March 2014 - Naturalisation Application Timeline

[Dr MS]

Can we just call council and ask that? I didn't know that, I applied through the citizen service at council and it's been almost 4 weeks since HO received my application. Should I call the citizen service?

Maybe if you wait for 10-14 days before calling them as in my case it is about one month and 10 days since home office received my application.

Good luck!

Do we have to ring the council from where we live or the council from where we used NCS is? ( I applied through NCS from different city as there was no NCS in my town!). Thanks

You need to ring the council you asked to have the ceremony in.

Good luck!

[Soebmk]

Dear forum members I have applied for naturalisation Method of application: NCS Brent
Date of Application: 04/03/2014
Date of debit of fees: 10/03/2014
Date of receipt of acknowledgement: letter dated 14/03/2014 by still I haven't received approval yet whenever I called 03001232253 they said my file is with processing team but it not been allocated to caseworker when other march applicant already received there approval and probably applied for British passport as swell so what do you think guys as it is straight forward application user2012 applied form shames NCS CENTER same timeline till acknowledged letter but haven't received aproval yet?? Any idea??

[anotherbrickinthewall]

Dear forum members I have applied for naturalisation Method of application: NCS Brent
Date of Application: 04/03/2014
Date of debit of fees: 10/03/2014
Date of receipt of acknowledgement: letter dated 14/03/2014 by still I haven't received approval yet whenever I called 03001232253 they said my file is with processing team but it not been allocated to caseworker when other march applicant already received there approval and probably applied for British passport as swell so what do you think guys as it is straight forward application user2012 applied form shames NCS CENTER same timeline till acknowledged letter but haven't received aproval yet?? Any idea??

That must be very frustrating, understandably so. I suggest you contact your MP explaining your circumstances and make it clear that you deserve better service for the fees you have paid. All the best!

[phospholipid]

Dear forum members I have applied for naturalisation Method of application: NCS Brent
Date of Application: 04/03/2014
Date of debit of fees: 10/03/2014
Date of receipt of acknowledgement: letter dated 14/03/2014 by still I haven't received approval yet whenever I called 03001232253 they said my file is with processing team but it not been allocated to caseworker when other march applicant already received there approval and probably applied for British passport as swell so what do you think guys as it is straight forward application user2012 applied form shames NCS CENTER same timeline till acknowledged letter but haven't received aproval yet?? Any idea??

That must be very frustrating, understandably so. I suggest you contact your MP explaining your circumstances and make it clear that you deserve better service for the fees you have paid. All the best!

I suggest you do none of the above and wait like most others are waiting. There are people from January waiting for their response, and the HO explicitly say it takes up at 6 months, even longer.

[doncgeorge123]

Applied on 5th of March
HO received on 6th March
Debited money on 12th March
Received acknowledgement on 18th March.
Approval Waiting

I rung the 0300 123 2253 number and spoke to an agent and he said my file is not even with a case worker. Feeling so annoyed as they are quick to take the money and not even bothered to assign it to a case worker. Few guys with almost same timeline like me already applied for British Passport after ceremony. When will be home office going to change???

[tunjy]

tunjy wrote:
Application Timeline:
Eligibility criteria: 1.5yrs+ 3.5yrs ILR (joint application).
Method of application: NCS
Date of application: 06/03/2014
Date of receipt by UKBA: 07/03/2014
Date of debit of fees: 12/03/2014
Date of receipt of acknowledgement: 17/03/14
Date of receipt of approval:waiting
Date of Ceremony: waiting:

I submitted other supporting documents 2 weeks after we applied through NCS,as advised by the interviewer.

I received my supporting documents back today with a letter stating that our applications have been successful
and we should be expecting invitation letter for citizenship ceremony within 2 weeks.
Is the invitation letter for citizenship ceremony from the council or Homeoffice?

[tunjy]

tunjy wrote:
Application Timeline:
Eligibility criteria: 1.5yrs+ 3.5yrs ILR (joint application).
Method of application: NCS
Date of application: 06/03/2014
Date of receipt by UKBA: 07/03/2014
Date of debit of fees: 12/03/2014
Date of receipt of acknowledgement: 17/03/14
Date of receipt of approval:waiting
Date of Ceremony: waiting:

I submitted other supporting documents 2 weeks after we applied through NCS,as advised by the interviewer.

I received my supporting documents back today with a letter stating that our applications have been successful
and we should be expecting invitation letter for citizenship ceremony within 2 weeks.
Is the invitation letter for citizenship ceremony from the council or Homeoffice?

I called council to book appt with the letter, the lady was asking me for some numbers which suppose to be on
the letter I mean not HO ref number.

