UKM applicants for BC--what is "too long" a wait from UKBA?

Eliza,

As you are in the US, did you request your Passport back from Liverpool? I am trying to get my hubby into Canada for his biometrics and besides reporting his passport as lost/stolen and getting a new passport i'm not sure how to go about everything.....

Congrats on the outcome, and thank you for the update! I hope to be able to report the same here soon.
Cheers!

Hi All,

I am working through a company in Cape Town South Africa to obtain British Citizenship and a British Passport. I submitted a UKM application as part one of my application and was told to submit with this application, my parents marriage certificate, my mothers full British Birth certificate as well as my full birth certificate and South African passport. I am applying through my mother as she is a British Citizen and I was born before 1983. My question is I have read a lot of forums about other peoples experiences once applying and I am rather concerned that I have not submitted the correct information. The company assures me that I have but it has been 5 months. Since; I have only received the birth certificates and passport back but did have my Biometric Enrolment done on the 2 November 2015. Should I be concerned?

Timeline: Eligibility criteria: UKM (decent by Mum, and born before 1983)
Method of application: Through a company in Cape Town South Africa
Date of sent to Liverpool office: 1 September 2015
Date of receipt by UK Liverpool HO: 03/09/2015
Date of debit of fees: not sure as the funds were taken from comany but they confirmed it was taken
Date of receipt of acknowledgement: Never received anything
Date of Biometric Enrollment: Received a letter dated 5 October 15 and had the (B/E) done 2 November 2015
Date of receipt of approval: Waiting
Date of Ceremony: Waiting

The VFS Global appointment system doesn't seem to work.

I am a UKF applicant (same as UKM but through fathers) and I applied in May, so now I have been waiting an incredible eight months even though my application is astoundingly straightforward and I provided more than the documentation they required.

Yesterday, nearly two months after requesting it, I received (by email) the letter to have my biometrics done in Vancouver. (I live in the USA and in October I received a letter giving me the option of having my biometrics done in Canada or Mexico because biometric centres aren't yet available in the USA even though they've had since April to sort out this non-rocket-science issue which every other country has now solved). In a state of near-ecstasy, I performed all the procedures required by the VFS Global website, including paying their ten-pound fee. But when I chose 'schedule an appointment' from the page containing all my information, including my full name, my UKN number and the acknowledgement of my fee, I only saw a page called 'Applicant List' containing no clickable links (except one which goes back to their home page) and the single sentence "Either Appointment details are not found or appointment has already taken, please check with rescheduling appointment" (the atrocious grammar and punctuation are in the original - I would never perpetrate such linguistic horrors).

I stayed up until 6:30 in the morning trying to solve this problem in various ways, but to no avail. These people are obsessed with automating everything, but they also specialise in having the automation done by people who don't know how to do it. Then they remove all possibility of talking to an actual person because, hey, it's all automated. All 'contact me' things lead back to the website as if it were a panacaea for curing all ailments caused by... the website. Obviously the Vancouver visa centre, in common with all the visa centres in Canada (and perhaps elsewhere) as far as I can see, provides no phone number or even an email address.

What to do? I have printed out the biometrics letter and the receipt for the ten-pound biometric appointment fee (which at present represents merely a donation of ten quid to the estimable VFS Global for services not rendered) as well as a covering letter explaining the situation, and I shall almost certainly send these by post (unless of course I manage to set an appointment on Monday because somehow their automated magic doesn't work during weekends - see how tenaciously I manufacture probably unjustifiable hopes to keep myself nominally sane after being tormented so long by these reprehensible automata). However, I fully expect them to ignore my letter.

Can I simply turn up (in Canada - reaching which is by no means free) with my biometric letter and receipt, explaining that the online appointment centre is kaput, has joined the choir invisible, has ceased to be, has joined the majority, and is in point of fact an ex online appointment centre?

I was hoping to go there on Monday the 18th of January because it is a holiday in the USA and consequently I wouldn't have to take one of my precious days off work for this.

Any help you may be able to give will be much appreciated.

OMG!!! Maybe things are starting to move at the Home office. I received my approval letter. Looks like it is about 6 months exactly. Everyone hang in there and let me know if you all have any questions about my case, I'll be happy to share.

USA citizen, living in Arizona. Born 1971 in USA to British born mother and American father.

