Naturalisation application processing timelines (only)

[Lucas]

Eligibility criteria: Spouse of BC + 1 year ILR
Method of application: NCS Camden
Date of application: 14/10/2013
Date of receipt by UKBA: TBC
Date of debit of fees: 08/11/2013
Date of receipt of acknowledgement: 08/11/2013
Date of receipt of approval: 27/11/2013 Letter dated 18/11/2013
Date of Ceremony: TBC

[rbhatia812]

Eligibility criteria: 1 yr WP + 4 yr Tier 1 + 1 yr ILR
Method of application: NCS Hammersmith
Date of application: 08/10/2013
Date of receipt by UKBA: 10/10/2013
Date of debit of fees: 30/10/2013
Date of receipt of acknowledgement: 01/11/2013
Date of receipt of approval: 26/11/2013 Letter dated 21/11/2013
Date of Ceremony: TBC

Been a relatively silent visitor to these forums, but I thought it best to share my experience with the citizenship application.

All the best to those still waiting. And thanks for all the timeline updates, they have proven very useful.

[Jenny177]

Guys, as far as I can see from the forum, the UKBA has stopped processing applications since 22 October. Only one person who has applied after this date (I think it was around 29) has received an acknowledgment letter. The others are still waiting. Isn't that a bit worrying or maybe the amount of applications sent before 28 is huge? What do you think?

[dr_me]

[quote="Jenny177"]Guys, as far as I can see from the forum, the UKBA has stopped processing applications since 22 October. Only one person who has applied after this date (I think it was around 29) has received an acknowledgment letter. The others are still waiting. Isn't that a bit worrying or maybe the amount of applications sent before 28 is huge? What do

[Jenny177]

Guys, as far as I can see from the forum, the UKBA has stopped processing applications since 22 October. Only one person who has applied after this date (I think it was around 29) has received an acknowledgment letter. The others are still waiting. Isn't that a bit worrying or maybe the amount of applications sent before 28 is huge? What do you think?

Jenny177 That is exactly my thoughts are. I am waiting for 5weeks with no news what so ever. HO was well aware of the rule change so it would be much better to have some arrangements in place, however it seemed that they just ignored it completely and now overwhelmed with the numbers of applications or perhaps is just another excuse of excess applications. No one will ever know.

This is what I am thinking as well. I guess there is no point calling or emailing them because even if they reply they will probably say they are working on older applications. That is a bit annoying, isn't it ...

[annad]

Eligibility criteria: spouse of EEA national who has naturalised as BC.
Language criteria met: CAE certificate (2007)
Current nationality: EEA
Method of application: NCS
Council name if NCS used: South Lanarkshire
Date of application: 29-10-2013
Payment method: CC
Date of receipt by UKBA: waiting
Date of acknowledgment: waiting
Date of debit or clearance of fees: waiting
Date approval received: TBC
Date of ceremony: TBC

[meemyself&I]

My husband's timeline:

Eligibility criteria: 10 years + 1 year ILR
Method of application: SELF (Postal ) Special recorded
Date of application : 14 Oct 2013
Date of receipt by UKBA: 15 Oct 2013 (royal mail)
Date of debit of fees: shown on online statement on 8.11.13
Date of receipt of acknowledgement: 11.11.13
Date of receipt of approval: Anxiously waiting
Date of Ceremony: Eagerly waiting

Fingers crossed now, it won't be long. Quite optimistic that it will come through by the end of this week. Good luck to us all!

[sarvosuper]

I had applied on 18th October and application was received by UKBA on 23/10/2013. Had applied thru a solicitor.

Not heard anything , not even the fees has been debited till now. I am worried .

[rkpktm]

I had applied on 18th October and application was received by UKBA on 23/10/2013. Had applied thru a solicitor.

Not heard anything , not even the fees has been debited till now. I am worried .

Same story, applied on the same date, received the letter today dated 22 Oct.

[rkpktm]

Eligibility criteria: tier 1 + ILR
Method of application: NCS
Date of application : 18 Oct 2013
Date of receipt by UKBA: 21 Oct 2013 (royal mail)
Date of debit of fees: shown on online statement on 25 Nov 2013
Date of receipt of acknowledgement: 27 Nov 2013 (dated 22 Nov 2013)

[Abiindian]

[quote="Jenny177"][quote="dr_me"][quote="Jenny177"]Guys, as far as I can see from the forum, the UKBA has stopped processing applications since 22 October. Only one person who has applied after this date (I think it was around 29) has received an acknowledgment letter. The others are still waiting. Isn't that a bit worrying or maybe the amount of applications sent before 28 is huge? What do you think?[/quote]

Jenny177 That is exactly my thoughts are. I am waiting for 5weeks with no news what so ever. HO was well aware of the rule change so it would be much better to have some arrangements in place, however it seemed that they just ignored it completely and now overwhelmed with the numbers of applications or perhaps is just another excuse of excess applications. No one will ever know.[/quote]

This is what I am thinking as well. I guess there is no point calling or emailing them because even if they reply they will probably say they are working on older applications. That is a bit annoying, isn't it ...

[Abiindian: Agree, I applied on 22nd Oct, reached Liverpool on 24th Oct (as per NCS), but I have a different problem. My payment card is valid till Nov/2013. Hopefully they debit my card by 30th]

[thirdlioness]

I would highly appreciate it if any approved October applicants who USED NCS can clarify my doubts.

Do applicants have a choice of choosing the ceremony date?

Or is the date already decided on the approval letter?

I read in the forum that there is a 2 week window period from receiving the letter to booking the ceremony.

