General discussion after BC and Passport application

Update: Called HO today to get a feeback 'cos i told them i was travelling for more than 2 month and i needed an update. The lovely gentleman i spoke to said a decision had been made for my family and I last week and my decision letter should be with me in few weeks time or so.. Now i am not sure which is worse... Waiting for decision to be made or waiting for the post to come......

I had my passport interview earlier today and I believed it went alright even though the woman never mentioned when I should be expecting my passport at the end of the interview.She had me sign the signature pad and said thats it. I have already requested for email update and hoping I get positive update by tomorrow. Will keep you guys up to date. Cheers

jonnyb wrote:Interesting news from at least one November application. It turns out mine was approved on 23 January, but the invitation letter never reached me. The first I heard was a letter I got from Southwark council wondering why I hadn't attended a ceremony yet.

Yes, I'm afraid I could be under the same situation, also applied through Southwark NCS (over 4 months ago). I asked about this somewhere in this board, and the answer was not to worry because if the approval letter is lost, I will receive the one from the council inviting me to the ceremony. However it seems this is not always the case, not all councils send invitation letters. At least I see Southwark council checks who didn't attend any ceremony and then send letters, but other councils might not do that, and then after 90 days the certificate expires, and basically you're screwed.

So I think I'll give them a call next Monday, only thing I want to be sure is if the letter was or wasn't sent yet.

AlexS wrote:So I think I'll give them a call next Monday, only thing I want to be sure is if the letter was or wasn't sent yet.

Yeah, probably a good idea. It's possible yours has gone astray too. For such an important thing as citizenship, the system of notifications seems a little flimsy. A couple of letters get lost and you end up screwed.

Hopefully yours is all ready and waiting. Good luck!

Having read some of the posts on this thread, I must say well done to all those people who have acquired their "brown envelope" with the good news.

I am part of the "February club." Every day I anxiously check the post for my envelope too. Its pathetic how much time I spend thinking of when will it come.

I know this process requires endless amounts of patience and I have not called the HO once. I am sure they are busy people and I will try my utmost to wait 6 months before I call them. Hopefully it will not be that long.

Anyone else in the February club?

I am from the "February club" Applied on the 14.02 and waiting too. I understand your fillings very well because I fill absolutely the same.

I wonder why UKBA cannot create an online system when applicants can get a live update of their application using their reference number. I am sure it will save them a lot of hassles as well as we applicants a lot of stress and rude reply

[quote="oscar22"]Blackhole
HANDYMAN

Hi Guys

Any good news yet ?[/quote]

Hi mate
No news from me. I am not checking this website as frequent as before, cos found it stressful to think about it a lot and keep checking my post.
I called them 10 days ago and they said under consideration, and didn't say anything more, none we can do mate, just relax everyone! Particularly November club!

oscar22 wrote:Blackhole
HANDYMAN

Hi Guys

Any good news yet ?

hi oscar22

same as Handyman

nothing at all

and again trying to get busy with other things and forget about this stressful matter

good luck to all

mrworld9 wrote:I had my passport interview earlier today and I believed it went alright even though the woman never mentioned when I should be expecting my passport at the end of the interview.She had me sign the signature pad and said thats it. I have already requested for email update and hoping I get positive update by tomorrow. Will keep you guys up to date. Cheers

Any update on your case? thanks.

rashidawan wrote:Any update on your case? thanks.

Hi rashidawan. If i remember correctly i think you had issue where you put date on application before your actual ceremony took place. If you don't mind can i ask what happened in the end ? Did you get your passport ?

cricinfo wrote:

rashidawan wrote:Any update on your case? thanks.

Hi rashidawan. If i remember correctly i think you had issue where you put date on application before your actual ceremony took place. If you don't mind can i ask what happened in the end ? Did you get your passport ?

Hi cricinfo (I love this website by the way),
Impressed with your memory. Yes, I had my interview in Reading office today. It was quite a rigorous interview and I was not expecting some of the questions. It probably lasted around 30 minutes. In the end I signed the pad and now waiting from them to hear.

On your side, I saw your post regarding your passport update.. Congratulations on that. Hopefully you will receive your passport safely.
I also requested an update through direct.gov.uk link but when I requested it last time (when I was waiting for my interview) they said that I entered the wrong application number. Is the application number not same as reference number.

rashidawan wrote:

cricinfo wrote:

rashidawan wrote:Any update on your case? thanks.

Hi rashidawan. If i remember correctly i think you had issue where you put date on application before your actual ceremony took place. If you don't mind can i ask what happened in the end ? Did you get your passport ?

Hi cricinfo (I love this website by the way),
Impressed with your memory. Yes, I had my interview in Reading office today. It was quite a rigorous interview and I was not expecting some of the questions. It probably lasted around 30 minutes. In the end I signed the pad and now waiting from them to hear.

On your side, I saw your post regarding your passport update.. Congratulations on that. Hopefully you will receive your passport safely.
I also requested an update through direct.gov.uk link but when I requested it last time (when I was waiting for my interview) they said that I entered the wrong application number. Is the application number not same as reference number.

If you applied through Post office Check and send service then barcode on original application form is NOT the application reference number. If you have got post office receipt then the reference number will be the second number under application ref where it says barcode. That barcode is your application reference number.

Just called HO about my BC application (wanted to check progress). I sad I have not received an acknowledgement letter. I was told my case wasn't in the system I'm going to wait a new acknowledgement letter now.