Timeline:
UKM application submitted: July 8th, 2015
Application acknowledgement: August 25, 2015
Biometric delay letter #1 received: August 25, 2015
Biometric delay letter #2 received: Nov 6, 2015
Sent request for biometric appointment in Vancouver on Nov 7, 2015.
Received Biometric appointment letter for appointment in Vancouver November 21, 2015
Completed Biometric appointment November 24, 2015 in Vancouver
Received UKM approval letter from Home office January 11, 2015
Ceremony invitation (letter says I'll be notified in two weeks): TBD

I applied in early October 2015. Did my biometrics on Nov 3 / 2015. Received an email from the case worker requesting a specific document on Dec 10 / 2015. Forwarded that document via email on Dec 17 / 2015. Acknowledgement of the document was received from the same case worker on Dec 29 / 2015. So now it's been over 3 months. I applied as a UKM born before 1983. Can anyone in this thread advise if they're having a similar delay? They wanted a birth certificate from my Province of birth that had my parentage on it. The original I sent with my entire application back on October 5 /2015 didn't have that in it as at the time birth certificate issued didn't include that information. So I quickly obtained it and emailed it as soon as I received it. Just wondering what kind of timelines UKM and UKF applicants have on average. Thanks.

Hi guys,

This has been a long journey. I'm applying using the UKF, same as UKM but through father. Timeline:

1) Docs received in Liverpool mid-October, account charged around the same time
2) Received letter a couple weeks after stating the biometric stations aren't up and running in the US. (PS I'm not a US citizen, I'm a student here from Jamaica.) They said I could do it in Canada but well...I need back my passport to do that.
3) All through November I called/emailed and pestered them to send back my passport. Multiple times. My dad also did the same. I gave up in December and the last thing I did was to send them a formal letter stating my woes.

They said they would get back to us by January the latest on biometrics stations in the US. Has anyone heard back? Has anyone been able to get back their passport?

Eligibility criteria:UKM born before 1983
Language criteria met: not applicable
Nationality: Canadian
Method of application: Mailed from Vancouver, British Columbia Canada
Date of application: October 5 / 2015 (date mailed from Vancouver, BC)
Payment method: Credit Card
Date of receipt by UKBA: October 9 / 2015 (tracked via Canada Post and confirmed received that date)
Date of acknowledgement : October 19 / 2015 ( received by me on October 28/2015)
Date money gone off account: October 13 / 2015 ( credit card charged the citizenship ceremony fee)
Date of letter requesting biometrics: October 19 / 2015 [/b]( sent via Royal Mail - all original documents received back)
Biometrics done: November 3 / 2015 (in Vancouver BC at VFS Global office)
Date of request for additional documentation December 10 / 2015
***** Email request from a case worker at the Home Office *************
Request for a birth certificate confirming parentage (the one submitted and returned did not have this information as the year when it was issued the Province where I was born didn't list such information on said document.
Date additional documentation was provided: December 17 / 2015 - aforementioned document was received, scanned and emailed to the case worker at the generic email address he contacted me from and instructed me to send the requested information )document).
December 24 / 2015 - same document and email was forwarded again to the case worker after no reply for a week on the original email
Date of acknowledgment of receipt of document by the case worker: December 29 / 2015 - acknowledgement via email from noted case worker that the document had been received, no other comments provided.
Date of approval : Waiting
Date of ceremony :
Date applied for passports :
Date passports received :

So far just over 13 weeks since I applied and no word back. Hope other UKM/UKF applicants are having success and share any and all helpful bits of info. Thanks!!!!

If anyone has any problems with the VFS Global online appointment and payment system I want you all to know this information to email them:

I had no luck getting an appointment online but I was charged the 10 pound fee twice.

Try this email address:

UKVI.Feedback.Ca@vfshelpline.com

In the subject line put ATTENTION DUTY MANAGER.

I also included my phone contact information both home and mobile. I kept sending the same email with the date and time as well to emphasize I wanted a reply. I would update each email with 2nd request etc with the time and date to document all of my efforts. Someone called me if I recall within 24-48 hours of (2) emails. I was able to make an appointment and provide my biometric information.

Tips on the biometric appointment when completing the process in Vancouver, BC:

If you need to park in Vancouver, BC downtown try to find a parking garage as opposed to on the street. There are many in the area of VFS but it isn't always cheap. I'd pay for 2 hours at the most.

Also when you get to the building you've got to take the elevator to the 20th floor I believe but I can't recall. There is no sign saying VFS global as it is on the floor where it appears a bunch of small offices all share the same area. If I recall correctly it was a large open reception area that was fairly evident when I got off the elevator and I went and asked the receptionist if I was on the correct floor etc.

