UKM application experience and timeline

Hi everyone,

New here and was wondering whether I might be eligible to apply for British Citizenship through my mum.

I was born April 1975 in India. My mother was born July 1950 in India, to a British Father and Mother who immigrated to India in 1947. Both my mother's parents were born in Scotland, one in 1912, the other in 1913. My father, who passed away in 1982, was Indian.

I have not lived or worked in the UK at any time, though I have visited several times.

Side fact: both my cousins who were also born in India in 1978 and 1985 are British citizens because their dad, my Mum's brother, was born in Scotland in February 1947, before my maternal grandparents moved to India. My cousins' mum was also Indian at birth.

Given these details, am I eligible to apply for British citizenship via UKM or any other provision? If I am not eligible for citizenship, am I eligible for RoA?

Thanks for taking the time to read this!

karl75 wrote: ↑

Fri Mar 13, 2020 8:39 pm

Hi everyone,

New here and was wondering whether I might be eligible to apply for British Citizenship through my mum.

I was born April 1975 in India. My mother was born July 1950 in India, to a British Father and Mother who immigrated to India in 1947. Both my mother's parents were born in Scotland, one in 1912, the other in 1913. My father, who passed away in 1982, was Indian.

I have not lived or worked in the UK at any time, though I have visited several times.

Side fact: both my cousins who were also born in India in 1978 and 1985 are British citizens because their dad, my Mum's brother, was born in Scotland in February 1947, before my maternal grandparents moved to India. My cousins' mum was also Indian at birth.

Given these details, am I eligible to apply for British citizenship via UKM or any other provision? If I am not eligible for citizenship, am I eligible for RoA?

Thanks for taking the time to read this!

What was your mother's citizenship status at the time of your birth ? Was she a CUKC or an Indian citizen ?

Hi Everyone

I'm in Australia

Has anyone recently submitted their UKM application during the Covid crisis? Just wondering if there are huge delays or are things still flowing along? I want to submit my application but concerned I could wait a year to get my passport and other documents back from them.

My application is simple - Mother UK born and still UK citizen and I've had Right of Abode and lived in UK.

Thanks guys

chachacha wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 10, 2019 3:45 am

hlassell wrote: ↑

Fri Dec 21, 2018 6:19 pm

Eligibility criteria: UKM
Nationality: Canadian
Applying from: Canada
Method of application: Online
Date of application: 08/20/2018
Payment method: Credit card
Date of receipt by UKBA: 08/21/2018
Date money gone off account: 08/20/2018
Date of acknowledgement: 08/21/2018 (by email)
Date of letter requesting biometrics: 09/10/2018
Biometrics done: 11/06/2018
Date of approval: 21/12/2018 *yay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!*
Date of ceremony:
Date applied for passports:
Date passports received:

OH MY GOSH! My caseworker emailed me today to say I am approved and he is getting my documents mailed back to me and I will receive info about my ceremony soon! Merry Christmas to me!

Hi @hlassell - were you under the Romein option (double descent) or was your mother born in the UK? There aren't many Canadians on this thread. Thank you!

I’m so sorry I haven’t been back here for a looooooong time. My mother is from Glasgow so I got my citizenship via descent.

Jeda wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 09, 2020 3:45 am

Hi Everyone

I'm in Australia

Has anyone recently submitted their UKM application during the Covid crisis? Just wondering if there are huge delays or are things still flowing along? I want to submit my application but concerned I could wait a year to get my passport and other documents back from them.

My application is simple - Mother UK born and still UK citizen and I've had Right of Abode and lived in UK.

Thanks guys

Hi Jeda

Unfortunately I suspect you could be waiting a year or more. I am in the same situation as you. UK Mom who is still citizen. All original documents sent. Even the 2 referees are UK citizens. Sent documents early January so a few months before Covid-19 hit. I received an e-mail about 3-4 weeks ago saying that there are now longer delays because of Covid-19 and that they would be processing it "soon". A colleague told me she saw an online article saying there was backlog of over a million applications to Visa's and Immigration (not just UKM of course). Been nearly seven months. Am not holding my breath. I suspect the problem was made worse by Boris being elected on a promise to push through Brexit so lot of nervous EU residents have applied for residency just to be safe.

Dave

Thanks for your response Dave.

