January 2014 - Naturalization Application Timeline

[fragnance19]

Eligibility criteria: 5 years Residence
Language criteria met : PBS used documents
Current nationality: Prefer not to say
Method of application: NCS
Council name if NCS used: Newbury
Date of application: 21-01-2014
Payment method : Credit Card
Date of receipt by UKBA: 23/01/2014
Date of acknowledgment: 02/02/2014, received on 06/02/2014
Date of debit or clearance of fees: CC Balance dropped on 02/02/2014

**************************
Date approval received: 26/03/2014 (date on letter 18/03/2014)
Date of ceremony: 8th April 2014

My updates, I have been calling HO every day since 18th March and all the time I was told that my application is incomplete.

[Brockadisiac]

Eligibility criteria: 11 Year ILR

Method of application: SELF

Date of Application: 07/01/2014

Date of receipt by UKBA: 08/01/2014 (Royal Mail Tracking)

Date of debit of fees: 27/01/2014

Date of receipt of acknowledgement: 25/01/2014

Date of receipt of approval: WAITING!!!!


AFTER BEING SILENT ON THIS FORUM I THOUGHT I WOULD SHARE MY TIMELINE. I CAN BELIEVE THAT I AM STILL WAITING AND HALF OF JAN HAVE ALREADY GOT THEORY APPROVAL. I CALLED THEM TODAY AND I WAS TOLD MY APPLICATION IS STILL IN A PILE AND WAITING TO BE ASSIGNED A TEAM OR CASEWORKER!

ANYWAY GOODLUCK TO PEOPLE STILL WAITING AND CONGRATS TO THOSE THAT HAVE GOTTEN THEORY APPROVAL

[majamcr]

I also applied on 07/01 (received 08/01) via post, fee debited on 25/01, still waiting.

[darkangel14]

I'm still waiting from 23/01 but I'm not worried yet. I suggest you all stop calling them and bothering them and let them get on with helping people who actually have problems. You all know that calling is pretty much useless yet you keep doing it!

[rickyrafe777]

There is no need to call them or emails.. its just a waste of time!!! but its really sad, the entire process has no system and bad in sorting out applications. plus i have seen Feb approval coming out!!!
have no words for them, to all hard working HO staff.

[JPB]

Hi All,

Please delay is not denial. Stop stressing your self as the HO says you need to wait for 6 months . I agree some may want to travel or have urgent appointments but you hve options if you used NCS. Calling the contact centre does not help at all as they dont even know when your application will be decided. I keep reading emails saying people phone them all the time to check after two months of acknowledgement which is crazy.
The HO have over 50 case workers in the naturalisation team and applications are dealt with in order however the delay is basically due to individual circumstances and secondly the work load. Remember applications come through on daily basis and only January had over 5000 applications and this had to be sorted out alongside the back log of october to december 2013.
so just relax and wait for your brown envelope as it wont run away.

[unsure]

^Yes your right.

But the reason why I contact them is because in my particular case there is no time standard and I didnt even get an ack letter yet the fee I paid was debited like 7 weeks ago...and I got nothing back. My request is fairly simple....just a very slight spelling error in my first name needs correcting.

I really hate bothering them...I know they are busy. I even apologized to them twice and asked if my call was bothering them. They are very polite though.

I have absolutely no idea what the process is for my request.

[dadageer]

I called the new number with a random reference number and made up names. I was told - not assigned to caseworker!!!

You nailed it!!

[UKc2be]

I hope that my info helps in some way. I really appreciate this forum, it kept me semi sane.

Eligibility criteria: 5 years ILR
Language criteria met: Life in the UK + GESE Grade 5 (CEFR B1 Speaking and Listening only)
Method of application: NCS
Date of application: 14/01/2014
Payment method: Debit Card Payment Slip
Date of receipt by UKBA: 15/01/2014 (Royal Mail Tracking)
Date of acknowledgment: 28/01/2014
Date of debit or clearance of fees: 28/01/2014
Date approval received: 26/03/2014 (letter dated: 18/03/2014)
Date of ceremony: 2/4/2014

[phospholipid]

I hope that my info helps in some way. I really appreciate this forum, it kept me semi sane.

