**** COVID19 Biometrics appointments and UKVCAS ***** (Discuss here ONLY)

[Helen123]

He should call the help line for help. They will tell him what to do.

Thank you guys so much for your help. He has called the helpline and they told him to email again and said that they would email as well but they didn’t take down any information like his name or reference number so I’m not convinced they will actually do much!

[Helen123]

Hey everyone,
Thanks so much to everyone on here for their continued help. I am finished the process and just waiting for my passport to be approved. My friend is currently also going through the naturalization process. I directed him to this forum but I thought I’d try to help him.

He applied by post end of Oct/early Nov and received his acknowledgment from the home office that payment had been taken and to register his biometrics at the post office. Except the invitation for biometric enrollment at the post office was in someone else’s name (with all their personal details) so the home office obviously sent the wrong letter to the wrong person. But this means that he hasn’t been able to enroll his biometrics as he doesn’t have the letter with his name and details on it! (Presumably neither has the person who’s invitation he has) he has emailed furthernationalityenquiries@homeoffice.gov.uk but that was nearly 9 weeks ago now with no response. I told him to try nationalityfrontendtechnicalspecialists@homeoffice.gov.uk but I was wondering if anyone else has any ideas that might help him get the situation sorted?

Thank you!

Also Contact:

Department 1
UK Visas and Immigration
The Capital Building
New Hall Place
Liverpool
L3 9PP

Awesome I will pass this along! Thanks for your help!

[CULLINAN]

New applicants:

Steps to follow after completing the form online:

Step 1: Pay and submit application via UKVI.

Tip: Date of application is the date you pay and submit online, biometrics date is irrelevant.

Step 2: After payment, you will reach “further actions page.” If you click on “book an appointment,” system will reroute you to create an account on UKVCAS where you can upload your documents and book an appointment.

Tip: You are sent an access code to set up an account on UKVCAS which usually lands up in Junk folder.

Step 3: Booking an appointment

You must book an appointment now. IDV is the past except T4.

Tip: You are given a deadline to submit your biometrics on the further actions page. Since the backlog for biometrics has subsided, you should meet the deadline.

Step 4: Now you can submit your documents to UKVI via UKVCAS portal even before your biometrics. The option usually appears when you have uploaded all your documents, sign out and sign in again. The option can be found on the “document upload page” right at the bottom.

Note: Self-submission is OPTIONAL. If you want to benefit from the new feature, you must upload and self-submit up to 48hrs before the appointment. If you do NOT want to self-submit, you can upload ANYTIME before the appointment date and submit at the appointment itself. Self-submission is recommended as you may save some processing time - your documents are sent to UKVI even before biometrics in this case. You can self-submit only ONCE. But if you forget to upload any documents, you can always upload later on (after self-submission) and submit at the appointment then (you will not be able to self-submit again but can submit at appointment).

Read “self-submit” “submit” “upload”

Tip: The best approach would be to benefit from the new self-submit feature.

Step 5: Once the process as stated above is completed, you should wait for a decision.

Tip: Keep a check on your email/junk folder.

[phetherweyt]

Date of application is the date you pay and submit online, biometrics date is irrelevant.

You've just made me feel worse!

So a mid-Sep 2020 submission makes it 4 months tomorrow irrelevant of when my biometrics appointment took place.

I don't think I can handle 2 more months, waiting for a sign, before I can finally call them!

[CULLINAN]

Not sure why you can not handle it? Even PRE-corona the standard processing time was 6 months. In fact POST-corona majority applicants have seen way quicker outcomes. Standard processing time is 6 months. You should wait patiently.

[phetherweyt]

You should wait patiently.

I am!

It's just annoying seeing others who have applied after me getting approved.

[Zimbo2Brits]

I submitted my application on the 28/08/2020 and I was advised “ I can confirm that your application is still currently awaiting allocation to a Caseworker.” Can someone advise why it hasn’t been allocated as yet?

Is this a common thing? I never got that email or any email for that matter!

No I sent an email following it up.

Hi @Zimbo2Brits would you mind sharing the email address you sent you enquiry to? Would be very helpful, thanks in advance.

Hello,

I always email NationalityFrontEndTechnicalSpecialists@homeoffice.gov.uk and they respond. They same women responds to my emails.

[Cure123]

Is this a common thing? I never got that email or any email for that matter!

No I sent an email following it up.

Hi @Zimbo2Brits would you mind sharing the email address you sent you enquiry to? Would be very helpful, thanks in advance.