The receptionist was friendly just make sure you tell her that you're there for a biometrics appointment with VFS. She went and got someone for me almost immediately.

They'll have you turn off any phones, ipads, laptops etc so unless you need any of those things perhaps leave them in your hotel, at home wherever they'll be safe. Otherwise VFS will hold on to them until you're appointment is done. The actual biometrics in total really takes less than 10 minutes once they do the digital photos and fingerprints. However they do ask for your letter and passport and complete some work on a computer so also make sure you have those key documents. I can't say what the computer work involved but it must have been relevant as my passport and the biometrics letter was required and referred to during that process.
Note: There are many coffee shops in that area of Vancouver so if you need a beverage they're all within walking distance.

The man I dealt with from VFS on the phone when they called and the day of my appointment was the same and he was very polite and efficient. They deal with visa applications etc so you may have others in there as well. They seem to have 2 offices side by side and a security guard always seems to be hovering around. Once I was done the fingerprints and photos they gave me my letter back and I received a receipt as well (due to the issues I had with them booking on line I couldn't print one from the website). Good luck!!

I hope this helps someone with VFS when encountering issues that's the reason I posted this on the thread for everyones benefit. Cheers

Will

Guys!!!!! I just got back my passport from Liverpool! My application is still being processed but now I can fly to Canada to do my biometrics. In case you're wondering how:


1) I called 011443001232253 multiple times to request it back
2) I was told to fill out the passport return form here https://www.gov.uk/visa-documents-returned
3) Did that didn't get it back
4) Filled out the enquiry form on the same page
5) Didn't get it back
6) Called then back, told them my predicament and they gave me a "case". Said I would get a call from a case worker who would work on my "case"
7) Worker called me and I missed the call twice
Didn't call back
9) Called them again and said they the worker won't call back. The worker will just work on my case.
10) Didn't get the passport.
11) Called back and they said to email complaints@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk with all my application details.
12) I also sent a formal letter to Liverpool with all my details
13) Got it back today.

Krystal2591 wrote:Guys!!!!! I just got back my passport from Liverpool! My application is still being processed but now I can fly to Canada to do my biometrics. In case you're wondering how:


1) I called 011443001232253 multiple times to request it back
2) I was told to fill out the passport return form here https://www.gov.uk/visa-documents-returned
3) Did that didn't get it back
4) Filled out the enquiry form on the same page
5) Didn't get it back
6) Called then back, told them my predicament and they gave me a "case". Said I would get a call from a case worker who would work on my "case"
7) Worker called me and I missed the call twice
Didn't call back
9) Called them again and said they the worker won't call back. The worker will just work on my case.
10) Didn't get the passport.
11) Called back and they said to email complaints@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk with all my application details.
12) I also sent a formal letter to Liverpool with all my details
13) Got it back today.

Where are you applying from? USA? If you have to use VFS Global in Vancouver see some other posts in case you have any issues online with the appointments et al

For the benefits of others applying I was able to send a notarized copy of my passport and didn't send my actual passport with my application and that was fine.

It's just so hilarious how uniformly incompetent these people are. Looking at the tragicomic amount of work that you had to do in order to accomplish what should have been a routine task, and the number of instances in which they got things wrong or didn't even bother to respond in any way, I recall the similar complications - needless complications - that have characterised every single stage of my application and those of several people whose accounts I've read on this forum and elsewhere. It seems that they're not very good at what they do. When they just get something right without first having to drag the applicant through a labyrinth of bureaucratic horrors replete with dead ends and scary monsters, that is an exception and it feels like a miracle. Even when we do come out of the labyrinth, battered and thoroughly exhausted but clutching the tiny prize which we had initially sought, we feel uncommonly blessed. How they lower our expectations. I can't even tell if they're hopelessly incapable or deeply Machiavellian. (I don't think, however, that a Machiavellian entity would be as bad at spelling as the Home Office).

Best of luck with your biometrics, congratulations on finally getting your passport back, and let's hope that all of our applications go smoothly from here, because goodness knows we've been through enough. (I waited eight months just for biometrics after a series of entirely unnecessary ordeals. Enough said).