Eligibility criteria: 5 years ILR
Language criteria met: Life in the UK + GESE Grade 5 (CEFR B1 Speaking and Listening only)
Method of application: NCS
Date of application: 14/01/2014
Payment method: Debit Card Payment Slip
Date of receipt by UKBA: 15/01/2014 (Royal Mail Tracking)
Date of acknowledgment: 28/01/2014
Date of debit or clearance of fees: 28/01/2014
Date approval received: 26/03/2014 (letter dated: 18/03/2014)
Date of ceremony: 2/4/2014

Congratulations

[JPB]

Hi
Your right to contact them because you need confirmation of payment. When you purchase any transaction you need a receipt or acknowledgment of your payment. So please you can request for it. I hve seen some people on the forum didn't get the acknowledgment letter and they say it's normal but follow your heart. good luck to you and hope u get the brown envelope too.

[ade2012]

Eligibility criteria: 10 yrs + ILR 3 yrs + TS10 conviction in Dec 2010
Language criteria met : UK MSc Degree + LIfe in the UK
Method of application: NCS
Date of application: 23/01/2014
Payment method: Credit Card
Date of receipt by UKBA: 27/01/2014
Date of aknowlegment: 07/2/2014
Date of debit or clearance of fees: 06/02/2014)
Date approval received: 22/03/2014 (dated 12/03/2014)
Date of ceremony: 25/03/2014

Thanks Specially Amber.

[hina zaheer]

Congratulations for new approvals but I have noticed that applicants who apply through NCS got there invitation letter along with there approval letter.I send my application through post still waiting for my ceremony letter.

[mirna]

Congratulations for new approvals but I have noticed that applicants who apply through NCS got there invitation letter along with there approval letter.I send my application through post still waiting for my ceremony letter.

Hina what letter are u wainting? Once youre application is approuved you call ur council and arrange a date for ceremony. Correct me if i am wrong!

[speaker40]

[quote="speaker40"]Eligibility criteria: Spouse of British Citizen
Language criteria met : UK degree + LIUK Test
Method of application: NCS Bexley
Date of application: 23/01/2014
Payment method: Credit Card
Date of receipt by UKBA: 24.01.2014
Date of aknowlegment: TBA
Date of debit or clearance of fees: balance dropped today (03.02.14)
Date approval received: 27h March
Date of ceremony: 14th April

My wait is over Ahamdulilah rec'd my approval and the council invitation letter today.

goodluc to all those waiting

thanks to all the seniors and mod's

[dr_me]

Congratulations for new approvals but I have noticed that applicants who apply through NCS got there invitation letter along with there approval letter.I send my application through post still waiting for my ceremony letter.

Hina what letter are u wainting? Once youre application is approuved you call ur council and arrange a date for ceremony. Correct me if i am wrong!

She is waiting for an invitation letter to attend the ceremony which is sent by the H.O after return of documents. For those who are not aware there are two kind of letters by HO. For NCS applicants one will get approval + invitation in the same letter advising to contact the LA, however for postal applicants since they send their original documents, firstly the documents are returned with a letter stating that your application is successful and you should expect to get an invitation letter within 2weeks and do not contact LA until you receive your invitation letter. That invitation letter in most of the cases is issued a day after the first letter and is despatched at the same time to the applicant whereas the certificate is despatched to the Council which will then send another letter specifying the date to attend the ceremony.
This can cause a delay of up to 2weeks and in some cases people have reported to have not received the invitation letter after two weeks mostly due to Royal Mail.
Anyhow to Hina Zaheer hopefully it will arrive by the end of this week or alternatively you can check with your council if they have received your certificate, if they have you can explain the situation as you want to have your ceremony urgently due to travel plans. In almost all of the cases they will ask for the invitation letter may be in your case the other letter may be acceptable as an exception.