Hello,

I always email NationalityFrontEndTechnicalSpecialists@homeoffice.gov.uk and they respond. They same women responds to my emails.

Do you know what her name please, a woman forward my email, just wanted to know if she the same one. Also what did she said if don't mind me asking

[CR001]

No I sent an email following it up.

Hi @Zimbo2Brits would you mind sharing the email address you sent you enquiry to? Would be very helpful, thanks in advance.

Hello,

I always email NationalityFrontEndTechnicalSpecialists@homeoffice.gov.uk and they respond. They same women responds to my emails.

Do you know what her name please, a woman forward my email, just wanted to know if she the same one. Also what did she said if don't mind me asking

Members are NOT permitted to post the names UKVI staff on the forum. Do not ask for this detail!!

[Alisaa]

You should wait patiently.

I am!

It's just annoying seeing others who have applied after me getting approved.

Not much we can do , I applied early June and still waiting . it is over 7 months now . I am not sure if getting my MP involved would be a good Idea or it is too early .

[otto8190]

You should wait patiently.

I am!

It's just annoying seeing others who have applied after me getting approved.

Not much we can do , I applied early June and still waiting . it is over 7 months now . I am not sure if getting my MP involved would be a good Idea or it is too early .

I am nearing 6 months. Spoke to a solicitor and advice was to wait and be patient as HO are taking much longer than normal unless it is the spouse route. Some members sent an enquiry nearing six months through email. As per the trend observed June applicants got a decision just after sending the email whereas later than June applicants are getting a response that a caseworker has not been allocated yet.
It is frustrating. In case you involve local MP please let us know the outcome.
Best wishes.

[bsc2007]

My friend also applied yesterday but hasn't booked his appointment yet. His is a one-person T2G extension, and as such has decided to keep trying. I will update here if he gets a free appointment.

Update: My friend and his friend were trying to get a free appointment since 1st January and failed. They have now booked a paid appointment. They are convinced (and furious) that there are no free appointments.

Feeling good that I listened to the experts and saved myself a lot of time and frustration. Thanks.

[phetherweyt]

I am nearing 6 months. Spoke to a solicitor and advice was to wait and be patient as HO are taking much longer than normal unless it is the spouse route. Some members sent an enquiry nearing six months through email. As per the trend observed June applicants got a decision just after sending the email whereas later than June applicants are getting a response that a caseworker has not been allocated yet.
It is frustrating. In case you involve local MP please let us know the outcome.
Best wishes.

I applied through the spouse route and I submitted my application on the 26th of August. Just realised I stated mid-September previously but that was the biometric; silly me.

I just got a response to my email from the 15th of December today saying:

Subject - Standard Service Letter - MyName

Dear recipient,

We aim to process all applications within 6 months from the date submitted. However, in certain circumstances this target is not possible.

This is because it is taking longer than usual to process applications because of coronavirus (COVID-19). This will not affect the decision.

We expect to make a decision on your application as soon as possible, but we will write to you again if this is not going to be possible.

Yours sincerely
Managed Migration Support Team
Home Office

[CULLINAN]

15th Jan update:

https://www.ukvcas.co.uk/flash-message- ... geId=74833

[SailorMoon88]

Hello everyone,

I have a question: I am missing the wet-ink original of one of my referee declaration forms.

Is it a must that I get my colleague to send it back or the staff at the appointment are not so strict about it?

I do have the wet-ink original of the second form.

[bizman]

A copy is great, after all it will be scanned and sent to UKVI

[Goldfinger1]

You should wait patiently.

I am!

It's just annoying seeing others who have applied after me getting approved.

Not much we can do , I applied early June and still waiting . it is over 7 months now . I am not sure if getting my MP involved would be a good Idea or it is too early .

I am nearing 6 months. Spoke to a solicitor and advice was to wait and be patient as HO are taking much longer than normal unless it is the spouse route. Some members sent an enquiry nearing six months through email. As per the trend observed June applicants got a decision just after sending the email whereas later than June applicants are getting a response that a caseworker has not been allocated yet.
It is frustrating. In case you involve local MP please let us know the outcome.
Best wishes.

I went via the spouse route and i applied 3rd June, i am still waiting. I have sent several letters but always get the usual reply like everyone else, your time shall come. I used to get upset but i have got passed that stage of getting so wound up,

[rsetter11]

Hello everyone,

I have a question: I am missing the wet-ink original of one of my referee declaration forms.