The reason I ask is, I am travelling for work reasons within the country. I am afraid I might get my approval letter with the ceremony date already decided and I might miss the ceremony.

Many thanks again

[Jenny177]

Abiindian, maybe you can contact them and let them know.
About the applications after 22/23 October, I honestly think they have stopped processing them for the moment, that's why most of the people haven't received acknowledgment letters and their accounts haven't been debited yet. The problem is we can't really do anything for the moment except wait patiently :/. I'm also a bit worried and nervous but I think that's quite bad and I'm not doing myself a favour. All of us want our applications to be processed as quickly as possible but they've written on the website that the waiting times may go up to 6 months and there's no point contacting them before that time has passed. Let's hope for the best!

[Alex_11]

Eligibility criteria: Spouse of + 1 year ILR
Method of application: Self
Date of application: 16/11/2013
Date of receipt by UKBA: 18/11/2013
Date of debit of fees: waiting
Date of receipt of acknowledgement: waiting
Date of receipt of approval: waiting
Date of Ceremony: Waiting

After what I read here I don't say anything actually I didn't expect it would take that long time to processing the payment by the way I am not talking about my self I am talking about the people who applied before 28th October but I am disappointed cause I thought they would get case workers who could work on the application been submitted on or after 28th which is the new requirement of kol. Anyway nothing we can do at the moment part from keep calm and patient.

[rize007]

Eligibility criteria: 5 Years (work permit + Tier1 ) + 12months ILR)
Method of application: solicitor
Date of application: 08/10/13 (special)
Date of receipt by UKBA: 09/10/13
Date of acknowledgement : 24/10/13
Date of debit of fees: 25/10/13
Date of approval: waiting
Date of Ceremony: waiting

Don't know why they took so long

[apple02]

Has anybody noticed that the last date for debit of fees is 22/10/13

Nothing from the 23/10/13 they seem to have stopped debiting fees from this date since last friday.

I'm really worried now it has been more than 4 weeks as promised by UKBA

I know. My application was received on the 24th of October. This looks like a loooong wait

[Fairychild]

I would highly appreciate it if any approved October applicants who USED NCS can clarify my doubts.

Do applicants have a choice of choosing the ceremony date?

Or is the date already decided on the approval letter?

I read in the forum that there is a 2 week window period from receiving the letter to booking the ceremony.

The reason I ask is, I am travelling for work reasons within the country. I am afraid I might get my approval letter with the ceremony date already decided and I might miss the ceremony.

Many thanks again

You have to attend a ceremony within 90 days and you can book a private one if you can't attend the scheduled one at your council.

[thirdlioness]

I would highly appreciate it if any approved October applicants who USED NCS can clarify my doubts.
Do applicants have a choice of choosing the ceremony date? Or is the date already decided on the approval letter? I read in the forum that there is a 2 week window period from receiving the letter to booking the ceremony.
The reason I ask is, I am travelling for work reasons within the country. I am afraid I might get my approval letter with the ceremony date already decided and I might miss the ceremony. Many thanks again

You have to attend a ceremony within 90 days and you can book a private one if you can't attend the scheduled one at your council.

Many thanks fairychild, you put my worrying at rest. Thanks again

[Fairychild]

You have to attend a ceremony within 90 days and you can book a private one if you can't attend the scheduled one at your council.

Many thanks fairychild, you put my worrying at rest. Thanks again

I forgot to say - you have to pay extra for the private ceremony. ££

[Scanner]

Eligibilty criteria:3 yrs HSMP + 2 yrs Tier 1 + 1 Year ILR
Method of application: (Post Office) Next day delivery
Date of application: 21/10/2013
Date of receipt by UKBA: 22/10/2013
Date of acknowledgement : 26/11/2013
Date of debit of fees: 25/11/2013
Date of approval: 10/01/2014
Date of Ceremony: 29/01/2014

[navenby]

I would highly appreciate it if any approved October applicants who USED NCS can clarify my doubts.

Do applicants have a choice of choosing the ceremony date?

Or is the date already decided on the approval letter?

I read in the forum that there is a 2 week window period from receiving the letter to booking the ceremony.

The reason I ask is, I am travelling for work reasons within the country. I am afraid I might get my approval letter with the ceremony date already decided and I might miss the ceremony.

Many thanks again

You have 3 months from the date of approval to attend a ceremony. Some authorities also provide an option for a private ceremony which gives much more flexibility in terms of dates:

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/briti ... /ceremony/

"When you receive your invitation to a ceremony, you have 90 days to attend one. Your invitation will include contact details for the local authority that will arrange your ceremony. Ceremonies in the UK are organised by local authorities. They can be held at the register office or town hall, although sometimes special ceremonies are held elsewhere, such as in historic buildings or schools.

Most local authorities arrange group ceremonies for everyone in the local area who is becoming a British citizen at that time. You will usually be able to take two guests with you to the ceremony. Attendance at the ceremony is by invitation only. You should take your invitation with you to the ceremony.

In special circumstances you can arrange a private ceremony. You should discuss your requirements with your local authority. You may have to pay an additional fee to arrange a private ceremony and it will not usually be attended by a dignitary."

[Christianoronaldo]

Waiting since 29/04/2013
Anybody waiting that long?

[tabhar2000]

Waiting since 29/04/2013
Anybody waiting that long?

Yes, My case with family was submitted on 21 May 2013. Not yet any response.

[Amber]

You should both contact your MPs and get them to chase your applications.

[tabhar2000]

Alreayd asked him to get reply form HO on my case.