Naturalisation application processing timelines (only)

[Misu79]

It's been 21 weeks since I've applied. I emailed them 2 times and the answers were your case is under consideration. A week ago I contacted my MP office and they said they will contact the home office but so far no news. In your experience does MP really help?

[beebritish]

In your experience does MP really help?

Hi. I emailed HO twice as well, and every time I received copy/pasted default response from them. When my MP's office asked questions on our behalf they said our case has been allocated to a case work unit - so I guess more specific response. Guy from MP's office also said they've noticed there's a 'trend' - once they've asked about a specific case, HO tends to deal with the case in next couple of weeks. Now having said that, my MP contacted them over a month a go, waited 1 month to get a reply and our applications haven't been decided yet. So it's a bit hit n miss - but definitely doesn't hurt to ask for their support, there's nothing for you to lose.

[Karnavati]

Friends,

In my experience the more number of people you involve more complex it will get. I can understand the curiosity increasing each minute and patience running out.

But at the same time what I have experienced is calling the HO on a regular basis will work.
Please bear in mind the following and it does do some good:
1. Call every 3-4 days. On different times of the day.
2. Make sure you don't speak with the same person again. Keep a note of names you spoke with.
3. Always be calm and polite. It goes a long way.
4. Don't ask any questions apart from 1 question.
5. Don't tell your history, when you called what they said and all that.
6. They are there to help us, but sometimes their hands are also tied as they can't do much in a bureaucratic system. Even if they want to help us.
7. Lastly imagine yourself in their shoes and you will get the picture.

I haven't got an answer to my application yet, so I am also in the same boat as people who are waiting for their answers.

Hope this helps.

Thanks.

[fatimahanif]

Eligibility Criteria: 2 yrs HSMP + 3 yrs Tier 1 (Under JR) + 1 yr ILR
Method Of Application: NCS Camden
Date Of Application: 28/08/2013
Date Of Receipt By UKBA: 29/08/2013
Date Of Debit Of Fees: 29/08/2013 (credit card)
Date Of Receipt Of Acknowledgement from UKBA: 04/09/2013 (dated 29/08/2013)
Date Of Receipt Of Approval: 23/10/2013 (dated 19/10/2013 a Saturday apparently)
Date Of Ceremony: 13/11/2013

I had to call three times to the council to book the ceremony as they kept saying they have not received the certificate yet. Today I was able to book the ceremony.

Thank you for all the help from the forum and good luck to everyone who is still waiting.

[ananthahari]

Good news. Started issuing invitation letters for July approvals.

Applied on 09/07/2013 through NCS
Acknowledgement on 17/07/2013
Received Approval on 24/07/2013
Received Ceremony Invitation on 04/09/2013 (letter dated on 22/07/2013 & asked to book appointment with in 21 days from date of letter which is bullshit)
Ceremony 11/09/2013

[beebritish]

Friends,

In my experience the more number of people you involve more complex it will get. I can understand the curiosity increasing each minute and patience running out.

But at the same time what I have experienced is calling the HO on a regular basis will work.

When you say phoning them will work what do you mean? How did it work for you? What is the one question you tend to ask?

We received more detailed status of our case by involving more people so I guess involving more people doesn't have to become more complex. In experience of my MP's office when they get involved HO usually makes a decision in the next couple of weeks. This is no rule, but as they said they noticed this 'trend'. As their response regarding our application was on 27 Aug, I'm interested to see if this 'trend' will apply to our case as well.

Wish you good luck and quick decision on your application.

[Dino99]

Never had to wait this long for any of my previous application.....


Applied through NCS on 1 May 2013, still waiting.
Emailed, HO three times till now and received same reply that still no decision has been made.

[Karnavati]

When you say phoning them will work what do you mean? How did it work for you? What is the one question you tend to ask?

Wish you good luck and quick decision on your application.

Completely understand where you are coming from. Here are the answers to your questions
1. The question I ask is What is the status of my application and has anything been sent out?
2. The answer they give works for me. They either say it is in the final stage or nothing has been sent out yet or wait couple of weeks.
3. The way it helped me - the staff over the phone went away for 8-10 min to make further enquiry and came back saying application is in final stages. I will hear from HO in couple of weeks.

In your case the MP helped and you got more information, which is good. Whatever satisfies you and gets you to your goal.

Personally I preferred this approach which is a gentle nudge on a regular basis and hence shared it with everyone.

I will also give it a try - contacting the MP. How long we have to wait before we contact the MP or we can do it at any time?

Please do let me know.

Thanks

[skyiswide]

Good news. Started issuing invitation letters for July approvals.

