UKM application experience and timeline

bletchlypark wrote: ↑

Fri Mar 08, 2019 3:38 pm

Update biometric appointment email this morning. Moving along now

Eligibility Criteria: UKM
Nationality: United States
Applying from: Unites States
Method of application: Online with documents sent via DHL
Payment method: Credit card
Date of application: Dec 17, 2018
Date documents sent: Dec 19, 2018
Date of UKVI acknowledgement email: Dec 18, 2018
Date of receipt by UKVI: Dec 21, 2018
Date funds withdrawn: Dec 18, 2018
Date of e-mail requesting biometrics: Mar 1, 2019
Bio-metrics scheduled: Mar 18, 2019
Date of approval: PENDING
Date of ceremony: PENDING
Date applied for passport: PENDING
Date passports received: PENDING

Well done!

Did you not get the ‘we are busy’ email? I see you asked for 15th march , but got the 18th? Was this one of your three alternative dates ?

IntrepidShepherd wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 12, 2019 4:58 pm

My timeline:

Eligibility criteria: UKM
Nationality: South African
Applying from: South Africa
Method of application: Online
Date of application: 09/11/2018 (9 Nov 2018 for the Americans )
Payment method: Credit card
Date of receipt by UKBA: 09/11/2018
Date money gone off account: 09/11/2018
Date of acknowledgement: 12/11/2018 (email)
Date of biometric appt. invitation: 30/11/2018 (email)
Date biometrics appt confirmation: 11/12/2018 (email) Got the "we are busy" response with no app date.
Biometrics done: 27/12/2018 (TLS Contact, Durban) Just went in at my earliest convenience.
Date of approval: 01/02/2019 - Did not receive an email as others have, got notice to collect package from
SA Post Office on 07/03/2019. Approval letter inside dates 1st Feb as well as all my documents back. Required.
Date of ceremony: Awaiting info
Date applied for passport:
Passport Application received:
Passport Application Marked Dispatched:
Date passports received:

Very helpful thanks. When you got the we are busy response, was that the day you requested an appontment?

We requested on 5 march fir either 14th, 15th or 21st March, and aoart from the immediate we are busy autoresponse, we have heard nothing further. I am thinking we should justgo along next week.....

Conky2a wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 13, 2019 4:47 pm

Well done!

Did you not get the ‘we are busy’ email? I see you asked for 15th march , but got the 18th? Was this one of your three alternative dates ?

I asked for the 15th or earliest available. I didn't get an auto response, just the appointment confirmation on the 8th.

Conky2a wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 13, 2019 4:50 pm

IntrepidShepherd wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 12, 2019 4:58 pm

My timeline:

Eligibility criteria: UKM
Nationality: South African
Applying from: South Africa
Method of application: Online
Date of application: 09/11/2018 (9 Nov 2018 for the Americans )
Payment method: Credit card
Date of receipt by UKBA: 09/11/2018
Date money gone off account: 09/11/2018
Date of acknowledgement: 12/11/2018 (email)
Date of biometric appt. invitation: 30/11/2018 (email)
Date biometrics appt confirmation: 11/12/2018 (email) Got the "we are busy" response with no app date.
Biometrics done: 27/12/2018 (TLS Contact, Durban) Just went in at my earliest convenience.
Date of approval: 01/02/2019 - Did not receive an email as others have, got notice to collect package from
SA Post Office on 07/03/2019. Approval letter inside dates 1st Feb as well as all my documents back. Required.
Date of ceremony: Awaiting info
Date applied for passport:
Passport Application received:
Passport Application Marked Dispatched:
Date passports received:

Very helpful thanks. When you got the we are busy response, was that the day you requested an appontment?

We requested on 5 march fir either 14th, 15th or 21st March, and aoart from the immediate we are busy autoresponse, we have heard nothing further. I am thinking we should justgo along next week.....

No. As above I received the email instructing to book Biometrics on the 30th Nov. I then emailed TLS Contact as instructed requesting an appointment on the 2nd Dec. I heard nothing back until the 'we are crazy busy' email on the 11th Dec. I then just went in on the 27th Dec as time was running out.

Thanks bletchleypark and IntrepisShepherd for taking the time to reply. It just helps to clarify what might be going on.....

Conky2a wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 13, 2019 6:35 pm

Thanks bletchleypark and IntrepisShepherd for taking the time to reply. It just helps to clarify what might be going on.....

If you got the busy email I would just go in.

rhino57 wrote: ↑

Sat Mar 09, 2019 5:10 pm

CONGRATULATIONS!! Isn't it the coolest thing ever to hold it in your hand?? Was so happy to receive mine! Cheers to your efforts and your success!

Thank you!! It is strangely empowering. It's ridiculously satisfying to have completed this process.

luthersnowak wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 13, 2019 8:53 pm

Thank you!! It is strangely empowering. It's ridiculously satisfying to have completed this process.

