TIMELINE AFTER NATURALISATION APPLICATION SUBMISSION

[Marco 72]

I have posted my 2nd application on the 20 Feb 2007 and my card was debited on the 22 Feb, but I have not heard anything back yet. No Acknowledgement letter even...my application is as straightforward as my wife's one and I am applying as a spouse of a British Citizen now...I can't understand why I haven't had a letter back from them yet.

It shouldn't be a problem. In my case, it took me 12 days (10 working days) to receive an acknowledgement letter. Others in this discussion have reported receiving no acknowledgement letter at all, but their applications were still approved.

[tdpff3]

Others in this discussion have reported receiving no acknowledgement letter at all, but their applications were still approved.

Your are right. That's another interesting fact that sometimes acknowledgement letters and even approval letters are not sent or received.

I also note that while the application is in progress, the HO helpdesk seems to be giving the message that the file has not been allocated to caseworker. It just seems that there is no coordination or perhaps direct information sharing between caseworkers and helpdesk.

[Marco 72]

Nationality : Italian
Date of Entry in the UK : April 1997
NCS or Postal : NCS
If NCS, which centre : Camden
Date of submission or posting : 29 January 2007
CRITERIA - 4 Yrs + 1 Yr ILR
Date of debit of bank account (cheque) : 13 February 2007
Date of acknowledgement letter : 7 February 2007
Date of receipt of acknowledgement letter : 10 February 2007
Date of approval letter : 16 February 2007
Date of receipt of approval letter : 1 March 2007
Date of ceremony : 5 March 2007 (Westminster, private ceremony)

As Dawie reported, the approval letter also included an invitation to the ceremony. The letter stated "Please contact the authority using these details within 14 days of the date of this letter to book your ceremony" (emphasis in the original). The letter was dated 16 February and I only received it on 1 March, thirteen days later. If I had been away for a couple of days, or if the letter had been delayed by one day, I would have missed the two week 'window'. I wonder what consequences that might have had. Perhaps I would have needed to apply again?

What probably happens is that the Home Office waits a while to send the approval letter in order to make sure that the council has received the naturalisation certificate. In that case it would probably be better to give applicants at least four weeks to book their ceremony.

[Dawie]

I don't think you would have had to apply again because the Home Office has a clear policy that you have to attend a citizenship ceremony within 3 months after being approved before you have to apply again.

Interestingly, when I attended my ceremony all the official wanted from me was the invitation letter. I had brought along my passport as identity but he wasn't interested. He said the letter was all he needed to proceed with the ceremony!

[Marco 72]

In my case he didn't even want to see the letter! He probably just forgot.

[SK1]

Marco 72,

Congrats on the new Citizenship...

I just hope mine can come through soon.

SK

[pieface]

Not strictly immigration related this, but may be of interest to some currently watching this thread - particularly those based in London.

Spent the day today trying to get a decent photo for my passport application. Might sound a tad vain, but being that you have to live with the picture for 10 years, worth getting a decent one I'd say.

The high street chemists and photo shops I quickly found produce terrible pictures, even those that 'specialise in them'. Ghastly pictures that show every blemish etc.

It soon became apparent that the automated ones in tube stations give much better results. Trouble is half of them are knackered, rob your coins or have the colour balance out, i.e. too green, too red etc. I won't say how many I tried, but for great results I can recomment the one at Kilburn (Jubilee Line) station. Dare I say, I actually came out looking relatively handsome, especially compared to the pile of photos I rejected.

[Marco 72]

Marco 72,

Congrats on the new Citizenship...

I just hope mine can come through soon.

SK

Thanks, hopefully it won't be long for you. The important thing is that they have received your application (since they took the payment). If you want to be completely sure, you can call the helpline and give them your special delivery number.

[Dawie]

Just came back from the UK passport agency now and unfortunately they weren't able to process my passport application because I am going on a business trip outside the UK from this Thursday until Sunday. The guy told me that they had to keep my South African passports while they process my application (weren't prepared to take photocopies) AND apparently I have to be in the country while the application is being processed.

So I will have to reapply when I get back from my trip. I'm travelling to a Schengen country, so it'll be strange travelling on my South African passport with my Schengen visa knowing that I'm a British citizen. I'm going to take a photocopy of my naturalisation certificate just in case I have any problems reentering the UK. I asked the guy at the passport agency if he thought there would be any problem entering the UK as British citizen with just my SA passport and ILR sticker even though it technically isn't valid and he thought it would be fine.

[SK1]

Marco 72,

I just called the helpline and they confirmed that they did receive my appl and they did send out an acknowledgement letter on the 26/02/07. I told them I didn't receive it. So it may be delayed or something. Anyway, I didn't ask for a duplicate of the letter to be resent.

Another thing, I needed to ask for my documents back (passports, marriage certificate, driver's licence) as I need it for something else.

They told me that my application can take up to 4 months to complete. I know that you guys using the NCS, have had replies within weeks, I am just hoping it's not going to take that long.

Anyway, i'll get my docs back in 2 weeks and they may ask for them again if they need to at a later stage.

