URGENT: Delay in application

[doppleganger]

Hello. I applied for naturalisation in early February and at the 5 month mark, I emailed home office asking for an update. They emailed me back and stated my application is being held, as I didn't provide proof of English language and that I have until the 30th of July to email them proof, so I emailed them my certificate for my B1 SELT examination (on the 17th of july). ( I only disclosed my life in the UK , indefinite leave to remain and GCSE/A-Level certificates as I was unaware that I needed to take a B1 SELT. It has now past 6 months since I applied. When should I expect to hear back from them if its approved? and has anyone else had a similar experience where an application was held due to insufficient documents?

[secret.simon]

Generally, if an application is being held back for lack of documentation, that means that it has not even started being processed. So, now that they have all the documents they may need, it will likely now be assigned to a caseworker.

I was unaware that I needed to take a B1 SELT.

You have not mentioned the basis of your ILR, but I presume that it is a refugee ILR or one under Appendix EU, because almost all other ILRs also require a B1 test. Applications by ILR holders of both those types have had issues in the recent past. See this thread for refugee ILR holders and this thread for recent changes to the requirements regarding Settled Status/Appendix EU ILR holders.

The Covid pandemic seems to have slowed down the grant of approvals and in cases when the approvals have occurred, there has been a slowdown in citizenship ceremonies being held and certificates being issued. See this thread for more information.

[doppleganger]

Thank you for your response. So does that mean I will have to wait another 6 months until a decision is reached. And in regards to the type of ILR, I’m not a refugee so I would assume it’s the latter. I have been in the country for 19 years and had my ILR for 10 years.

[gokmev]

Hi there,

I am in a similar situation, applied in February and haven't received anything back. I suspect you contacting them has actually drawn attention to your case. May I ask how did you contact them, i.e. which email address?

Thanks

[doppleganger]

Hi,

I used these 3 emails but I do not actually know which one worked. They emailed me back after 3 days asking for the relevant documents.

NationalitySupportTeamFMT@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk

NationalitySupportTeamFMT@homeoffice.gov.uk

NationalityCaseworkDecisionService@homeoffice.gov.uk



The email they sent me to send my documents is :

nationalityfurtherinformationrequests@homeoffice.gov.uk

[CULLINAN]

The standard time is 6 months. More or less mileage varies on the case.
You can ask for an update after 6 months have passed.
How long will it take? No one can tell.