April 2014 - Naturalisation Application Timeline

[sachpuro]

Hi researcher-01. Thanks for sharing your experience.

This lack of transparency from home office does not help in reducing our stress. However, we can do nothing but wait for the ordeal to end.

And the kind of news that has been floating around regarding passport backlogs makes me worry about even the future steps once our letters arrive. Now it seems they are even blaming the citizenship applications for passport office backlogs. Check out the news here:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... cklog.html

I just hope the brown envelope arrives soon for us with the good news all the subsequent steps go more smoothly. Amen!

[little_brain]

Hi again all, I thought I wouldn't be posting on this particular thread anymore but couldn't keep away. I check it regularly to see who has received the good news who is still waiting, best of luck all.

Hi researcher-01. Thanks for sharing your experience.

This lack of transparency from home office does not help in reducing our stress. However, we can do nothing but wait for the ordeal to end.

And the kind of news that has been floating around regarding passport backlogs makes me worry about even the future steps once our letters arrive. Now it seems they are even blaming the citizenship applications for passport office backlogs. Check out the news here:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... cklog.html

I just hope the brown envelope arrives soon for us with the good news all the subsequent steps go more smoothly. Amen!

I could safely say the "The Dailymail" if renamed could be named "The Dailyhate", "The RightWingHateMonger" or the my favourite "The HateMail". This gutter of a newspaper is doing nothing but furthering the agenda of the likes of BNP and UKIP and working to promote hate against migrants. Now its blaming passport backlog on the migrants because so many were given passports. And, sadly the dimwit chavs won't realize that if the passports were handed last year, or the year before and so on and so forth, they wouldn't need to renew them for FIVE YEARS!!! I am amazed that the likes of Theresa May, Mark Harper (who by the way had an illegal immigrant working as a cleaner in his home....google it) aren't blaming the roadworks or the average speed cameras on the motorways on immigrants, hmmm may be they haven't gotten around to that idea yet.

Forget what "The B***dymail" says mate, keep positive, its like a barking dog that will keep on barking. On the other hand, I can't remember where I read it but people from UKVI have been transferred temporarily to passport side to help clear the backlog. Found the link:
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/201 ... ff-backlog

And another one from the hatemail again:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... y-are.html

GOOD LUCK YOU ALL!!! and BEST WISHES!!!!

[dahveedoff]

Final Update!!!

Eligibility criteria: 2yrs spouse + 9 months ILR (Spouse of British Citizen)
Language criteria met: Life in the UK and Masters Degree
Method of application: NCS
Council name if NCS used: Bexley
Date of application: 24/04/2014
Payment method: Debit card
Date of receipt by UKBA: 25/04/2014
Date acknowledgment received: 10/05/2014
Date of debit or clearance of fees: 07/05/2014
Date of approval received: Called HO yesterday: arrived today dated 03/07/14
Date ceremony invitation letter received: Called council. ceremony to be held end of the month. Awaiting letter
Date of ceremony: TBC

[7r0y]

dahveedoff.

Congrats to you!!!

What did HO tell you yesterday when you called them?

[erdek123]

Hello everyone, thank you all for giving so much useful information.
Application Timeline
Eligibility criteria: ( 2 year spouse visa + 18 months ILR)
Language criteria met : Life in Uk , B1
Method of application: post
Date of application: 23 April 2014
Payment method: Debit card
Date of debit of fees: 1 May 2014
Date of receipt of acknowledgement: 1 May 2014
Date of receipt of approval: Still waiting
Date of Ceremony:...

Almost 2 weeks ago I received from HO my supporting documents back with a letter(Dated 05 June 2014) saying: For your convenience the enclosed documents have been noted and returned to you.The application will be considered on the information that has been recorded. but it may be necessary to ask for them to be returned.

What does this mean??? So they just started processing my application
Now that I got my documents back can I travel, or should I be here? I read here somewhere that that the ceremony can be booked in 90 days time?I am planning to apply fort the British passport after I come back, maybe in September ( hope I receive the approval soon ... )
I will try to call them on Monday...

Congrats to all of you who already got the approval and very good luck to the rest of us!

