Thanks so much for your reply Zazu777. Very kind of you to share your experience. And good luck to you too!zazu777 wrote: ↑Wed Jan 26, 2022 8:01 amI hope you've sorted this out already, but if not I'll share my experience with you.xyz001 wrote: ↑Fri Nov 05, 2021 7:46 pmHi All
I am applying for British citizenship via the UKM (Romein) route. I am a South African citizen but currently reside in the USA (non-immigrant work visa). I received my biometrics enrolment letter today from UKVI. The instructions in the letter, however, were for making an appointment with TLS in South Africa. I have written back to UKVI asking if I can do the biometrics in the USA. Not sure how long it will take to get a reply from them... so I thought I would ask here: does anyone know if one can do biometrics in the country you reside in when you are not a citizen of that country?
Sorry if this is the wrong place to ask this.
My timeline:
Eligibility criteria: UKM (Romein)
Nationality: South Africa
Applying from: USA
Method of application: online
Date of application: 23/10/2021
Payment method: Debit card
Date of acknowledgement of application: Payment acknowledged 23/10/2021
Date money gone off account: 25/10/2021
Date supporting documents sent: DHL 25/10/2021
Date of receipt by UKVI: (confirmation from DHL): 27/10/2021
Date of letter requesting biometrics: 05/11/2021
Biometrics appointment date: TBA
Biometrics done: TBA
Date of approval: TBA
Date of ceremony: TBA
Date applied for passports: TBA
Date passports received: TBA
I am doing the same application as you (UKM) and I received the same letter, giving the address of the TLS in South Africa to do the biometrics, but I live in Japan. After much head scratching, and web searching, I came to understand that you can book the appointment at any centre that does biometrics. So I registered at the VFS in Osaka, booked my appointment, and went 2 days later... no problems. I think they just provide the TLS in South Africa address automatically when they see that someone with a South African passport is applying. Anyway, hope that helps and good luck!
To my knowledge, the closest place that does biometrics here in Colorado is the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) centre in Denver and, unfortunately, you cannot make your own appointment. I did receive a reply from NationalityBiometricsOverseas@homeoffice.gov.uk after about two months. I had to then request an appointment via email to UKNationalityAppointmentsUS@homeoffice.gov.uk. I got notification of my appointment just last night! It's at the USCIS in Charlotte, North Carolina on 14 Feb 2022. That's far away from where I live, but I don't think I will query why it is there as I don't want to sit around anymore waiting for replies and I am travelling to SA in March for a visit… so I guess I need to look into flights to Charlotte.
I think I could possibly have booked an appointment through VFS. I didn't try this route as there are no VFS centres in Colorado. Had I only known I would have to travel across the country in any case! Eish!