General discussion after BC and Passport application

ana ali wrote:thanks workingmama
you wrote letter to immigration minister. my brother is still waiting for approval letter for last one year what do you think ? will they take into consideration that important issue or they will realize the applicants are facing problem? will they sort out these issues by improving their services as soon as possible

Has your brother called HO and got any update ? It may be the case that your brother's application has been lost or something. He needs to contact HO and then to MP of his constituency to write to HO to process his case asap.

my brother applied through lawyer and his lawyer wrote letter to HO office they said that it would get in the end of march but still no reply yet.......

To be honest I doubt my letter will make much difference. It needs for many people to complain for the powers that be to look at the service. However my letter is a start.

Those that have waited a year should be contacting their MP and asking them to get involved. If your refs were never contacted then I would seriously start thinking you have got stuck in the processing pile, because if they have issues with your application one of the things they would have done first is contact the refs.

I have never seen such a disorganised system and it should not be like this because you ARE paying a large fee and deserve to be treated much better and given proper updates.

I really dont think they contact the refs in every application as they can see them from there passport number if provided

I really dont think they contact the refs in every application as they can see them from there passport number if provided

The refs are supposed to know something about the applicant and if there was an issue with the case then one of the first things they should do while investigating would be to ask information from the refs .

I sign passport photos and forms for people and have acted as a ref on naturalisation forms, but I would only do that if I knew something about the person if they ever called me. I have known some of the people who ask in a professional capacity for 5 or 6 years but I would only sign something if I knew personal info about them and could answer the passport or naturalisation questions. Some people I deal with I actually know nothing about except their name, address despite seeing them on a regular basis in my office and I would refuse to act as a ref for them basically because if I was asked to confirm something I would not be able to answer.

workingmama wrote:To be honest I doubt my letter will make much difference. It needs for many people to complain for the powers that be to look at the service. However my letter is a start.

Those that have waited a year should be contacting their MP and asking them to get involved. If your refs were never contacted then I would seriously start thinking you have got stuck in the processing pile, because if they have issues with your application one of the things they would have done first is contact the refs.

I have never seen such a disorganised system and it should not be like this because you ARE paying a large fee and deserve to be treated much better and given proper updates.

I have waited a year and they give me no updates at all and the only response they give me when I insist is they will put the phone down on me I have contacted my MP and they have been given the same answer "It takes as long as it takes"

airborneally wrote:

workingmama wrote:To be honest I doubt my letter will make much difference. It needs for many people to complain for the powers that be to look at the service. However my letter is a start.

Those that have waited a year should be contacting their MP and asking them to get involved. If your refs were never contacted then I would seriously start thinking you have got stuck in the processing pile, because if they have issues with your application one of the things they would have done first is contact the refs.

I have never seen such a disorganised system and it should not be like this because you ARE paying a large fee and deserve to be treated much better and given proper updates.

I have waited a year and they give me no updates at all and the only response they give me when I insist is they will put the phone down on me I have contacted my MP and they have been given the same answer "It takes as long as it takes"

Sorry about that but they suppose to give you update about your case after six months, as far as I know this is their policy.

Guys, what you do reckon about this website?

workingmama i would like to pick your brain on this........

http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/
http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/n ... ing-277526

There are loads of requests made to UKBA Freedom of Information Team and they have been replying properly.............

Guys, what you do reckon about this website?

workingmama i would like to pick your brain on this........

http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/
http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/n ... ing-277526

There are loads of requests made to UKBA Freedom of Information Team and they have been replying properly.............

Its worth a try but the info you will get wont be much to be honest.
We get info requests where I work and most of the info sent back to people is policy quoting.

One person asked UKBA about applicants que jumping, why some get citizenship in a month and others wait months despite applying before. Answer was that they do supposedly process in date order but some take longer due to requesting more information, which we all know is totally untrue. I know my husband has been asked for nothing thus far.

workingmama wrote:Answer was that they do supposedly process in date order but some take longer due to requesting more information, which we all know is totally untrue. I know my husband has been asked for nothing thus far.

The HO means requesting more information from other governmental agencies and not the applicant i.e. they blame someone else for the delays...

Jambo wrote:

workingmama wrote:Answer was that they do supposedly process in date order but some take longer due to requesting more information, which we all know is totally untrue. I know my husband has been asked for nothing thus far.

The HO means requesting more information from other governmental agencies and not the applicant i.e. they blame someone else for the delays...

In this case UKBA should send a notification to remind other governmental agencies if there is any delays! becasue it is not fair to leave it for long time (more than six months) then remind them!

workingmama wrote:

Guys, what you do reckon about this website?

workingmama i would like to pick your brain on this........

http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/
http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/n ... ing-277526

There are loads of requests made to UKBA Freedom of Information Team and they have been replying properly.............

Its worth a try but the info you will get wont be much to be honest.
We get info requests where I work and most of the info sent back to people is policy quoting.

One person asked UKBA about applicants que jumping, why some get citizenship in a month and others wait months despite applying before. Answer was that they do supposedly process in date order but some take longer due to requesting more information, which we all know is totally untrue. I know my husband has been asked for nothing thus far.

