Ecctis have launched their new Qualification and Language Service, which looks set to increase the cost and delay involved in verifying English language proficiency for visa applications.
What is Ecctis?
Ecctis is a UK company which assesses applicants’ overseas qualifications taught in English to determine whether these are appropriate evidence of English language proficiency for visa applications.
Late last year, Ecctis were involved in some controversy, after it was discovered that there was no legal basis for them to charge fees for their services. We reported on this at the time – you can read more here.
As was promised by the Home Office at the time, steps have now been taken to address these issues, with the introduction of The Immigration and Nationality (Fees) (Amendment) Order 2025. This amends existing regulations to provide a legal basis for Ecctis to charge such fees.
The new service
In collaboration with the Home Office, Ecctis have now launched their new Qualification and Language Service (“QLS”), replacing the old Visa and Nationality Service.
While the introduction of a new service might sound like good news on paper, this would appear to be anything but. The new QLS requires applicants to undergo a live identity verification check and introduces stricter requirements on institution response times – now, if the institution that awarded the applicant’s qualification fails to respond to Ecctis and verify the veracity of the qualification within 20 working days, the application will be automatically closed.
Any issues with the identity verification or the institution response may now be especially problematic, due to the QLS’s strict no-refund policy, which applies from the point that Ecctis begin reviewing the application.
And, despite the above seeming to offer little of benefit to applicants, the fees for the new QLS represent a significant increase from those under the old Visa and Nationality Service. The old service cost £140, with an additional £7.50 payable for a downloadable e-statement of English language proficiency, but the QLS costs £210 plus VAT per application.
Processing times are also set to increase – from the previous 10-working day standard to a new estimate of 20 working days. The QLS also does away with the old 48-hour fast track service, which allowed for expedited processing for an additional fee. This service was a particularly useful option in circumstances where there were time pressures on submitting a visa application by a certain deadline and a proficiency statement was therefore needed quickly – but no longer.
Change in approach
All in all, the new QLS would seem to represent a worse deal for applicants, with numerous drawbacks that further complicate the process of confirming English language proficiency.
Due to the new “automatic closure” policy in respect of institutions failing to respond within the 20-working day window, we would encourage applicants to contact their awarding institutions well in advance of their application, to warn them to expect contact from Ecctis.
This sort of planning ahead will also now be more important for applicants generally. The longer timescales and lack of an option to expedite mean that it may be necessary to apply for the QLS more than a month prior to the planned submission date of the visa application itself.
Keeping in mind these factors and the increased fee, it may be worth applicants considering whether it might be more cost effective and time efficient to go down the alternative route for evidencing English language proficiency, by taking and passing a Secure English Language Test. Of course, that does carry with it the stress and pressure of taking a test, as well as the potential of failing, and so this option may not always be preferable, depending on an individual’s circumstances.
If you require advice on or support with sponsoring a Skilled Worker, or applying for a Skilled Worker visa yourself, please get in touch at [email protected]