[spike_UK]

Hi guys,
I was bored today so I thought I would say hello to HM After 5 minutes waiting someone answered and checked my details & hold online, then he came back with saying; your application is not yet allocated to a caseworker and I should get something within time table( 6 months ) I wasn't surprised anyway

[oxanelul]

ligibility criteria: EEA 6 YEARS
Language criteria met (UK degree, exempt countries, PBS used documents, NARIC, or B1 test): B1 & LIFE IN UK
Current nationality: ROMANIAN
Method of application: PERSONAL (BY POST)
Council name if NCS used: N/A
Date of application: 03 MARCH 2014
Payment method CC/DC, Personal cheque, Bankers cheque etc: CREDIT CARD
Date of receipt by UKBA: 04 MARCH 2014
Date of aknowlegment: 10 MARCH 2014
Date of debit or clearance of fees: 07 MARCH 2014
Date approval received: 23 APRIL (DATED 17 APRIL)
Date of ceremony: WAITING

[vikkiv]

Eligibility criteria: HSMP 2 Years + Tier 1 General 3 Years + ILR 1 Year
Language criteria met ( PBS used documents, NARIC, or B1 test): PBS for self + UK NARIC SoC + Medium of Instruction Certificate for Spouse
Current nationality: Indian
Method of application: NCS
Council name if NCS used: Hounslow
Date of application: 14-03-2014
Payment method CC/DC, CC
Date of receipt by UKBA: 17-03-2014
Date of acknowlegment: 20-03-2014
Date of debit or clearance of fees: 19-03-2014
Date approval received: Waiting
Date of ceremony: Waiting

[The Avatar]

Its been a long journey! First arrived in the UK as a student in 2002. Used HSMP/Tier 1 for naturalisation application. This forum has been great and everything from a source of knowledge to the always available "online lawyer and adviser".

Eligibility criteria: 2 Years HSMP + 3 Years Tier 1 + 1 Year ILR
Language criteria met: UK Masters degree + IELTS (taken in 2007 for HSMP application)
Current nationality:
Method of application: NCS
Council name if NCS used: Barking
Date of application: 03/03/2014
Date of receipt by UKBA: 04/03/2014
Date of debit of fees: 07/03/2014
Date of receipt of acknowledgement: (Don't remember but around 10/03/2014 and dated 06/03/2014)
Date of receipt of approval: 24/04/2014 (dated 14/04/2014)
Date of Ceremony: 25/04/2014 (Private)

All the best to everyone waiting!

[Dr MS]

Its been a long journey! First arrived in the UK as a student in 2002. Used HSMP/Tier 1 for naturalisation application. This forum has been great and everything from a source of knowledge to the always available "online lawyer and adviser".

Eligibility criteria: 2 Years HSMP + 3 Years Tier 1 + 1 Year ILR
Language criteria met: UK Masters degree + IELTS (taken in 2007 for HSMP application)
Current nationality:
Method of application: NCS
Council name if NCS used: Barking
Date of application: 03/03/2014
Date of receipt by UKBA: 04/03/2014
Date of debit of fees: 07/03/2014
Date of receipt of acknowledgement: (Don't remember but around 10/03/2014 and dated 06/03/2014)
Date of receipt of approval: 24/04/2014 (dated 14/04/2014)
Date of Ceremony: 25/04/2014 (Private)

All the best to everyone waiting!

Congratulations!

Good luck with your passport application

[lamijm]

Hi guys,
I was bored today so I thought I would say hello to HM After 5 minutes waiting someone answered and checked my details & hold online, then he came back with saying; your application is not yet allocated to a caseworker and I should get something within time table( 6 months ) I wasn't surprised anyway

they said caseworkers are given a target of completing 10 cases a day and what they do is go through the files and select the more complicated cases and give priority to them. the straight forward cases are then put aside to wait or given to junior members of the team to complete. after they complete these straight forward cases, they then have to be quality checked before approval letter is written. All of these factors attribute to why some people get approvals before others even though you may have applied before or on the same day as them.

"Each caseworker was required to make 10 decisions a day, which was the foundation of the overall decision making target.
For example, we found that caseworkers reviewed their entire allocation of files, established which ones needed additional information (and were therefore likely to take longer) and prioritised those first. This meant that information could be obtained without adding unnecessary delay to the decision making process".

[sbtraj]

Got approval letter today.

Eligibility criteria: HSMP + Tier 1 + ILR
Language criteria met (UK degree, exempt countries, PBS used documents, NARIC, or B1 test): PBS
Current nationality:
Method of application: NCS
Council name if NCS used: Hounslow
Date of application: 05/03/2014
Payment method CC/DC, Personal cheque, Bankers cheque etc: CREDIT CARD
Date of receipt by UKBA: 11/03/2014
Date of acknowledgment: 14/03/2014
Date of debit or clearance of fees: 11/03/2014
Date approval received: 25/04/2014 ( Dated 15/04/2014)
Date of ceremony: Awaiting

Good luck to all..

[tunjy]

tunjy wrote:
Application Timeline:
Eligibility criteria: 1.5yrs+ 3.5yrs ILR (joint application).
Method of application: NCS
Date of application: 06/03/2014
Date of receipt by UKBA: 07/03/2014
Date of debit of fees: 12/03/2014
Date of receipt of acknowledgement: 17/03/14
Date of receipt of approval: 24/04/14 (dated 17/04/14)
Date of Ceremony: waiting:

I submitted other supporting documents 2 weeks after we applied through NCS,as advised by the interviewer.

