appealing against the policy has said.
The High Court, sitting in Birmingham, was told that the tougher language tests discriminated against British-Indian families and their traditions.
The Home Office now requires anyone entering the UK to join their spouse to speak a minimum level of English.
Three couples are challenging the rules which were introduced in November 2010.
Rashida Chapti, a British citizen, has been married for almost 40 years to her husband, Vali. The couple have six children and have divided their time for 15 years between Leicester and India. His wife now wants him to move permanently to the UK, but Mr Chapti does not speak, read or write English.
I personally think that you should be able to speak English (or at the very least be learning to soeak it) if you want to come and live in the UK, If I wanted to go live in another country I would expect them to want me to speak their language. However, is it different for a spouse? If one of them speaks English is that enough?
I know it's slightly different, (as Spain is in the EU) but my parents retired to Spain, and my dad learnt much more Spanish than my Mum did, she had "tourist level" Spanish, but my dad always did the talking when out and about.
Is that not the same thing?
Malc