General Discussion During Naturalisation Application Process

[User1982]

The Home Office appears to have been stamping a date of 31 October 2015 on approvals received this week (including mine).

The 31 October 2015 was a Saturday. This leads to two extraordinary conclusions:

1. the Home Office is actually processing applications on the weekend, or
2. the Home Office is falsifying approval dates

It does seem suspicious that some people receive their approval letters a few days after the dated approval, while others receive their letter weeks later.

I also have a date on the acknowledgement letter that falls in the weekend. I think its great that the HO is working in weekends now. (about time as well).
But saying that, in past my family members got their letter within a week, I was a bit surprised that now it takes a month to acknowledge.

[User1982]

I applied for naturalization back in October 2015. Got my bio-metric done.
Although HO try to answer all applications within 6 months, if it will take longer then they will let us know.
I received a letter from HO stating, for my application they already have said 'due to complex issues, it will take longer than 6 months'.
It hasn't even been a month since application date and they already are saying this?!?

Has anyone else received such letter?

[HelloitsmeAbby]

I applied for naturalization back in October 2015. Got my bio-metric done.
Although HO try to answer all applications within 6 months, if it will take longer then they will let us know.
I received a letter from HO stating, for my application they already have said 'due to complex issues, it will take longer than 6 months'.
It hasn't even been a month since application date and they already are saying this?!?

Has anyone else received such letter?

This letter is used mostly to give them extra time.
With new changes brought in on 12th November, most likely there was an influx in applications in October and this is why!

Please do be patient. There's still many of waiting from May/June/July

[padhme]

^ I'm waiting from April myself and have received (actually not directly, but sent to my MP) a letter saying they'll take more than 6 months due to indicators in my immigration history etcetc. Which I have seen many other members receive as well even though we all have clean immigration histories and straightforward applications. Does anyone know of anyone who has received an approval after receiving an extension letter like that, and if so after how long? The fact that they're giving themselves indefinite more time is really making me very anxious...

[swax17]

Quick question guys. I applied on October and done my biometric. How can I change my address as I moved to a new house?? Thanks

[ficklepickle123]

Quick question guys. I applied on October and done my biometric. How can I change my address as I moved to a new house?? Thanks

https://eforms.homeoffice.gov.uk/outrea ... pdate.ofml

[swax17]

Quick question guys. I applied on October and done my biometric. How can I change my address as I moved to a new house?? Thanks

https://eforms.homeoffice.gov.uk/outrea ... pdate.ofml

do I just fill the form or u need send them a letter alswell thanks

[Baz1313]

Help,

I applied for naturalisation last month and changed my job today. Do I need to inform HO? What's the procedure to deal with this? Cheers

[chokaschoza]

Quick question guys. I applied on October and done my biometric. How can I change my address as I moved to a new house?? Thanks

https://eforms.homeoffice.gov.uk/outrea ... pdate.ofml

do I just fill the form or u need send them a letter alswell thanks

Fill form, send them a letter on the address provided on your NCS receipt (assuming you sent through NCS) and set-up mail redirection with Post office so that all your mails from previous address are sent to the new one. Hope this helps!

[surfer123]

Hi,

In above thread, its mentioned there was some change in application for naturalisation since November, so applications were flooding in October, what was the change?

I have few questions about my personal application:

I got my ILR in mid june 2015 through tier 1 general route. I have been out of UK since then for 6.5 weeks. when is the earliest I could apply for Naturalisation? Can I make the application already when I complete 9 months stay leaving out this 6.5 weeks or can I make the application in 11 th month or only after 12 months is complete i.e in end of june 2016?

my husband has already moved to US for work purpose, and I am staying here to get the British passport. it is really difficult with our relationship, so I would like to move with him ASAP, is there any loop hole, that I could leave earlier instead of staying for 9 months, I have now completed 5.5 months.

how long does it take since naturalisation application until approval ?

[CR001]

only after 12 months is complete i.e in end of june 2016? You have to hold ILR for a full 12 months before applying for citizenship, unless you are married to a British Citizen. What nationality is your husband?

is there any loop hole, that I could leave earlier instead of staying for 9 months Nope, there is no loophole in nationality applications. You will qualify to apply if you meet all the standard requirements in June 2016. Absence in the final 12 months should not be more than 90 days.

how long does it take since naturalisation application until approval ? It can take a couple of months but sometimes it takes 6 months or longer.

[habibre]

I have applied for naturalisation for myself and my spouse on November 06 2015 on Tier 1 G plus 1 year ILR. We have received biometric enrolment letter for my wife only along acknowledgement letter dated 03 December for both the applications.

Should I wait for the letter?

[seagul]

UPDATE

Eligibility criteria: 10 years + ILR
Language criteria met: UK Degree
Method of application: Wandsworth NCS plus Passport
Date of application: 07/12/2015
Payment method: Credit Card
Date of receipt by UKBA: 08/12/2015
Date of acknowledgement: 16/12/2015 (Dated 11/12/2015)
Date money gone off account (AN): 11/12/2015
Date money gone off account (Passport):
Date of letter requesting biometrics: 16/12/2015 (Dated 11/12/2015)
Biometrics done: 16/12/2015
Date of approval:
Date of ceremony:
Date applied for passports: 07/12/2015
Date passports received:

Hi fieldrive,
Your timeline is excellent. Does this Wandsworth ncs give all original documents returned on same day of appointment and are they professional in their service? Should the applicant bring photocopies too of the required documents??