Hi dion1409,

Has there been any developments about your application? Hope you received your approval so far.
I received exactly the same post as yours. My supporting documents came back with the letter.
I just wanted to find out that is there any difference between your Home office reference number and the reference number on the acknowledge letter? When I checked the documents, I realized that there are differences between the reference numbers on these documents. While my Home Office Reference Number is starting O11... it was written as NFEE1 on the acknowledge letter.If you can check and let me know I will be grateful. Also do you have any middle name?
Also is there anybody else who receives the same letter?
Regards

[haidernchd]

Application Timeline
Eligibility criteria: (3yr spouse of BC)
Method of application: Royal Mail
Date of receipt by UKBA: 10th April 2014
Date of debit of fees: 25th April 2014
Date of receipt of acknowledgement: 30/04/2014
Date of receipt of approval: 9/07/2014
Date of Ceremony: TBC

Other Updates: If you wish to provide interim updates (Payment slip received with acknowledgement for £ 32 more to pay as fee from 06th April increased to £906 not £874 any more. Interim Updates Additional fee deducted from my account 13/05/2014

Received all my documents back with the letter saying your application is successful you will receive invitation letter within two weeks.
Date: Description

[dahveedoff]

Final Update!!!

Eligibility criteria: 2yrs spouse + 9 months ILR (Spouse of British Citizen)
Language criteria met: Life in the UK and Masters Degree
Method of application: NCS
Council name if NCS used: Bexley
Date of application: 24/04/2014
Payment method: Debit card
Date of receipt by UKBA: 25/04/2014
Date acknowledgment received: 10/05/2014
Date of debit or clearance of fees: 07/05/2014
Date of approval received: 10/07/2014 dated 03/07/14
Date ceremony invitation letter received: 12/07/2014
Date of ceremony: 06/08/2014

Thanks to everyone in this forum. You all have been a source of hope and sanity during this long an pointless wait by HO.

[baburo123]

Current nationality:India
Method of application:NCS
Council name if NCS used:Bracknell
Date of application:25-04-2014 (Friday)
Payment method CC/DC, Personal cheque, Bankers cheque etc:Debit card
Date of receipt by UKBA:28/04/2014
Date of aknowlegment:08-05-2014( dated 06-05-2014)
Date of debit or clearance of fees:
Date approval received:waiting
Date of ceremony:30/07/2014

I have received invitation letter from local council, no confirmation from HO yet?

Sent them email and received the reply today saying decision has been made and you letter will soon sent out to you. It also mentioned in the email saying that they don't have liberty to disclose the outcome of the application.

[sachpuro]

Hi all,

Update below with my good news. Received the brown envelope with positive news for both me and my wife. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT. This forum kept my spirits high. I hope the passport application is processed quickly thereafter and this whole process is successfully completed for us soon.

Best of luck to all those who are still waiting for their brown envelope. All I'll say is that don't lose hope.

Please add me to the list. Both me and wife are anxiously waiting for our brown envelope with good news. Wish this ordeal would end soon.

Eligibility criteria: 5 years ILR + 1 year
Language criteria met (UK degree, exempt countries, PBS used documents, NARIC, or B1 test): PBS and NARIC SoC for wife, only PBS for myself.
Current nationality: Indian
Method of application: NCS
Council name if NCS used: Eastleigh
Date of application: 22 April 2014
Payment method CC/DC, Personal cheque, Bankers cheque etc: CC
Date of receipt by UKBA: 24 April 2014
Date of acknowledgement: 30/04/2014
Date approval received: 14/07/2014 (dated 07/07/2014)
Date of ceremony: Called register office and they shared the first available date as 04/08/2014. The lady on phone said they will send the ceremony invite letter which I should receive in 1 week.

[dhanjeet]

Eligibility criteria: 5y - Tier 1 General + 1y ILR
Language criteria met: PBS Printout
Current nationality: Indian
Method of application: NCS
Council name if NCS used: Harrow
Date of application: 04-04-2014
Payment method CC/DC, Personal cheque, Bankers cheque etc: DC
Date of receipt by UKBA: 07-04-2014
Date of aknowlegment:
Date of debit or clearance of fees: 01-05-2014
Date approval received: 14-07-2014
Date of ceremony: 15-07-2014 (Private)

[pithakos]

Still waiting - beginning to feel very disheartened.

Have reattached this as it didn't seem to get added to the update spreadsheet when I posted back in May.
Eligibility criteria: 20 years residency (17 with ILR) and marriage to a British citizen.
Language criteria met (UK degree, exempt countries, PBS used documents, NARIC, or B1 test): Life in the UK test + US passport
Current nationality: American
Method of application: NCS
Council name if NCS used: Lambeth
Date of application: 01/04/2014
Payment method CC/DC, Personal cheque, Bankers cheque etc: CC
Date of receipt by UKBA: 02/04/2014 (as advised by NCS)
Date of aknowlegment: 14/04/2014
Date of debit or clearance of fees: 10/04/2014
Date approval received: Waiting
Date of ceremony: Waiting

I received an email this morning from the Home Office saying:
Dear Pithakos

Having recently received a decision on your application, UK Visas and Immigration would like to ask for your feedback in a short online survey. The aim of this survey is to find out how well we met your needs and how we can improve in the future.