Applied on 09/07/2013 through NCS
Acknowledgement on 17/07/2013
Received Approval on 24/07/2013
Received Ceremony Invitation on 04/09/2013 (letter dated on 22/07/2013 & asked to book appointment with in 21 days from date of letter which is bullshit)
Ceremony 11/09/2013

Thats good atleast you received invitation letter. I am still waiting for invitation letter. And I emailed them last Friday and they told me invitation letter not yet been send out to me and they don't know when I will get it . And my aporoval letter date was 23rd july. And my local council do only one ceremony a month. Next one is end of october , what is even 3 months after approval day. Their service standard is not as good as it should be. We paud 874 so may be they should give us atleast standard service. Someone get approval who applied 3 months after me and already became British citizen and someone they dont even get approval yet but applied in month of may like me. And even though I got approvalbut as nearly 1 and half month I am waiting for invitation letter. I am worried about 3 months timeline now. As I think invitation letter date will be same as approval letter and my council has no ceremony date before last week of October.

[naumanmumtaz]

When you say phoning them will work what do you mean? How did it work for you? What is the one question you tend to ask?

Wish you good luck and quick decision on your application.

Completely understand where you are coming from. Here are the answers to your questions
1. The question I ask is What is the status of my application and has anything been sent out?
2. The answer they give works for me. They either say it is in the final stage or nothing has been sent out yet or wait couple of weeks.
3. The way it helped me - the staff over the phone went away for 8-10 min to make further enquiry and came back saying application is in final stages. I will hear from HO in couple of weeks.

In your case the MP helped and you got more information, which is good. Whatever satisfies you and gets you to your goal.

Personally I preferred this approach which is a gentle nudge on a regular basis and hence shared it with everyone.

I will also give it a try - contacting the MP. How long we have to wait before we contact the MP or we can do it at any time?

Please do let me know.

Thanks

JUST WONDERING WHICH NUMBER YOU CALL? And what options you press as I tent to hit brick wall every time I call.
Thanks
I don't even get to speak to real person.

[aummar]

Dear friends got my invitation today. I had 570 absences in 5 years including 145 in final year, all business related.

Eligibility criteria: (2 year HSMP+ 3 year T1+1yr ILR) 
Method of application: NCS 
NCS appointment: 27 June 13
Date of debit of fees: 2 July 13 
Date of receipt of approval: 3rd September dated 27th August
Date of Ceremony: will book tomorrow
nationality. Pakistani.

Just an FYI some of my Pakistani friends got their approval in 4 weeks so I dont think there is some kind of list of high risk countries.

[volssg]

time lines are here again...

Eligibility criteria: 2yrs WP(HSMP) + 3yrs Tier + 2yr ILR
Application : Self + Son
Method of application: NCS Bromley
Date of application: 24th July 2013
Received by HO: 26th July 2013(assuming)
Date of debit of fees: 30th July 2103
Date of acknowledgement : 02/08/2013 (dated 30/07/2013)
Date of approval: 30/08/2013
Date of Ceremony: to be arranged
Nationality: Indian

Received the joint letter for invitation and approval. Did any one got the similar kind of letter. Need to call Council to arrange for ceremony.

[gtx2010]

Eligibility Criteria - 2 yr Spouse + 1 yr ILR
Nationality - Bangladesh
Application Made to NCS - 19 June 2013
Application posted by NCS - 20 June 2013 (Royal Mail Tracking)
Application received by Home Office - 21 June 2013
Date of Debit Fees - 24 June 2013
Date of Acknowledgement - 24 June 2013
Acknowledgement letter received -27 June 2013
Date of approval - 27 August 2013 (Post Received on 04 Sept 2013)
Date of Ceremony - 18 Sept 2013 (Invitation letter from council arrived on 04 Sept 2013)

Finally almost 2 months later received the approval and ceremony invitation letter. Thanks to everyone in immigrationbaords.com for all the contributions. Its a great help for all of us.

[gtx2010]

Eligibility Criteria - 2 yr Spouse + 1 yr ILR
Nationality - Bangladesh
Application Made to NCS - 19 June 2013
Application posted by NCS - 20 June 2013 (Royal Mail Tracking)
Application received by Home Office - 21 June 2013
Date of Debit Fees - 24 June 2013
Date of Acknowledgement - 24 June 2013
Acknowledgement letter received -27 June 2013
Date of approval - 27 August 2013 (Post Received on 04 Sept 2013)
Date of Ceremony - 18 Sept 2013 (Invitation letter from council arrived on 04 Sept 2013)

Finally almost 2 months later received the approval and ceremony invitation letter. Thanks to everyone in immigrationbaords.com for all the contributions. Its a great help for all of us.

[Wkd_nav]

I have submitted my application on 22/02/2013. I have requested the return on documents first time on 26/06/2013. when 20 working days were over i sent them an email and they said they will contact return of documents department but suggested that i put the new request which i did on 15/08/2013. Now as on 22/08/2013 my 6 months waiting time was over i been contacting them by emails and by phone but no joy. on the phone they saying my application has not even been allocated to a case worker yet and for return of documents its still under process. could it be that they lost my documents.In the email they just copying and paste the standerd email and just sending it to me. Some one suggested me to go my MP and ask them to write them a letter but i am just thinking may be waite till end of this week and then go for MP. Is anyone still waiting from 02/2013 cause to me it seems like cases submitted in feb and march are still waiting. Can anyone give me advise on that.

thanks,
nav

[xlisusx]

THIS FORUM IS FOR APPLICATION PROCESSING TIMES(ONLY).