SK1

[tekaweni]

Dawie, I dont recall seeing any requirement to be physically in the country while applying for a passport?

You should definitely pack a copy of your naturalisation cert in case some immigration jobsworth pulls you up on the no-longer-valid ILR technicality. Massively unlikely and surely they have better things to do but still, could save you a few hours delay while they check you out - and the computer will be down at the time

[Dawie]

Dawie, I dont recall seeing any requirement to be physically in the country while applying for a passport?

I know, neither did I. And I really wish they would have told me this before I woke up so early this morning to go for my wasted appointment.

On the plus side, the guy said that my application form and supporting documents where all fine and all I needed to do was reschedule an appointment.

[tdpff3]

The updated processing time on IND website are:

Naturalisation 3.94 months

Average times for all Nationality applications (as of end of February) 3.67 months

[SK1]

The updated processing time on IND website are:

Naturalisation 3.94 months

Average times for all Nationality applications (as of end of February) 3.67 months

Thanks for the info.

Guess I'll wait 3.94 months then.... Am I the only poster on this thread who's still not British?...feeling very lonely now.

SK1

[tdpff3]

Am I the only poster on this thread who's still not British?...feeling very lonely now

No, trust me within this post there are people who have applied before you and they are still waiting. There is no need to be gloomy.

Little patient is good for soul.

[Desperado2006]

Guys, Has any of you applied as JOINT application. I sent my JOINT application April LAST YEAR. 11 Months still no word from the home office apart from the acknowledgement letter.. When I call they say that the caseworker hasn't taken his/her final decision yet. This is through NCS. I strongly recommend people to apply individually as you get a quick response. Unless of course they favour certain nationalities (which I doubt they do).

[Desperado2006]

And forget about that 3.94 months for JOINT applications.

[SK1]

And forget about that 3.94 months for JOINT applications.

Desperado2006,

Sorry to hear about your application decision delay. I shouldn't fret at all.

I did a joint application with my wife last year September....I got declined and she got approved. It only took 2 months for a final decision and we applied via postal not NCS.

This time I'm on my own, so fingers crossed.

If I may ask is your application a straightforward one or a bit complicated?....it's almost been a year and still no final decision...

SK1

[stedman]

[tdpff3]

11 Months still no word from the home office apart from the acknowledgement letter

That's worrying. Perhaps senior members here can give advice to you.

Not only it seems unsual, but by now at least you should have a letter explaining what additional documents are required (if any are missing in the original application), results of inquires, investigations, etc.

Are you simply inquiring by phoning Helpdesk. My suggestion would be to write to them. Again take advice from the senior members on this forum.

Good luck.

[Desperado2006]

Thanks Guys, Much appreciated if a Senior member can give me some advice. The only problem I can think of is that I dropped one of my First names with the advice of NCS. I have a very long name with 5 initials when the NCS adviser saw that she said I could drop my unused names if I want to. She said home office will issue the naturalisation certificate for the shorter name. I also wrote in the comments section why I want to drop my long first name. Now I think I’m so stupid to follow her advice.

[Desperado2006]

Good Luck SK1, I'm sure you get it this time. Have you applied through NCS? Most people get it within 2 months.
In my case I applied with my wife & Son. I have been living in UK 12 years (6 student + 4 WP + 2 ILR) and paid my taxes for all the years that I have been working. My son is now 7 years born & living in UK. Funny thing is my daughter who is just 10 months already a British Citizen.

Thanks tdpff3 for your suggestion to write to them. I’ll try that. I phoned them recently and they are still saying that my character checks done, now they are waiting for a decision. This is the same thing they said 4 months ago. When I mentioned about dropping my first name to the helpline adviser She said that if there is any problem then the caseworker will write to me. I’m worried that my case is buried in a pile of files & will never come out.

[Nataliya]

Guys, if you don't mind me asking, are there any Russian / Ukrainian citizens here? Just wondering how long you naturalisation took?

Mine is a straightforward case (4yr WP + 1yr ILR), applied via NCS over 4 months ago, still waiting. I called HO some time ago and they sounded like it's going to take months more to complete the checks.

I'm just puzzled that so many people here get their applications approved within 2-3 weeks, and all Russian and Ukrainian applicants I know took at least 5 months. Are they doing some nationality-specific checks?

[Dawie]

Are they doing some nationality-specific checks?

When the UK goverment issues visas to certain nationalities that they deem "high risk" it often takes far longer. It wouldn't surprise then that they would apply the same principle when processing something far more valuable than a visa....naturalisation.

I'm not saying I agree with it, but it wouldn't surprise me if certain nationalities take longer than others because of security checks.

[Nataliya]

Are they doing some nationality-specific checks?

When the UK goverment issues visas to certain nationalities that they deem "high risk" it often takes far longer.

True, but I never thought Ukraine was a "high-risk" country. My WP visa took 2 hours to get, no checks whatsoever. What on earth could they be checking for 4 months now? I dread to think it can take 11 months, like in Desperado's case...