Etc etc. Having received no brown envelope, I raced excitedly to the phone to ring them, only to be told rather dismissively that it was an error. When I asked if she could tell me anything about the current status of my application and any delays that might be affecting my application, she got quite shirty with me and basically told me that they didn't have to tell me anything and she knew nothing about any delays.

So, as I said, feeling pretty sad this morning (and now I know what my eventual survey response will be). Not the first time I've been made to feel unwanted in my adopted home but it's getting old after growing up here, studying here, working here and marrying here.

[kkhan2020]

Final Update!

Hi Folks,

Finally, I received the brown envelope and was ecstatic to read the two golden words - "application approved"

Application Timeline
Eligibility criteria: 5yr Tier 1(General) + 1yr ILR
Method of application: NCS (Islington)
Date of application: 15/04/2014
Date of receipt by UKBA: 16/04/2014
Date of debit of fees: 26/04/2014
Date of receipt of acknowledgement: 03/05/2014 dated 28/04/2014
Date of receipt of approval: 14/07/2014 (dated 07/07/2014)
Date of Ceremony: 28/07/2014

Thanks to all for the support and giving us hope whilst we waited for a decision. Hang on there guys, you will also see the two golden words! Wishing everyone best of luck.

[crazyseat]

THANX TO ALMIGHTY ALLAH....
FINALLYYYYY THE WAIT IS OVERRRRRRRRR....

3 MONTHS OF CONTINOUS WAIT....

Eligibility criteria: 2 Years HSMP + 3 years Tier 1 + 1 year ILR
Language criteria met : LIUK + MASTER'S DEGREE UK
Method of application: NCS
Date of application: 07/04/2014
Payment method: DEBIT CARD
Date of receipt by UKBA: 08/04/2014
Date of acknowledgement:
Date of debit or clearance of fees: 16/04/2014
Date approval received: 18/07/2014 DATED 07/07/14
Date of ceremony: WAITING

THANK YOU EVERYONE HERE FOR SUPPORT...

[Heyjude]

Still waiting - beginning to feel very disheartened.

Have reattached this as it didn't seem to get added to the update spreadsheet when I posted back in May.
Eligibility criteria: 20 years residency (17 with ILR) and marriage to a British citizen.
Language criteria met (UK degree, exempt countries, PBS used documents, NARIC, or B1 test): Life in the UK test + US passport
Current nationality: American
Method of application: NCS
Council name if NCS used: Lambeth
Date of application: 01/04/2014
Payment method CC/DC, Personal cheque, Bankers cheque etc: CC
Date of receipt by UKBA: 02/04/2014 (as advised by NCS)
Date of aknowlegment: 14/04/2014
Date of debit or clearance of fees: 10/04/2014
Date approval received: Waiting
Date of ceremony: Waiting

I received an email this morning from the Home Office saying:
Dear Pithakos

Having recently received a decision on your application, UK Visas and Immigration would like to ask for your feedback in a short online survey. The aim of this survey is to find out how well we met your needs and how we can improve in the future.


Etc etc. Having received no brown envelope, I raced excitedly to the phone to ring them, only to be told rather dismissively that it was an error. When I asked if she could tell me anything about the current status of my application and any delays that might be affecting my application, she got quite shirty with me and basically told me that they didn't have to tell me anything and she knew nothing about any delays.

So, as I said, feeling pretty sad this morning (and now I know what my eventual survey response will be). Not the first time I've been made to feel unwanted in my adopted home but it's getting old after growing up here, studying here, working here and marrying here.

Hi
Don't worry mate:)
I received a same email as u.
And today I received an brown letter as well,
Hope u will get ur one soon

[man4uni]

At last!

Eligibility criteria: 3 Yr + ILR 1 Yr (spouse of British Citizen)
Language criteria met (UK degree, exempt countries, PBS used documents, NARIC, or B1 test): LiUK + NARIC + Degree
Method of application: NCS
Council name if NCS used: Hillingdon
Date of application: 09/04/14
Payment method CC/DC, Personal cheque, Bankers cheque etc: Debit Card
Date of receipt by UKBA: 11/04/14
Date of acknowledgement: 02/05/14
Date of debit or clearance of fees: 29/04/14
Date approval received: 18th Jul 2014 (dated: 9th Jul 2014)
Date of ceremony: 6th Aug 2014

Finally the journey has come to an end!