I asked and was told applications are NOT Processed in order and said how was that right and was told that is just the way it is so chasing on the phone seems like a must as things are not far there end

grantring wrote:I asked and was told applications are NOT Processed in order and said how was that right and was told that is just the way it is so chasing on the phone seems like a must as things are not far there end

The Call Centre has no influence on the application so it will not speed up your application if you call.

The Call Centre has no influence on the application so it will not speed up your application if you call.

Thats correct. The guys who answer the phone probably work like a call centre, you call up they say NO, or if they are feeling generous will tap in your details and see what stage its at. And the most likely reason they often give wrong info out is that the system they use to view has not been updated by the caseworker, but they have no influence on your application or are able to speed it up with the exception of adding notes such as new info you have submitted.

workingmama wrote:

The Call Centre has no influence on the application so it will not speed up your application if you call.

Thats correct. The guys who answer the phone probably work like a call centre, you call up they say NO, or if they are feeling generous will tap in your details and see what stage its at. And the most likely reason they often give wrong info out is that the system they use to view has not been updated by the caseworker, but they have no influence on your application or are able to speed it up with the exception of adding notes such as new info you have submitted.

Both incorrect they can send Urgent emails to people to chase up if you request them to and give a good reason. i think the only way to understand the ful process chain would be a freedom of information request and see if they give the info out as we are all just guessing the process line.

dude, go a head and let us know what they come up with. As workingmama mentioned previously most of their replies are rhetoric! They only give you proper reply when ask about numbers i mean statistics.

worth a go as the system as they are running it is not helping anyone apps should be processed in the order they come in if some take longer due to checks then fine but to process at random for £800 Plus is not expectable for a free service for small fee then it would be ok

Both incorrect they can send Urgent emails to people to chase up if you request them to and give a good reason. i think the only way to understand the ful process chain would be a freedom of information request and see if they give the info out as we are all just guessing the process line.

I have read the Freedom of Info request reply that was given to someone who asked how the process worked. They claim form comes in, date stamped, money taken then passed to caseworker (IN DATE ORDER) and then its processed.

I doubt very much they email caseworkers especially not at the request of an applicant unless it was something very critical.

workingmama wrote:

Both incorrect they can send Urgent emails to people to chase up if you request them to and give a good reason. i think the only way to understand the ful process chain would be a freedom of information request and see if they give the info out as we are all just guessing the process line.

I have read the Freedom of Info request reply that was given to someone who asked how the process worked. They claim form comes in, date stamped, money taken then passed to caseworker (IN DATE ORDER) and then its processed.

I doubt very much they email caseworkers especially not at the request of an applicant unless it was something very critical.

So if you think they are done in date order why some take 1 month and others take over?

case in point look at the time line some one just had it processed in 1 month applying 1 month after my wife yet my wifes app has only just made it onto the main system after a chase email from the contact team last week as they said it should be there after 7 weeks so then maybe we need to split it down to nationality?

Why say they are not processed in order?

Someone I know applied in December 2011, waited 5 months, rang to ask for documents to be returned as the needed ID, hoping for the approval decision to come along with the docs. Docs were sent back, but no decision. After 5 months. The wait is still on. How disappointing
Anyone had the same situation? Thanks.

Have talked to my manager regarding in processing timeline inconsistency and refuse to give information in less than 6months period. He is going to talk to our local MP during the meeting scheduled next week.

Don't think a mention to one MP would make a difference but I wanted to take it to someone's attention.

HI,
I recently recieved my Naturalisation approval and Ceremoney to be held on 14th May 2012.
Just want to ask you what documents do i need to send to IPS in addition to the british citizenship certificate???

sheryar.uk wrote:HI,
I recently recieved my Naturalisation approval and Ceremoney to be held on 14th May 2012.
Just want to ask you what documents do i need to send to IPS in addition to the british citizenship certificate???

Congratulations!

Documents you need to submit are:
(a) Completed application form with counter signatures
(b) Two passport size photographs ONLY one of which should be certified by the counter signatory
(c) Your original Certificate of Naturalisation
(d) Your foreign passport(s) (if any)

Azaankhan! Thank you yaar for the information and congratulations to you as well for your approval.

Could you please clarify one more thing...Do i need to send my all foriegn passport, as i came to UK 11 years ago or would that be fine just to send the one i have currently? I called IPS and they said to send foriegn passport on which i entered first time in the UK. I am getting confused.

Thanks again Azaan Khan

Have talked to my manager regarding in processing timeline inconsistency and refuse to give information in less than 6months period. He is going to talk to our local MP during the meeting scheduled next week.

Don't think a mention to one MP would make a difference but I wanted to take it to someone's attention.

My manager also thinks the whole system is disorganised especially about the lack of info given out and we are both government staff and never come across this kind of service before.
I hope to grab an MP or two for a chat soon when I help out at our City Assembly as they always attend. Im going to tell them what a crap service it is for £800 plus and ask if they can raise the issues. If not I will be emailing. I have emailed Damien Green Minister for Immigration with my concerns, but no reply so far.