Remember that if you have any problems booking your appointment online, you can contact UKVI.Feedback.ca@vfshelpline.com and you should receive a reply from a human being within a couple of days. This contrasts rather starkly with the usual autoreplies telling us to go to useless websites, claims of replies within twenty business days followed by no replies at all, and other woeful phenomena with which we have become sadly familiar in our dealings with the Home Office (I'm not using the Royal We but referring to other applicants with whom I've been in contact).

Good luck with your Canadian adventure!

Seems to me that UKF/UKM people have to wait infinitely longer than anyone else. In most cases this isn't some kind of mysterious, enormously time consuming or labour intensive job. Either the documents match up and prove our heritage via our parents or they don't. It seems that the process is quick to charge our credit or debit cards but after that everything slows down to something akin to a crawl. A slow one at that!!! Even slower if you apply from overseas such as USA, Canada, South Africa, New Zealand or Australia. So frustrating!!!

Eligibility criteria: UKM
Nationality: South Africa
Applying from: South Africa
Method of application: Courier (to agency in UK)
Date of application: 07/12/2015
Payment method: Credit card
Date of receipt by UKBA: Application handed in by agency on 11/12/2015
Date money gone off account: 10/12/2015 (via agency)
Date of acknowledgement: 26/01/2016 (letter dated 12/01/2016)
Date of letter requesting biometrics: 26/01/2016 (letter dated 12/01/2016)
Biometrics done: Scheduled for 03/02/2016 in Cape Town
Date of approval:
Date of ceremony:
Date applied for passports:
Date passports received:

I also received the letter explaining that the application might take longer than 6 months as my case is a complex one. This letter is dated 16/01/2016.

My case is simple. My documents were all received on October 9th. My Mom was born in Britain. Later she moved to Canada and married my Dad. She was still a citizen of the U.K. when I was born. I sent in all her documents including an expired UK passport. As well as all of my documents. I got asked for a birth certificate showing my parentage in mid December last year. Reason being when I was born the province didn't issue them with parentage. So I obtained the new style one and sent that via email on Dec 17 and then 24 th again as I'd receive no reply. On Dec 29th I received an email acknowledgement the updated birth certificate had been received. Very simply case with all the supporting documents. No criminal record. No criminal charges. So they've had the only document they've requested of me for almost a month now. I see others applying and their timelines are much quicker it seems. However we as UKM and UKF applicants seem to be ignored or held in lower priority despite applying well ahead of others and having what I'd characterize as simple cases. Frustrating.

Yes there seems to be a lot of inconsistency. My application is still early days (only just under two months) but I can imagine the frustration of those who have had to wait unreasonably long periods.

I applied in May and I waited eight months only to do the biometrics. I too have an astoundingly straightforward case: I supplied more than the materials requested (foolishly trying to 'be on the safe side' by supplying additional proof of eligibility) and needless to say, I have no criminal record, nor have I ever had so much as a parking ticket in my entire life; yet people who applied in November are now being approved while I am left in limbo for no discernible reason.

Krystal2591 wrote:Guys!!!!! I just got back my passport from Liverpool! My application is still being processed but now I can fly to Canada to do my biometrics. In case you're wondering how:


1) I called 011443001232253 multiple times to request it back
2) I was told to fill out the passport return form here https://www.gov.uk/visa-documents-returned
3) Did that didn't get it back
4) Filled out the enquiry form on the same page
5) Didn't get it back
6) Called then back, told them my predicament and they gave me a "case". Said I would get a call from a case worker who would work on my "case"
7) Worker called me and I missed the call twice
Didn't call back
9) Called them again and said they the worker won't call back. The worker will just work on my case.
10) Didn't get the passport.
11) Called back and they said to email complaints@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk with all my application details.
12) I also sent a formal letter to Liverpool with all my details
13) Got it back today.

Kystral,

when you tried to have your documents back using the government site, you clicked you were applying in the UK or outside?

I am also trying to have my passport back. I live in Brazil and sent my documents to Liverpool using DHL.

The problem is: the site say I should contact "visa application center" if I applied outside UK, but I contacted "visa application center" and they have no idea what I am talking about.

On the other hand, if I say I am applying in the UK, the site doesn't accept my Brazilian zipcode.

So, basically, I can't have my documents back.

And your documents were returned in normal mail service or in a secure service?

Cheers!

I already had my biometrics done at the Department of Immigration and Border Protection in Adelaide, South Australia. I had thought of applying for a visa before I realised I discovered I could apply for Citizenship by Descent. Hopefully this makes the process a bit quicker!