I sent my application via NCS early January until now I haven't receive the approval letter. I got so many things planned and need to travel abroad for couple of months but the application is holding me back.

I called last week the gentleman only told me he can see my profile on the system but didn't tell me the status, I wonder if I should call again to check otherwise it will affect my May journey.

Hi Nov Club

Specially Alex, Oscar22, Blackhole, Sichuantoufu!

I came home today, seen a brown envelop sitting on the floor, tried not to be so excited as it could be something else!! I sat down for 15 min calmly then opened it!
Blackhole & Sichuantoufu, I think we have to drink in Tames path now!

It is eventually over, I can’t say I am dying in joy, but I must confess it is a relief.
Thanks everyone for posting, and good luck to all.

Cheers

Handyman

HANDYMAN wrote:Hi Nov Club

Specially Alex, Oscar22, Blackhole, Sichuantoufu!

I came home today, seen a brown envelop sitting on the floor, tried not to be so excited as it could be something else!! I sat down for 15 min calmly then opened it!
Blackhole & Sichuantoufu, I think we have to drink in Tames path now!

It is eventually over, I can’t say I am dying in joy, but I must confess it is a relief.
Thanks everyone for posting, and good luck to all.

Cheers

Handyman

Congratulations. That was a long wait and you fully deserve to celebrate. I hope Blackhole gets his approval soon.

I applied through Check and Send Bedford Post Office on 10/03/12 and had my interview on 10/04/12 and received my passport on 12/04/12. Finally all over - good luck to all who are still waiting!

cherryplum wrote:I applied through Check and Send Bedford Post Office on 10/03/12 and had my interview on 10/04/12 and received my passport on 12/04/12. Finally all over - good luck to all who are still waiting!

Congratulations cherryplum

HANDYMAN wrote:Hi Nov Club

Specially Alex, Oscar22, Blackhole, Sichuantoufu!

I came home today, seen a brown envelop sitting on the floor, tried not to be so excited as it could be something else!! I sat down for 15 min calmly then opened it!
Blackhole & Sichuantoufu, I think we have to drink in Tames path now!

It is eventually over, I can’t say I am dying in joy, but I must confess it is a relief.
Thanks everyone for posting, and good luck to all.

Cheers

Handyman

Handyman, congrats!

You mentioned in the timeline thread that you sent a letter late March asking for an update...what exactly did you ask them and who did you send it to? I might do the same because it seems like it might have worked for you.

Thanks

[quote="goonzilla"

Handyman, congrats!

You mentioned in the timeline thread that you sent a letter late March asking for an update...what exactly did you ask them and who did you send it to? I might do the same because it seems like it might have worked for you.

Thanks[/quote]

Hi goonzilla

Address is on top of acknowledge letter.

I told them as the people in Dec and Jan receiving their approval, as nov applicant, I was
worried that my approval letter might have been last, and give me an update if possible.

Hope it helps
Good luck

Handyman

Any this thread be made a sticky to stop people talking in the time line thread?

I received the citizenship approval letter on 30 March (dated 26 March). I have been trying to book a ceremony at Glasgow City Council for 3 weeks and couldn´t get an appointment!

First time I rang them, they asked me to leave my reference number and contact details and said they would call me in a couple of weeks. They cann´t book me in right away.

I waited for two weeks for the phone call which never arrived. I rang them again and was told to be patient and they would ring me shortly. Waited for a few days and called them again. I insisted to find out where I was in the queque. Then they gave me a date on 2 May.

But I will be out of the country for two weeks and couldn´t make 2 May. I asked to book the next available date. They told me that they could not book the next available date until all the places on 2 May are taken! They asked me to wait for their phone call again once the next date will be available for booking!

I can not believe how ridiculous this is. Why they make such a simple thing so complicated? It should be one phone call and book a date. That simple.

I am concerned of the 3-month time during which I have to do the ceremony. I'm a busy guy and my calendar is often fully booked.

I ´m thinking to change to a nearby council. Anybody has done this before? Who shall I ask to post my citizenship certificate to the nearby council I wish to do the ceremony?

anear wrote:I received the citizenship approval letter on 30 March (dated 26 March). I have been trying to book a ceremony at Glasgow City Council for 3 weeks and couldn´t get an appointment!

First time I rang them, they asked me to leave my reference number and contact details and said they would call me in a couple of weeks. They cann´t book me in right away.

I waited for two weeks for the phone call which never arrived. I rang them again and was told to be patient and they would ring me shortly. Waited for a few days and called them again. I insisted to find out where I was in the queque. Then they gave me a date on 2 May.

But I will be out of the country for two weeks and couldn´t make 2 May. I asked to book the next available date. They told me that they could not book the next available date until all the places on 2 May are taken! They asked me to wait for their phone call again once the next date will be available for booking!

I can not believe how ridiculous this is. Why they make such a simple thing so complicated? It should be one phone call and book a date. That simple.

I am concerned of the 3-month time during which I have to do the ceremony. I'm a busy guy and my calendar is often fully booked.

I ´m thinking to change to a nearby council. Anybody has done this before? Who shall I ask to post my citizenship certificate to the nearby council I wish to do the ceremony?

You can try other councils nearby your place. It is a very common thing which people do due to busy schedules of local councils.

Application has just made it on to the system it has taken them one month from receipt so that is where the first month goes guy said some days they are getting 1500 application a day