ANY OTHER GENERAL DISCUSSION ABOUT YOUR APPLICATION, PLEASE, JOIN ANOTHER FORUM.

THANKS.

[beebritish]

I have submitted my application on 22/02/2013. I have requested the return on documents first time on 26/06/2013. when 20 working days were over i sent them an email and they said they will contact return of documents department but suggested that i put the new request which i did on 15/08/2013. Now as on 22/08/2013 my 6 months waiting time was over i been contacting them by emails and by phone but no joy. on the phone they saying my application has not even been allocated to a case worker yet and for return of documents its still under process. could it be that they lost my documents.In the email they just copying and paste the standerd email and just sending it to me. Some one suggested me to go my MP and ask them to write them a letter but i am just thinking may be waite till end of this week and then go for MP. Is anyone still waiting from 02/2013 cause to me it seems like cases submitted in feb and march are still waiting. Can anyone give me advise on that.

thanks,
nav

Hi. As your 6 months timeline is done now, keep contacting them by phone, by email and via your local MP's office. If I was you, I wouldn't wait to contact your MP - as they have their workload as well, it might take a while before you hear back from them and before they actually act upon your request. I'd advise you contact them asap.

[brantonm]

Eligibility Criteria: 3 yrs HSMP + 2 yrs Tier 1 + 1 yr ILR
Nationality: United States
Method Of Application: NCS Westminster
Date Of Application: 06/08/2013
Date Of Receipt By UKBA: 07/08/2013
Date Of Debit Of Fees: 13/08/2013
Date Of Receipt Of Acknowledgement: 14/08/2013
Date Of Receipt Of Approval: 27/08/2013
Date Approval Letter Received: 04/09/2013
Date Of Ceremony: PENDING

20 days from application to approval! That was FAST!

[beebritish]

I will also give it a try - contacting the MP. How long we have to wait before we contact the MP or we can do it at any time?

I contacted my local MP just a month or so after my application being acknowledged by HO. I read that some MPs refused to act before the 6 month deadline, but if you have a valid reason to contact them, why would you have to wait?

[berti83]

Nationality: Kosovan
Criteria; ILR since 1999
Method Of Application: personal
Date Of Application: 01/06//2013
Date Of Receipt By UKBA: 02/06/2013
Date Of Debit Of Fees: 03/06/2013
Date Of Receipt Of Acknowledgement: 06/06/2013
Date Of Receipt Of Approval: Pending
Date Approval Letter Pending
Date Of Ceremony: PENDING

(Was told it would be straightforward due to being here 14 years, it has not been the case) I received an email today stating that no decision has been made yet on my application. Do not even know whether it is with a case worker

[Misu79]

My timeline:
Nationality: Syrian
Date of application: 09/04/2013 and received by UKBA 10/04/2013
Received acknowledgement letter: 18/04/2013
Approval letter received: 05/09/2013 which is dated 26/07/13 in prepaid envelope which I enclosed it with my application.
They said in approval letter you should receive an invitation letter in 2 weeks and do not contact your local authority until you receive your invitation letter.

Ps. I emailed them 3 times and I also contacted my MP's office 2 weeks ago.
It seems to me that MP helps if you have been waiting long.

So how long does it take to receive an invitation letter? Just wondering, is it really 2 weeks?

[xlisusx]

[quote="xlisusx"][quote="xlisusx"]Eligibility criteria: Non-EEA family member,arrived in UK in Nov/2004, exercising treaty since 2005, ILR since DEZ/2010.

Method of application: Postal Royal Mail Special delivery

Date of application: 28/08/13

Received by UKBA: 29/08/13

Date of debit of fees: 02/09/13

Date of receipt of acknowledgement: 05/09/13 ( dated 02/09/13 )

Date of receipt of approval: ?

Date of Ceremony: ?

[Fatush]

So how long does it take to receive an invitation letter? Just wondering, is it really 2 weeks?

Mine took 12 days

[dewales001]

Eligibility criteria : 10 Years + 1 Year ILR
Method of application : NCS Edinburgh
Date of application : 22/07/13
Date of receipt by UKBA : Perhaps next day (23/07/2013)
Date of acknowledgement : 24/07/2013 (Received on 27/07/2013)
Date of debit of fees : 24/07/2013
Date of approval : 30/08/2013 (Received on 05/09/2013)
Date of Ceremony : 24/09/2013

[altfhn]

I have applied on 30 april still waiting................


anyone in april boat and still waiting ...............