I suspected this was going to be the case. I'm also presuming that I won't hear anything about my application until next year. When you do hear anything further, would you mind posting in the forum please. I hope your application goes smoothly, even if it is slow.

Jeda

Hi Dave

I've just got my biometrics appointment letter. How long ago did you receive yours?

Hope you had further progression in your application.

Cheers
Jeda

A friend is going through the application process now. Submission was during lockdown and so far timelines are on track with the biometric request having come through right on time.

Hi Ballet
Good to hear that your friend's biometrics are on time. Mine too, so it seems (so far) that it's business as usual with regards to timelines.
Cheers
Jeda

tips wrote: ↑

Wed Aug 15, 2018 6:07 pm

I am curious, I saw an application via the UKM form on here for a mother that was NOT a British Citizen and wondered if it was acceptable? The situation was Mother born to a British Citizen mother (Applicants grandmother) born in the UK but FATHER not born in the UK. So its a double descent but I can only assume as citizenship could not pass from the Mother to the child that it is assumed they are a British Citizen by descent and then the Roemin case applies? so to clarify my mess above

Applicant Born in South Africa
Applicants Mother born in South Africa before 1949 to British Mother and South African Father
Mother deceased and NEVER applied or registered as British Citizen as citizenship could never be attained from Mother.
Applicant applies on Romein case (Double descent) but it is just Assumed Mother to be British by descent as she could not have registered/applied?

Any help appreciated?

Did you ever get an answer to your question? I am in the exact same situation and would like some information as well!

Jeda wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 27, 2020 2:20 pm

I've just got my biometrics appointment letter. How long ago did you receive yours?

Hi Jeda,

When did you submit your application? I saw you post on June 8 that you wanted to but were worried about the timeline.

I submitted online from US on July 9 and my documents were received in Liverpool on July 24.

Just wondering what I should expect next and how long it might take.

Thanks,

Mick

Hi Mick

Sorry for the delay in my response to your questions. My timeline is below and it seems it's roughly on time as per pre covid applications. In fact, when I went for the Biometrics, they said they were receiving only half the amount of people coming in for visas and biometrics. It seems many aren't bothering to apply as before. So, hopefully this goes in our favour time wise.

So, you're about a month behind me. I'm guessing you are applying via UKM due to your mother being born in the UK and she has retained her British citizenship.

You should hear something in the next few weeks. They just email you a letter asking you to book your biometric appointment. At this stage, they have not really looked at your application, they are just asking you to take the next step. At your appointment, they will take your fingerprints and take your photo and ask you to do your signature. It doesn't take long. They immediately send your biometrics to the Home Office. This is where we could face months to hear a decision. We may hear before Xmas but then we may not. We can't travel anywhere at the moment (at least we can't in Australia) so I'm not in a rush.

If you are advised your application is successful, you will then be asked to book your Citizenship Ceremony at the closest British Consulate to where you live. You will be asked to either take an oath or affirmation to QE2, sing God Save the Queen and have a cup of tea afterwards. Once you have your certificate of British Citzenship you can then proceed to apply for your first British Passport. Thankfully, they are now back to being blue.

Let me know when you hear more from the Home Office. It's nice to hear we're not alone in this process.
All the best, Jeda

Eligibility Criteria: UKM

Nationality: Australia

Applying from: Australia

Method of application: Online with documents sent via DHL

Payment method: Credit card

Date of application: 15/06/2020

Date funds withdrawn: 15/06/2020

Date of UKVI acknowledgement email: 16/06/2020

Date documents sent: DHL 16/06/2020

Date of receipt by UKVI: (confirmation from DHL): 19/06/2020

Date of letter requesting biometrics:(10 weeks and 2 days from receipt of documents): 27/08/2020.

Biometrics appointment: 8 Sept 2020

Jeda wrote: ↑

Sun Sep 13, 2020 5:14 am

So, you're about a month behind me. I'm guessing you are applying via UKM due to your mother being born in the UK and she has retained her British citizenship.

You should hear something in the next few weeks. They just email you a letter asking you to book your biometric appointment.

That is all good to know, thanks. Yes, mother was born in UK and has never had any other citizenship.

I do wish they had a system where once the documents are received, they would verify them and return them, even if the rest of your application is not being considered yet at that point.

