November 2013 - Naturalization Application Timeline

[InUkOnHsmp]

I glued my picture to the referee section, this was fine with the NCS.

HTH

[missnorush]

missnorush,

We are in the same boat... We have to be patient; the rush in October due to the rule change is what has caused the delay.

Once the October applications have been cleared I'm sure things will get back to normal.

Yes, quite right MattSule - patience is definitely required and the hope that the new year brings speedy processing for all of us!

[missnorush]

I was advised by the NCS Wandsworth officer when I applied that my application would take longer due to the October backlog, but still wasn't expecting it to be 6 weeks later with still no fees debited, or acknowledgement letter received!

There are applicants on 24th/25th Oct who's fees neither yet deducted nor application acknowledged.. so at this moment we have delay of at least 8/9 weeks and every chance that many applications will see decision taking 6 months.

On the positive side, there won't be any bank/public holidays until second half of April after first week of Jan, meaning for next 3 months there will be lot of work (Hopefully) by Nationality team. I'd say roughly expect your application to be acknowledged towards the end of Jan/early Feb... If you get it earlier, consider yoursef lucky in chaos!!

Thanks p2kin - good point about no more public holidays! With all the wonderfully helpful information on this forum I've now set my expectations for an end of Jan acknowledgement and (fingers crossed) end of Feb approval. Probably double the time I was expecting, but I've been luckily with all my previous visa applications being quick so it's my turn to wait this time.

[innocentdevil]

i applied on 4th of November, no deductions have been made and no letter either.

[p2kin]

i applied on 4th of November, no deductions have been made and no letter either.

I think Nov (or possibly new rule) applicants should expect movement from 2nd week of Jan (13th onwanrds).. still 25th Oct going on..

[kurly1000]

Does anyone know how long it is currently taking from the time of application of BC with a NCS? I applied 6 December 2013 but have not yet even got a receipt confirmation nor have has my bank account been debited!

M

[jotter]

Does anyone know how long it is currently taking from the time of application of BC with a NCS? I applied 6 December 2013 but have not yet even got a receipt confirmation nor have has my bank account been debited!

You've got a while to wait. The HO is still on October applications. See here. Realistically, for a December 6th application, check back in February.

[p2kin]

Does anyone know how long it is currently taking from the time of application of BC with a NCS? I applied 6 December 2013 but have not yet even got a receipt confirmation nor have has my bank account been debited!

You've got a while to wait. The HO is still on October applications. See here. Realistically, for a December 6th application, check back in February.

Hey Jotter, First of all thank you very much for compiling such fine statistics... If it's not too much, can I ask for bit more in the stats? How about having an extra column for percentage of payment taken?

So, say e.g

WEEK = No of APPS (PAYMENT TAKEN) (APPROVED)
Oct 28-Nov 3 = 14 (7%) (7%)


Also, is there any chance on finding out :
1. average time taken for payment to be taken from date of application
2. average time taken for approval from payment taken date
3. average time taken for approval from application date

With all these, stats, may of such questions will be automatically answered.

I'd be happy to help you, let me know if I can do something to help you..

[jotter]

Hi p2kin,

Regarding payment taken, I have been charting this for October in a separate table in the October timelines topic. You can find it here. Once fee deductions start for November I'll create a November table here.

The thing to bear in mind with averages like that is that you can have a fairly small sample of approvals for a week, and then someone posts to say that they got approval for an application from 6-8 months ago and that can throw the average right out and give posters the wrong idea about how long its taking for 'most' applications. For this reason I've preferred just to give an indication about which day the HO seems to be 'up to' for payments and approvals and posters can draw their own conclusions from that. e.g. currently for approvals they seem to be mostly working on apps received between Oct 17-23, while for payments taken they are on apps received on Oct 25. This is of course a very unusual scenario caused by the huge number of applications packed into the final pre-KOLL-change week. Typically the time between payments and approvals is around 3-4 weeks.

If you would still like to post something with averages, I'm happy to send you the raw data I've collected if you ping me a PM.

[p2kin]

If you would still like to post something with averages, I'm happy to send you the raw data I've collected if you ping me a PM.

sent you PM..

looks like I can't upload a xls/csv/txt/html file with upload attachment below. you'll have to send me on my email address that I sent to you in PM.

[Juan_C]

Eligibility criteria: Work Permit 5 years + 1 year ILR
Method of application: NCS
Date of application: 25/11/13
Date of receipt by UKBA: 27/11/13
Date of acknowledgement : Not yet
Date of debit of fees: Not yet
Date of approval: Not yet
Date of Ceremony: Not yet

I have heard that there have being a lot of delays, but I have not read any case like mine. I submited the paperwork the 25th of Nov 2013 (6 weeks after this and my case has not being acknowledge yet)
Has anybody applied around the same time and received acknowledgement?