[Heyjude]

Language criteria met (UK degree, exempt countries, PBS used documents, NARIC, or B1 test):IELTS AND LIFE IN THE UK
Current nationality:
Method of application: ncs
Council name if NCS used: havering
Date of application: 29/04/14
Payment method CC/DC, Personal cheque, Bankers cheque etc: DC
Date of receipt by UKBA: 01/05/14
Date of aknowlegment: 17/05/14
Date of debit or clearance of fees: 08/05/14
Date approval received: 18/07/14(the letter notes as 09/07/14)
Date of ceremony:[/quote]
24/07/14(group ceremony )

[Heyjude]

At last!

Eligibility criteria: 3 Yr + ILR 1 Yr (spouse of British Citizen)
Language criteria met (UK degree, exempt countries, PBS used documents, NARIC, or B1 test): LiUK + NARIC + Degree
Method of application: NCS
Council name if NCS used: Hillingdon
Date of application: 09/04/14
Payment method CC/DC, Personal cheque, Bankers cheque etc: Debit Card
Date of receipt by UKBA: 11/04/14
Date of acknowledgement: 02/05/14
Date of debit or clearance of fees: 29/04/14
Date approval received: 18th Jul 2014 (dated: 9th Jul 2014)
Date of ceremony: 6th Aug 2014

Finally the journey has come to an end!

Hey I got the same date as u (09/07/14 and same as u got the letter today)

[ForumsPK]

It seems we are the only one waiting as everyone is getting their approval letters now.

We had our initial letter approval letter stating to wait for an invitation letter and since then nothing yet

[juansmith007]

Eligibility criteria: EEA 6years working + Life in the UK (had not asked for ILR)
Language criteria met (UK degree, exempt countries, PBS used documents, NARIC, or B1 test): UK degree
Current nationality: France
Method of application: NCS
Council name if NCS used: Islington - London
Date of application: 7 April 2014
Payment method CC/DC, Personal cheque, Bankers cheque etc: Credit Card
Date of receipt by UKBA: 8 April 2014
Date of aknowlegment: 17 April 2014 received on 23 April 2014 (approx.)
Date of debit or clearance of fees: 17 April 2014 (approx.)
Date approval received: waiting
Date of ceremony: waiting

[juansmith007]

Hi, I have been waiting for quite some time now and I wanted to ask some questions about the famous 'brown envelope' - approval letter.

Is the envelope sent by recorded post? Also is it a large envelope, or is it of a similar size to the acknowledgment letter (i have a small postbox!)?

And does the council always send you a separate letter confirming the decision?

Thank you and good luck to everyone.

[sogy]

Hi, I have been waiting for quite some time now and I wanted to ask some questions about the famous 'brown envelope' - approval letter.

Is the envelope sent by recorded post? Also is it a large envelope, or is it of a similar size to the acknowledgment letter (i have a small postbox!)?

And does the council always send you a separate letter confirming the decision?

Thank you and good luck to everyone.

In my case (approved 2 weeks ago):

1. The brown envelope was not large (1/2 sheet of paper size), Royal Mail second class
2. I was expected to call the council myself, which I did, and then they sent me an invitation

[msank]

Important update

Eligibility criteria: 5 years residence,1 year PR
Language criteria met (UK degree, exempt countries, PBS used documents, NARIC, or B1 test): LIUK+ UK MSc
Method of application: NCS
Council name if NCS used: NCS Nottingham
Date of application: 17/04/2014
Payment method CC/DC, Personal cheque, Bankers cheque etc: CC
Date of receipt by UKBA: 22/04/2014
Date of acknowledgment: 02/05/2014 dated 30/04/2014
Date of debit or clearance of fees: 30/04/2014
Date approval received: 21/07/2014 dated 09/07/2014
Date of ceremony:

[ForumsPK]

Just received our approval today as well. Thanks to everyone for their contribution and good luck for those who are waiting.

[ayoubtt]

Just received our approval today as well. Thanks to everyone for their contribution and good luck for those who are waiting.

Congratulations ForumsPK, can you please also tell us what is the date the letter was issued ?

Thanks and once again Congrats.

[msank]

Finale Update

Eligibility criteria: 5 years residence,1 year PR
Language criteria met (UK degree, exempt countries, PBS used documents, NARIC, or B1 test): LIUK+ UK MSc
Method of application: NCS
Council name if NCS used: NCS Nottingham
Date of application: 17/04/2014
Payment method CC/DC, Personal cheque, Bankers cheque etc: CC
Date of receipt by UKBA: 22/04/2014
Date of acknowledgment: 02/05/2014 dated 30/04/2014
Date of debit or clearance of fees: 30/04/2014
Date approval received: 21/07/2014 dated 09/07/2014
Date of ceremony:24/07/2014

Thanks everyone for their support. I really hope who are waiting will get there very soon.