Eligibility criteria: 5 years Tier 2 + 1 year ILR
Nationality: Non-EU (Russian)
Method of application: Online
Date of application: 27 May 2022
Date of payment: 27 May 2022
IDV app biometrics: 10 June 2022
Biometrics submitted in person: 20 Aug 2022
Email to Further Nationality Enquiries: 18 Dec 2022
Date of receipt of approval: 16 Jan 2023
Date of Citizenship Ceremony: 22 Feb 2023
On 31 May 2022 I've got approved by Home Office to use an IDV app. However, on 19 Aug 2022 there was an email from NationalityBiometrics @ HomeOffice stating that
We have been unable to re-use your biometric data through the IDV app and require you to attend UKVCAS.
and I have 10 working days to attend biometrics appointment in person, otherwise the application will be rejected as invalid.
After biometrics was submitted, there was no further communication from Home Office until today, except for the automatic letter from 9 Nov 2022:
Following our assessment of your case, unfortunately it appears your application will not be processed within the 6 month target
I also emailed FurtherNationalityEnquiries in December but never got any reply, which may or may not have affected timeline.
In the end it took 7 months and 20 days.
Thank you everyone on this forum for the guidance. Best of luck to all those waiting!