Latest news with #LifeInTheUKTest
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Can you pass a British citizenship test? See if you can answer these 23 questions
Immigration is a hot topic these days. Keir Starmer has even gone so far as to warn we face becoming an "island of strangers". It's a comment that many found repulsive, and many would have nodded along in agreement to. And now there are all sorts of promises from the Labour government to tighten up immigration rules and raise the bar for what hoops people must jump through to live and work in the United Kingdom. READ MORE: Boy, 4, dies after being pulled from hotel swimming pool in Tenerife READ MORE: High street store that closed all 236 UK stores in 2012 set to return One requirement of that process has been taking the 'Life in the UK' test, which can put you on the pathway to become a British citizen. Join the Manchester Evening News WhatsApp group HERE To take the test, you have to have been living in the UK for a certain period of time, not have any criminal convictions and pass an English language test. The test consists of questions on a mixture of subjects, including culture, history and customs and you get 45 minutes to take it. While some questions are pretty straightforward, others would require a bit of background knowledge and research. You can take the test as many times as it takes to pass, but each attempt costs £50. Generally the pass rate has hovered around the 80 per cent mark. To pass, you must correctly answer 18 questions, or 75 percent and the results are given immediately at the end of the test. Do you think you could pass the test? Have a go for yourself below... For the latest stories and breaking news visit Get the latest headlines, features and analysis that matter to you by signing up to our various Manchester Evening News newsletters here. You can also get all your favourite content from the Manchester Evening News on WhatsApp. Click here to stay up to date with the us on X @mennewsdesk for all the latest stories and updates on breaking incidents from across the region and beyond, as well as on our Facebook page you prefer reading our stories on your phone, consider downloading the Manchester Evening News app here, and our newsdesk will make sure every time an essential story breaks, you'll be the first to hear about it.
Telegraph
20-05-2025
- Telegraph
This is an assault on the immigration system, judge tells citizenship test fraudster
A judge has said a fraudster who wore 13 wigs to take citizenship tests for migrants committed a 'wholesale assault' on the immigration system. Josephine Maurice, 61, travelled around the country, using a series of disguises and false documents to take the Life in the UK test on behalf of migrants. She pretended to be 13 different people between June 1 2022 and Aug 14 2023, Snaresbrook Crown Court heard. Maurice, a former bus driver of Enfield, north London, was jailed for four years and six months after pleading guilty to 13 counts of fraud, a charge of conspiracy to commit fraud and two counts of possession of another person's identity documents. District Judge Anthony Callaway, sentencing on Tuesday, described Maurice's actions as 'wholesale assault' on the immigration system and said there was a 'clear advantage' to people who wanted to progress towards citizenship without following all the procedures. The Life in the UK test is a requirement for anyone seeking to obtain indefinite leave to remain or naturalisation as a British citizen. According to the Home Office, it consists of 24 questions aimed at 'proving the applicant has sufficient knowledge of British values, history and society'. The judge told Maurice, who appeared via video link: 'You attended test centres fraudulently undertaking Life in the UK tests on behalf of other persons who, naturally, were supposed to and were intended to be there. 'It is clear that the fraud was deliberate and sophisticated and involved the alteration of identity documents, travel documents, false wigs and other matters. 'The geography was varied. You attended in person a variety of centres in London and elsewhere including Stratford, Luton, Hounslow, Reading, Oxford, Nottingham and Milton Keynes.' 'Well-organised' scam Provisional driving licences were found at her home after her arrest earlier this year. Maurice has a previous fraud conviction dating back to August 2015 and 'there are similarities' to the current case as it involved her 'impersonating' someone in order to take a driving theory test, the judge said. Maurice appeared via video link from HMP Bronzefield where she has been a 'model inmate'. Earlier prosecutor Nana Owusuh said it is difficult for investigators to quantify the financial benefits of the 'well-organised' scam or to 'calibrate any gains'. Maurice's defence lawyer, Stephen Akinsanya, described it as 'an unusual case' and told the court that for the 'level of sophistication and planning – the crown has provided no evidence that she is the mastermind of this.' 'Coercion and intimidation' He said: 'This is someone who has found herself involved in something far more serious than she envisioned. She found herself trapped to people she owed a sum of money. 'There are some levels of coercion and intimidation. She was not motivated by personal gain.' Of Maurice, he said: 'Prior to her arrest she was a bus driver with Arriva and looking after her 25-year-old son who was afflicted with schizophrenia.' Mr Akinsanya said: 'She foolishly agreed to help someone and this is where it has landed her – in custody and away from her son who is clearly vulnerable, that's what keeps her awake at night. 'She understands the implications of what she has done and for national security, and the court can treat such matters harshly.'
BBC News
20-05-2025
- BBC News
Enfield woman jailed for taking citizenship tests for others
A woman who used "an array of wigs" while completing UK citizenship tests for other people has been sentenced to more than four years in jail. Josephine Maurice, from Enfield in north London, pretended to be both women and men when she took the Life in the UK Test on behalf of 13 applicants between 1 June 2022 and 14 August a former bus driver, had pleaded guilty to 13 counts of fraud, a charge of conspiracy to commit fraud and two counts of possession of another person's identity her on Tuesday, District Judge Anthony Callaway, sentencing on Tuesday, described Maurice's actions as "wholesale assault" on the immigration system. 'Deliberate fraud' At Snaresbrook Crown Court, Judge Callaway said there was a "clear advantage" to people who wanted to progress towards citizenship without following all the Life in the UK Test is a requirement for anyone seeking to obtain indefinite leave to remain or to become a British consists of 24 questions aimed at proving the applicant has sufficient knowledge of British values, history and pay £50 to take the test, which includes questions such as "who was king of England at the time of the Norman invasion in 1066?" and "how often does Prime Minister's Questions occur when Parliament is sitting?"The judge told Maurice, who appeared via videolink from HMP Bronzefield: "You attended test centres fraudulently undertaking Life in the UK Tests on behalf of other persons who, naturally, were supposed to and were intended to be there."It is clear that the fraud was deliberate and sophisticated and involved the alteration of identity documents, travel documents, false wigs and other matters."The geography was varied. You attended in person a variety of centres in London and elsewhere including Stratford, Luton, Hounslow, Reading, Oxford, Nottingham and Milton Keynes." 'Well organised' Provisional driving licences were found at her home after her arrest earlier this Nana Owusuh said it is difficult for investigators to quantify the financial benefits of the "well organised" scam or to "calibrate any gains".Defence lawyer Stephen Akinsanya told the court that Maurice was not the mastermind of the scam but the offences could potentially rise to "affecting national security if people are passing tests when they have no right to be here".He told the court prior to her arrest she was a bus driver with Arriva and looking after her 25-year-old son who had Akinsanya said: "She foolishly agreed to help someone and this is where it has landed her - in custody and away from her son who is clearly vulnerable, that's what keeps her awake at night."Maurice was jailed for four years and six months.