[unsure]

HO has just given me the new telephone number as naturalization call department is moved to Sheffield.
0300 123 2253

Hi,

Everytime I call this number and press option 1 it keeps ringing and ringing and no answer????

[phospholipid]

@unsure

just hold the line while it rings, it takes a while.

[jmehmud]

Hi Milan69!

I have got my approval letter today and you dont worry now because I hope your brown letter will be some where in Royal Mail van and soon you will get it now.

Approval letter dated 22/03/2014
Received 27/03/2014

Now according to the letter I have to book ceremony myself within 21 days. They did not mention anything about 2nd letter and it is clearly written that I have to arrange ceremony.

This forum is no doubt very helpful.

I tell you my personal experience. I was waiting for this letter everyday very anxiously since I applied but today was the first time I did not even think about the brown envelope and when I came back from work then found this letter on my desk. Opened the letter with shivering hands . The more you wait for the letter desperately, the more it takes time so my friends stop thinking and you will get it.

My support to this forum will remain.

[statician]

Eligibility criteria: spouse of BC
Language criteria met : UK degree + LIUK test
Method of application: NCS Brent
Date of application: 22.01.2014
Payment method: Cheque
Date of receipt by UKBA: 23.01.2014
Date of aknowlegment: 06.02.2014 dated (02.02.2014)
Date of debit or clearance of fees: 06.02.2014
Date approval received: 27th March 2014 dated (20th March 2014)
Date of ceremony: 24th April 2014

[jmehmud]

Updated Timeline.

Eligibility criteria: Spouse to BC (After 2 year of ILR I have applied for Naturalization ... there is no specific reason for this delay)
Language criteria: B1 Cert
Current nationality: Pakistani
Method of application: NCS Leeds
Council name if NCS used: Leeds
Date of application: 29/01/2014
Payment method: CC
Date of receipt by UKBA: 30/01/2014
Date of aknowlegment: 08/02/2014 (Letter on date: 05/02/2014)
Date of debit or clearance of fees: 05/01/2014
Date approval received: 27/03/2014 (Dated 22/03/2014)
Date of ceremony: Waiting

I am surprised, most of the people have got their ceremony letter along with approval but in my letter HO asked me to arrange a ceremony yourself. Anybody know why?

[hina zaheer]

Mirna thanks for your concern im talking a about my ceremony invitation letter which dr_me expalined in detail.And special thanks dr_me for such detailed information and im looking forward to phone my council tomorrow hope ill b able to get a ceremony date.

[hina zaheer]

Updated Timeline.

Eligibility criteria: Spouse to BC (After 2 year of ILR I have applied for Naturalization ... there is no specific reason for this delay)
Language criteria: B1 Cert
Current nationality: Pakistani
Method of application: NCS Leeds
Council name if NCS used: Leeds
Date of application: 29/01/2014
Payment method: CC
Date of receipt by UKBA: 30/01/2014
Date of aknowlegment: 08/02/2014 (Letter on date: 05/02/2014)
Date of debit or clearance of fees: 05/01/2014
Date approval received: 27/03/2014 (Dated 22/03/2014)
Date of ceremony: Waiting
I am surprised, most of the people have got their ceremony letter along with approval but in my letter HO asked me to arrange a ceremony yourself. Anybody know why?

Many many congratulations jasim n lucky u book ur ceremony asap lol

[jmehmud]

Thanks Hina. Yah will do tomorrow.

[amitc]

Received approval letter today. Called my council and arranged ceremony on 23rd April.

Eligibility criteria: 2 yrs + 3 yrs + 1 yr ILR
Language criteria met : LiUK+UK degree
Current nationality: Indian
Method of application: NCS
Council name if NCS used: Redbridge
Date of application: 27-01-14
Payment method CC/DC, Personal cheque, Bankers cheque etc: Credit card
Date of receipt by UKBA: 28-01-14
Date of acknowledgment:
Date of debit or clearance of fees: 6-2-14
Date approval received: 27-03-14 (letter dated on 19-03-14)
Date of ceremony: 23-04-14

good luck for those waiting..