Is it a must that I get my colleague to send it back or the staff at the appointment are not so strict about it?

I do have the wet-ink original of the second form.

Hi, I was in the identical situation and attended my appointment yesterday.

After the biometrics were done & passport scanned, I was asked if I need to scan anything else apart from what I had submitted online. I didn't so just said no of course. Then, the staff member confirmed I want to submit my application and that was all.

[mesn]

Hi Guys, not sure if this is the right place to ask an MN1 biometric question. Are the applications processed sequentially unlike ILRs where some categories are faster than others. I can see in the Naturalization timelines that on average, it's taking 7-8 weeks. Asking to check if an early biometric appointment has an influence on processing time. For my kid, I have an appointment for 15Feb but wondering if it's worth looking for earlier appointments.

[GondalUK]

Hi Guys, not sure if this is the right place to ask an MN1 biometric question. Are the applications processed sequentially unlike ILRs where some categories are faster than others. I can see in the Naturalization timelines that on average, it's taking 7-8 weeks. Asking to check if an early biometric appointment has an influence on processing time. For my kid, I have an appointment for 15Feb but wondering if it's worth looking for earlier appointments.

The decision is made after bio-metric appointment, so booking an early appointment may make some difference in overall time taken. Also self-submitting documents may make some difference, the case worker may start looking on application earlier to make interim decision when document are self-submitted.

The average time taken is roughly 7-10 weeks for MN1 according to my observations while I was awaiting decision for my Son's application.

[mesn]

Hi Guys, not sure if this is the right place to ask an MN1 biometric question. Are the applications processed sequentially unlike ILRs where some categories are faster than others. I can see in the Naturalization timelines that on average, it's taking 7-8 weeks. Asking to check if an early biometric appointment has an influence on processing time. For my kid, I have an appointment for 15Feb but wondering if it's worth looking for earlier appointments.

The decision is made after bio-metric appointment, so booking an early appointment may make some difference in overall time taken. Also self-submitting documents may make some difference, the case worker may start looking on application earlier to make interim decision when document are self-submitted.

The average time taken is roughly 7-10 weeks for MN1 according to my observations while I was awaiting decision for my Son's application.

Thanks. If the average processing time is 7-10 weeks, and as this is straightforward with no background checks, my sense is, the applications are still in the queue for 6-9 weeks, and working time on the case won't be more than a week. But point taken. Also, from the timelines thread, it looks like the 7-10 weeks TAT is uniform with no exception on either side.

[at8]

I've applied for my naturalisation on April 27th, with biometrics submitted 26th August.
I applied via 5 years residency + 1 ILR.

I've waited close to 9 months now, and have reached out to FurtherNationalityEnquiries@homeoffice.gov.uk previously- receiving a generic reply that the application is in process.

Just wondering if there are many others who are in the same position and if there are any ideas on what else can be done to enquire further on the status?

[CULLINAN]

I've applied for my naturalisation on April 27th, with biometrics submitted 26th August.
I applied via 5 years residency + 1 ILR.

I've waited close to 9 months now, and have reached out to FurtherNationalityEnquiries@homeoffice.gov.uk previously- receiving a generic reply that the application is in process.

Just wondering if there are many others who are in the same position and if there are any ideas on what else can be done to enquire further on the status?

Email also:

NationalityFrontEndTechnicalSpecialists@homeoffice.gov.uk

PS: You will get an automated response that this is not a general inbox but it has worked for many.

Are you checking your emails/Junk folder??

have you changed address by any chance?

[at8]

Yes, I did email that address as well, only received the automated response.

Junk emails checked- and nothing

I have changed address- and I have informed the Immigration Department via their recommended links.
The new tenants of my old address have not received any mail either.

[CULLINAN]

Yes, I did email that address as well, only received the automated response.

Junk emails checked- and nothing

I have changed address- and I have informed the Immigration Department via their recommended links.
The new tenants of my old address have not received any mail either.

There is a great possibility that your address might not be updated even after you have used the official link to update. Do keep a check with the tenant at your old address on constant basis. Ceremony invitation can be posted or emailed. Note, you would still need to attend the ceremony at the old council (the one you chose when you applied). If they carry virtual ceremony and post certificates later on, it will go to old address also (in case your address is NOT updated - many cases reported their address was not updated).

When address is changed - there is a possibility of post lost also - if current tenant(s) is not pro active.