Just an update:

Eligibility criteria: UKM
Nationality: South Africa
Applying from: South Africa, Cape Town
Method of application: Courier - DHL (to agency in UK)
Date of application: 07/12/2015
Payment method: Credit card
Date of receipt by UKBA: Application handed in by agency on 11/12/2015
Date money gone off account: 10/12/2015 (via agency)
Date of acknowledgement: 26/01/2016 (letter dated 12/01/2016)
Date of letter requesting biometrics: 26/01/2016 (letter dated 12/01/2016)
Biometrics done: 03/02/2016 in Cape Town
Date of approval:
Date of ceremony:
Date applied for passports:
Date passports received:

Now that Biometrics is done I suppose the real wait starts.

Hi to all.
I emailed HO on Monday as 6 weeks had pass and I had not heard from them about my citizenship ceremony.
Hey presto on Tuesday morning I get an email from the British embassy here asking me to choose either the week beginning 22 February or week beginning 14 March for my ceremony.
23rd February is the date for my ceremony.
Hope all those waiting get their good news.

Hello:

I too am waiting for my ceremony letter. I am at the 4-week mark today. I live in Arizona, so I believe my consulate is in Los Angeles. What state do you live in and what consulate is responsible for your state or region? I am assuming you are in the USA??

Thank you very much.

mbianco21 wrote:Hello:

I too am waiting for my ceremony letter. I am at the 4-week mark today. I live in Arizona, so I believe my consulate is in Los Angeles. What state do you live in and what consulate is responsible for your state or region? I am assuming you are in the USA??

Thank you very much.

Hi.
Sorry I'm not in the USA. I'm from Barbados.
If you don't hear from them in 6 weeks email them. Your letter has the email address.
At 5 weeks I went to the embassy here and ask if they had any info on my ceremony, (I did not mention my name, just that my application was successful and I have not received any letter yet). The email the embassy sent me said, "you came last week and inquired about your Naturalisation certificate and ceremony, I can confirm we have received the documents from HO..........".
I guess your documents will be sent to the Consulate responsible for your area and they will contact you.
You don't have long to wait now.
All the best.

bright_star wrote:

Krystal2591 wrote:Guys!!!!! I just got back my passport from Liverpool! My application is still being processed but now I can fly to Canada to do my biometrics. In case you're wondering how:


1) I called 011443001232253 multiple times to request it back
2) I was told to fill out the passport return form here https://www.gov.uk/visa-documents-returned
3) Did that didn't get it back
4) Filled out the enquiry form on the same page
5) Didn't get it back
6) Called then back, told them my predicament and they gave me a "case". Said I would get a call from a case worker who would work on my "case"
7) Worker called me and I missed the call twice
Didn't call back
9) Called them again and said they the worker won't call back. The worker will just work on my case.
10) Didn't get the passport.
11) Called back and they said to email complaints@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk with all my application details.
12) I also sent a formal letter to Liverpool with all my details
13) Got it back today.

Kystral,

when you tried to have your documents back using the government site, you clicked you were applying in the UK or outside?

I am also trying to have my passport back. I live in Brazil and sent my documents to Liverpool using DHL.

The problem is: the site say I should contact "visa application center" if I applied outside UK, but I contacted "visa application center" and they have no idea what I am talking about.

On the other hand, if I say I am applying in the UK, the site doesn't accept my Brazilian zipcode.

So, basically, I can't have my documents back.

And your documents were returned in normal mail service or in a secure service?

Cheers!

Yea, I had that same problem because I was applying from the US. I ended up putting my dads address in the UK and putting a special note at the bottom not to actually send it to him but to the US address on my application.

Hi All.

Just an "Update" .... there is none. I was so hoping i wouldn't have to wait the 6 months because a lot of my friends didn't but hey looks like i got a "busy" case worker doing my application. My time line is as follows for those of you who want to know. (applying from Cape Town South Africa)

Eligibility criteria: UKM (decent by Mum, and born before 1983)
Method of application: Through a company called "Move Up" in Cape Town South Africa
Date of sent to Liverpool office: 1 September 2015
Date of receipt by UK Liverpool HO: 03/09/2015
Date of debit of fees: not sure as the funds were taken from Move Up but they confirmed it was taken
Date of receipt of acknowledgement: Never received anything
Date of Biometric Enrollment: Received a letter dated 5 October 15 and had the (B/E) done 2 November 2015
Date of receipt of approval: Waiting
Date of Ceremony: Waiting

Good luck all!