[p2kin]

Eligibility criteria: Work Permit 5 years + 1 year ILR
Method of application: NCS
Date of application: 25/11/13
Date of receipt by UKBA: 27/11/13
Date of acknowledgement : Not yet
Date of debit of fees: Not yet
Date of approval: Not yet
Date of Ceremony: Not yet

I have heard that there have being a lot of delays, but I have not read any case like mine. I submited the paperwork the 25th of Nov 2013 (6 weeks after this and my case has not being acknowledge yet)
Has anybody applied around the same time and received acknowledgement?

There are people still who applied on 25th Oct (yes Oct) & still waiting for payment to be taken/acknowledgement. For you, realistically speaking... don't expect anything before Feb.

Keep following Oct timeline..

[10.5]

Eligibility criteria: 5 Years Ancestry + 1 year ILR
Language criteria met: New Zealand Passport
Method of application: NCS Wandsworth
Date of application: 01/11/2013
Date of receipt by UKBA: 04/11/2013
Date of aknowlegment:
Date of debit or clearance of fees: Account dropped 09/01/2014. Confirmed with bank it was £874 for application
Date approval received:
Date of ceremony:

[jotter]

Date of debit or clearance of fees: Account dropped 09/01/2014. Confirmed with bank it was £874 for application

Good to hear. This is the first news that November applications are now being looked at (though admittedly there are still a lot of late-Oct applications to get through).

[p2kin]

Date of debit or clearance of fees: Account dropped 09/01/2014. Confirmed with bank it was £874 for application

Good to hear. This is the first news that November applications are now being looked at (though admittedly there are still a lot of late-Oct applications to get through).

I'm just hoping that this is not sporadic case like Pqek and they are really pulling a bunch.... so I will wait for another 3-4 days to see consistency for Nov people...

[innocentdevil]

may be random as nowt out of my account yet. applied on 4th so they may be dealing with 1st november applications ?

[TTOE]

I still take this as a positive sign, knowing fully well based on Nov postings, there are not a lot applications in Nov & Dec compare to week starting 20/10/2013 alone....good news for me.

[p2kin]

I still take this as a positive sign, knowing fully well based on Nov postings, there are not a lot applications in Nov & Dec compare to week starting 20/10/2013 alone....good news for me.

Not as many as Oct.. but there are no. of applications... just that people haven't posted their timeline yet... let the payment processing begin.. and you'll see more & more people posting timeline...

[J.sohi]

Method of application: self
Date of application: 04/11/2013
Date of receipt by UKBA: 05/11/2013
Date of aknowlegment: waiting
Date of debit or clearance of fees: Account dropped 09/01/2014. Confirmed with bank it was £874 for application
Date approval received:
Date of ceremony :

[TTOE]

I still take this as a positive sign, knowing fully well based on Nov postings, there are not a lot applications in Nov & Dec compare to week starting 20/10/2013 alone....good news for me.

Not as many as Oct.. but there are no. of applications... just that people haven't posted their timeline yet... let the payment processing begin.. and you'll see more & more people posting timeline...

True, I completely agree.

[J.sohi]

I still take this as a positive sign, knowing fully well based on Nov postings, there are not a lot applications in Nov & Dec compare to week starting 20/10/2013 alone....good news for me.

Not as many as Oct.. but there are no. of applications... just that people haven't posted their timeline yet... let the payment processing begin.. and you'll see more & more people posting timeline...

True, I completely agree.

that is true I am watching since I applied from 4th nov. 2013. but I was silent .today when fee is deducted then I post my timeline

[t0mmy]

Nice to see some movement here. In any case the nov/dec applications would be considerably less than the oct applications.

[asadulla]

Eligibility criteria: HSMP 3 years+ Tier 1 2 years + 1 year ILR (Applied for myself, wife and 2 childern.)
Method of application: NCS - Bolton
Date of application: 11/11/13
Date of receipt by UKBA: 12/11/13
Date of acknowledgement : Not yet
Date of debit of fees: Payment drawn from my account on 11/01/14.
Date of Acknowledgment received: 15/01/2014 (dated 11/01/2014)
Date of approval: Not yet
Date of Ceremony: Not yet

[supajamiro]

Eligibility criteria: 5 Years EEA + 1 year ILR
Language criteria met: 22/10/2013
Method of application: NCS Camden
Date of application: 04/11/2013
Date of receipt by UKBA: 05/11/2013
Date of aknowlegment:
Date of debit or clearance of fees: Account dropped 10/01/2014. Confirmed with bank it was £874 for application
Date approval received:
Date of ceremony:

[758_SLUDeM]

Eligibility criteria: 5 Years + 1 year ILR
Language criteria met: Not Required
Method of application: NCS Redbridge
Date of application: 29/11/2013
Date of receipt by UKBA: 03/12/2013
Date of aknowlegment Rec'd: 20/01/2014 Dated:-16/01/2014
Date of debit or clearance of fees: 16/01/2014(Update)
Date approval received:Awaiting
Date of ceremony:Awaiting