Thank you for your email correspondence of 27 April about your application for naturalisation as a British citizen submitted on 4 June 2014.
I am sorry that you felt our service did not meet your expectations on this occasion and that you experienced some difficulties in obtaining information when you telephoned the Customer Contact Centre on 7 April. I can confirm that due to technical difficulties, our staff were unable to access case information records. I apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused.
I am sorry for the delay in dealing with your application. The recent inspection of Nationality casework by the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration highlighted that he believed that greater scrutiny was required with regard to immigration history.
Published guidance has now been clarified to make it clear that some cases will be subject to further scrutiny dependent on whether certain factors are found in their immigration history.
Examples of relevant factors include:
· Criminality.
· Previous refusal of asylum.
· Previous grant of a period of Leave to remain exceptionally outside the Immigration Rules.
· Periods of overstaying between previous applications.
· Evidence of illegal working or illegal entry.
· European Nationals who do not provide evidence of Permanent Residence in UK.
· Failure to comply with immigration reporting restrictions.
· Financial irregularities.
This is of course not an exhaustive list, simply an indication of the some of the factors which would trigger a higher level of scrutiny, the relevant guidance can be found at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... structions
While we updated and clarified these rules a number of cases did not progress within our usual timescale. We are now clearing cases and straightforward cases continue to be decided well within our six month service standard. If a case cannot be decided within that timescale customers will be contacted individually as early as possible in the process to explain why. Please be aware that you do not need to contact us again unless your circumstances change significantly.
Please do not contact the UKVI Contact Centre regarding the progress of your case as they will not be able to provide any further information. This also applies to any family members whose applications for citizenship were submitted at the same time.
If you are dissatisfied with our response to your complaint, you may wish to seek a review in writing within one month from the date on this letter to the following address:
UKV&I Complaints Allocation Hub
Lunar House
Wellesley Road
Croydon
CR9 2BY