[solospy]

UPDATE

Eligibility criteria: 10 years + ILR
Language criteria met: UK Degree
Method of application: Wandsworth NCS plus Passport
Date of application: 07/12/2015
Payment method: Credit Card
Date of receipt by UKBA: 08/12/2015
Date of acknowledgement: 16/12/2015 (Dated 11/12/2015)
Date money gone off account (AN): 11/12/2015
Date money gone off account (Passport):
Date of letter requesting biometrics: 16/12/2015 (Dated 11/12/2015)
Biometrics done: 16/12/2015
Date of approval:
Date of ceremony:
Date applied for passports: 07/12/2015
Date passports received:

Hi fieldrive,
Your timeline is excellent. Does this Wandsworth ncs give all original documents returned on same day of appointment and are they professional in their service? Should the applicant bring photocopies too of the required documents??

Hi Seagul,

Whats wrong with my timeline Infact quicker

Anyways my experience with wandsowrth NCS was very good. They are professional and listen to you as well. They will do all photocopies for you so you just need to bring your originals. They will handover the originals back to you.

[fielddrive]

Hi fieldrive,
Your timeline is excellent. Does this Wandsworth ncs give all original documents returned on same day of appointment and are they professional in their service? Should the applicant bring photocopies too of the required documents??

It is what it is. Noone can claim to do anything that makes the process quicker or slower. Wandsworth folks are very professional and highly recommended.

Hi Seagul,

Whats wrong with my timeline Infact quicker

Anyways my experience with wandsowrth NCS was very good. They are professional and listen to you as well. They will do all photocopies for you so you just need to bring your originals. They will handover the originals back to you.

Yea solospy yours was super quick... but looking at the timelines this year, spouses of British people always have better timelines than the rest of us

good luck!!

[seagul]

Hi fieldrive,
Your timeline is excellent. Does this Wandsworth ncs give all original documents returned on same day of appointment and are they professional in their service? Should the applicant bring photocopies too of the required documents??

It is what it is. Noone can claim to do anything that makes the process quicker or slower. Wandsworth folks are very professional and highly recommended.

Hi Seagul,

Whats wrong with my timeline Infact quicker

Anyways my experience with wandsowrth NCS was very good. They are professional and listen to you as well. They will do all photocopies for you so you just need to bring your originals. They will handover the originals back to you.

Yea solospy yours was super quick... but looking at the timelines this year, spouses of British people always have better timelines than the rest of us

good luck!!

So no need to take any photocopies to them, only originals? 2ndly do they return original BRP & LIUK certificate to applicant too??

[CR001]

So no need to take any photocopies to them, only originals?

Yes

2ndly do they return original BRP & LIUK certificate to applicant too??

Yes to the BRP question and No to the LIUK (they might give you a copy of the LIUK certificate though)

[seagul]

No to the LIUK (they might give you a copy of the LIUK certificate though)

why they not give back original LIUK certificate

2ndly if somebody has UK achieved master degree then will naric/pbs print out will still need? if not then will degree certificate and transcript will be enough??

[CR001]

why they not give back original LIUK certificate

Because you won't need it again once your citizenship is approved.

2ndly if somebody has UK achieved master degree then will naric/pbs print out will still need? if not then will degree certificate and transcript will be enough??

No the UK masters degree should be sufficient to meet the English requirement.

Please continue your queries in your thread that you already have.

[fielddrive]

Question for those who will do joint application (AN + Passport) together:

Which picture will go on the passport, from the biometrics or the printed version we send along with the docs?

[cs95tdg]

Question for those who will do joint application (AN + Passport) together:

Which picture will go on the passport, from the biometrics or the printed version we send along with the docs?

As far as I'm aware its the printed one we submit with the application. I recall asking the question from the NCS, when I was instructed to enter my mobile number under additional information section rather than the field for that in the passport form (I was asked to do this to avoid getting two biometric letters - one for AN & another for Passport, as the one biometric letter is all that's needed to verify identity for both the applications).

I applied through the Brent NCS & Passport pilot service, who were also very helpful & efficient. Looking at those who applied through this pilot scheme (different councils), in October, November & December, there's a clear pattern of quick acknowledgement, biometrics & fee deductions. But it remains to be seen whether any other part of the whole process will end up being more efficient.

[fielddrive]

As far as I'm aware its the printed one we submit with the application. I recall asking the question from the NCS, when I was instructed to enter my mobile number under additional information section rather than the field for that in the passport form (I was asked to do this to avoid getting two biometric letters - one for AN & another for Passport, as the one biometric letter is all that's needed to verify identity for both the applications).

I applied through the Brent NCS & Passport pilot service, who were also very helpful & efficient. Looking at those who applied through this pilot scheme (different councils), in October, November & December, there's a clear pattern of quick acknowledgement, biometrics & fee deductions. But it remains to be seen whether any other part of the whole process will end up being more efficient.

There might be a separate team in Liverpool just dealing with these new joint applications. I hope they approve them just as quick as they have gone through with the admin stuff but xmas period will surely put brakes on the processing speed inadvertently.

[cs95tdg]

There might be a separate team in Liverpool just dealing with these new joint applications. I hope they approve them just as quick as they have gone through with the admin stuff but xmas period will surely put brakes on the processing speed inadvertently.

Yes, agree on both counts. But I'm certainly happy that there is no waiting around for a delayed biometric letter, due to the initial efficiency of this scheme. The holiday period will be relaxing and enjoyable with the ability to travel with no worries around having to check the post.

[seagul]

A new question that if someone has UK master degree and same was shown previously when got ILR then on naturalization form section of English language can the both question be selected that one relating to holding UK degree and second the requirements being met after 28th October, 2013.
Thanks

[fielddrive]

That's exactly what they did during my NCS, they checked both (UK degree+ILR > 2013)