Below is my timeline to date:

Eligibility Criteria: UKM

Nationality: USA, Ireland

Applying from: USA

Method of application: Online with documents sent via post

Payment method: Credit card

Date of application: 09/07/2020

Date funds withdrawn: 09/07/2020

Date of UKVI acknowledgement email: 09/07/2020

Date documents sent: 13/7/2020

Date of receipt by UKVI (per tracking): 24/7/2020

Hi Mick
Yes I agree - verify docs and send them back but they clearly like to hold onto them.
Let me know when you receive your biometrics letter.
Cheers
Jeda

Jeda wrote: ↑

Sun Sep 13, 2020 11:10 pm

Let me know when you receive your biometrics letter.

Received biometrics letter today. Updated timeline:

Eligibility Criteria: UKM
Nationality: USA, Ireland
Applying from: USA
Method of application: Online with documents sent via post
Payment method: Credit card
Date of application: 09/07/2020
Date funds withdrawn: 09/07/2020
Date of UKVI acknowledgement email: 09/07/2020
Date documents sent: 09/07/2020
Date of receipt by UKVI (per tracking): 24/7/2020
Biometrics Requested: 14/9/2020

Responding to the biometrics letter requesting appointment today.

-- Mick

Hi Mick

That's great! Thanks for letting me know.
I'll let you know when I hear more from the Home Office - sounds like times are in line with pre covid processing.
All the best
Jeda

Well, @Dave and @Ballet's friend are both ahead of us so hopefully they will post a positive update soon!

-- Mick

Yes here's hoping - we get more info from each other here than the Home Office! I'm in no rush but it's just nice to know what's going on.

Yes, I'm not in a rush either, although I'm strangely uncomfortable with them holding both of my passports. I couldn't travel from the US due to Covid as I don't think anywhere would let me in at the moment. But at the same time, I'm in a hurry. I'm sure you know that feeling.

You’re brave handing your passport in! I sent in a certified photocopy as I was still travelling weekly then (remember the days when we could travel...?). Still, you’ll get everything back again. Good luck; it seems that the processing times are back on track. Passports are taking longer than before, though.

Hi Ballet

Yes I didn't want to send it in and I even phoned them prior to ask do I have to and won't a certified copy do but they said no, it may delay it and it's up to the case officer if they accept a copy or not. Shame they just can't say a straight yes or no. However, Australia is in total lockdown until next July (amazing how they can predict so far ahead) and no travel on the horizon so I don't care. I'll get the docs back via DHL when I get the go ahead from them.

Looking forward to hearing of your progress
Cheers
Jeda

My process was completed last year. The waiting between each stage was so stressful but this forum made the process seem so much more manageable.

Country of Application;Nigeria
Country of Birth/Citizenship:Canada
Application Type:UKM
Date of submission vie Dhl:23th October 2019
Money Debited:24th October 2019
Application received:28th October 2019
Biometrics date:18th November 2019
Acknowledgement of biometrics:20th November 2019
Request for additional documents:5th December 2019
Approval and Decision made letter:30th January 2020
Ceremony for oath taking invite letter:15th September 2020
certificate received@British consular toronto:18th September 2020.
UK passport online payment:18th September 2020
UK passport application documents submitted:18th September 2020.
UK passport...?????
The covid affected the oath taking after approval for 8months.. Goodluck to those who are in the process.

Esy

The covid affected the oath taking after approval for 8months.. Goodluck to those who are in the process.

Eligibility criteria: UKM

Nationality: Canadian

Applying from: Nigeria

Method of application: Online

Date of application: 23/10/2019

Payment method: Credit card

Date of receipt by UKM: 28/10/2019

Date money gone off account: 24/10/2019

Date of acknowledgement: 28/10/2019(by email)

Date of letter requesting biometrics: 18/11/2019

Biometrics done: 19/11/2019

Biometrics acknowledged: 23/11/2019

Date of Decision Made: 30/01/2020

Date of oath invitation: 15/09/2020

Date of ceremony:18/09/2020

Date of certificate received at British embassy in Toronto:18/09/2020

Date applied for passports:18/09/2020

Date of Uk passport application documents submission sent ont vie Dhl:18/09/2020

Date passports received:?????

Hi Jeda,

Only negative so far. No biometrics request. Nothing since the e-mail regarding covid-19 delays. Now going on 10 months.

Dave