I received my supporting documents back today with a letter stating that our applications have been successful
and we should be expecting invitation letter for citizenship ceremony within 2 weeks.
Is the invitation letter for citizenship ceremony from the council or Homeoffice?

I called council to book appt with the letter, the lady was asking me for some numbers which suppose to be on
the letter I mean not HO ref number.

[myrlabelle]

How do i edit my post please?? Can't seem to find the edit button anywhere! X

[maximux79]

click on the quote button...

How do i edit my post please?? Can't seem to find the edit button anywhere! X

[newbie_t]

I just spoke to a HM call center agent and got the standard reply (6 months processing time), but he did mention that my application is with a case worker and under consideration.

[msin2008]

Eligibility criteria: 2 Years HSMP + 3 Years Tier 1 + 1 Year ILR (Joint application)
Language criteria met: PBS and LIFE IN UK
Current nationality: Indian
Method of application: NCS
Council name if NCS used: Hertfordshire
Date of application: 06/03/2014
Date of receipt by UKBA: 07/03/2014
Date of debit of fees: 12/03/2014
Date of receipt of acknowledgement: around 11/03/2014 - 14/03/2014
Date of receipt of approval: 25/04/2014
Date of Ceremony: 30/04/2014 (Private)

All the best to everyone waiting.

[akash08]

Eligibility criteria: tier 1 5 yr + 1 yr ILR
Language criteria met (UK degree, exempt countries, PBS used documents, NARIC, or B1 test):

PBS print out for 10 points on english language only.
Never provided print out for degree comparison to show I get 20 points for degree
Current nationality: Indian
Method of application: NCS
Council name if NCS used: Gloucestershire
Date of application: 10/03/2014
Payment method CC/DC, Personal cheque, Bankers cheque etc: Credit Card
Date of receipt by UKBA: 11/03/2014
Date of acknowledgement: 13/03/2014
Date of debit or clearance of fees: 11/03/2014
Date approval received: 25/04/2014 dated 16/04/2014
Date of ceremony TBC (no rush)

please note English language criteria. Only 10 points for language shown. Wrote a story in additional section stating why I think this is enough and also mentioned that UKBA has confirmed to me that PBS is enough. However reading various peoples experience here got tensed and paid 180 pound to UK NARIC for statement compatibility and ELA. Nothing received from them even after 4 weeks, do not care if they send it to me now or not. Money went through the drain.


Many thanks to this forum for guiding me through the journey from 2008 till date. Hopefully this journey is over now and no more crap rule change is going to impact me in the future.

[secret.simon]

Eligibility criteria: 2 years HSMP + 3 years Tier 1 General + 1 year ILR
Language criteria met (UK degree, exempt countries, PBS used documents, NARIC, or B1 test): Overseas graduate degree certificate and transcript+NARIC Statement of Comparibility+PBS printout
Current nationality: --
Method of application: NCS
Council name if NCS used: Wandsworth
Date of application: 4th March 2014
Payment method CC/DC, Personal cheque, Bankers cheque etc: Personal Cheque
Date of receipt by UKBA: 5th March 2014
Date of acknowledgment: 7th March 2014 (received on 12th March 2014)
Date of debit or clearance of fees: 13th March 2014
Date approval received: 24th April 2014 (dated 15th April 2014)
Date of ceremony: 30th June 2014

Updates in red

Coming down to the end of my journey.

The council where I asked for the ceremony to take place (of the area where I work) is booked solid till mid-June. They charge £100 for a private ceremony!!! Opted to wait till June for the ceremony. Thanks to the forum and for everybody's assistance.

[man4uni]

Hi Everyone,

Hope you all are doing good.

We have got quite a few entries in the last week which I have included in the below sheet,

oxanelul, The Avatar, sbtraj, msin2008, akash08, psTier1, vikkiv, bbc123, Haidi5 and tehmer

Good Luck to those who are still waiting for their approvals!

[lamijm]

Brilliant work again man4uni. It really does help.

[mind_blowing]

Eligibility criteria: HSMP 2 Years + Tier 1 General 3 Years + ILR 1 Year
Language criteria met ( PBS used documents, NARIC, or B1 test): IELTS previously done at the time of entry clearance in 2007
Current nationality: Pakistani
Method of application: NCS
Council name if NCS used: Middlesbrough
Date of application: 21-03-2014
Payment method CC/DC, CC
Date of receipt by UKBA: 24-03-2014
Date of acknowledgment: 05-04-2014
Date of debit or clearance of fees: 02-04-2014
Date approval received: Waiting
Date of ceremony: Waiting

[sami01]

Eligibility criteria: 9 years residence + 5+'years ILR
Language criteria met ( PBS used documents, NARIC, or B1 test): LIUK test + PTE Academic
Current nationality: Nigerian
Method of application: special delivery
Council name if NCS used:....
Date of application: 14-03-2014
Payment method CC/DC, CC: DC
Date of receipt by UKBA: 17-03-2014
Date of acknowledgment: 21-03-2014
Date of debit or clearance of fees: 21-03-2014
Date approval received: Waiting
Date of ceremony: Waiting