Yours has been significantly longer than the prescribed 6 month processing time too, as an early Romein applicant. Congrats for hanging in there through it all!

How did the HMPO update you on the status of your passport ? Did you get emails at different points, and if so, when ? So far, I only see status updates when I log in, where it tells me the standard 'declaration form received, bring processed'. Did you get anything after this point, particularly a completion update email and/or tracking number upon dispatch ?

luthersnowak wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 13, 2019 8:53 pm

rhino57 wrote: ↑

Sat Mar 09, 2019 5:10 pm

CONGRATULATIONS!! Isn't it the coolest thing ever to hold it in your hand?? Was so happy to receive mine! Cheers to your efforts and your success!

Thank you!! It is strangely empowering. It's ridiculously satisfying to have completed this process.

I totally agree. I still look at my passport in wonder. You, Sunburn and I were all on the same timeline so I am really enjoying the success of all of us. I am watching the Brexit votes with a very different eye than I might have otherwise.

sunburn wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 13, 2019 10:44 pm

luthersnowak wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 13, 2019 8:53 pm

Thank you!! It is strangely empowering. It's ridiculously satisfying to have completed this process.

Yours has been significantly longer than the prescribed 6 month processing time too, as an early Romein applicant. Congrats for hanging in there through it all!

How did the HMPO update you on the status of your passport ? Did you get emails at different points, and if so, when ? So far, I only see status updates when I log in, where it tells me the standard 'declaration form received, bring processed'. Did you get anything after this point, particularly a completion update email and/or tracking number upon dispatch ?

I must have clicked on that status update 100 times and always hit the being processed response. I received one email indicating my passport application had been approved and my passport would be on its way soon. I received it about a week later. I think my status then read dispatched - but it is possible it still said being processed. Remember you will have to sign for your passport. Keep us posted on your progress!

Well what do you know, my online status has updated to Dispatched. The documents were delivered last Friday, and on Monday it had changed to form received, processing. Essentially the same 3 day processing turnaround time as luthersnowak .

I still don't know if either HMPO or DHL will let me know a tracking number somehow.

Eligibility criteria: UKM (Mother born in UK, not Romein route)
Nationality: United States
Applying from: United States
Method of application: Online
Date of application: Sept 6, 2018
Payment method: Credit card
Date of receipt by UKVI: Sept 6, 2018 (online)
Date money gone off account: Sept 6, 2018 (online)
Date of UKVI acknowledgement email: Sept 7, 2018
Date of emailed letter requesting biometrics: Nov 19 2018
Biometrics date: Dec 3 2018
Date of approval: Dec 18 2018
Date of ceremony: Feb 26 2019
Date applied for passports: Feb 28 2019
Date documents received by HMPO: Mar 11 2019
Date passport marked dispatched: Mar 14 2019
Date passports received: PENDING
Date supporting documents received: PENDING

sunburn wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 14, 2019 1:24 am

Well what do you know, my online status has updated to Dispatched. The documents were delivered last Friday, and on Monday it had changed to form received, processing. Essentially the same 3 day processing turnaround time as luthersnowak .

I still don't know if either HMPO or DHL will let me know a tracking number somehow.

I received an email from "pfs@dhl.com" with the tracking info. There is also a "Shipper's Reference number" that you can track by on the DHL site. I think it was only a few days (which included a weekend) between the status changing to "Dispatched" and receiving the emails with the tracking info.

luthersnowak wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 14, 2019 11:19 pm

I received an email from "pfs@dhl.com" with the tracking info. There is also a "Shipper's Reference number" that you can track by on the DHL site. I think it was only a few days (which included a weekend) between the status changing to "Dispatched" and receiving the emails with the tracking info.

Yep, I got that email this morning, the document is on its way with delivery date for tomorrow!

Great news for me!
I was quite nervous, as in early February I received an email requesting all kinds of information and a personal statement about a bankruptcy in my past (chapter 13, debt settled, paid, discharged, no longer on my credit report, etc). I sent the requested information and a personal letter and didn't hear anything until the packet arrived! It arrived Monday, March 11th, but because our rural post office keeps limited hours, I was unable to pick it up until today.


Eligibility criteria: UKM (Born in the US to British mother in 1973)
Nationality: United States
Applying from: Unites States
Method of application: online
Date of application: 22nd October 2018
Payment method: Credit card
Date of receipt by UKVI: (Documents received by UPS) 12th November 2018
Date money gone off account: 22nd October 2018
Date of acknowledgement: 22nd October 2018 (email)
Date of biometric appt. invitation: 4th December 2018 (email)
Date biometrics appt confirmation: 7th December 2018 (email)
Biometrics done: 19th December 2018
Date of approval: 5th March 2019 (postal mail, registered, with documents)
Date of ceremony:
Date applied for passports:
Date passports received:

Biometrics complete this morning, there was some confusion at the service center about me not having my passport, since it's in Liverpool...But in the end they let me do it. I think they are more used to Visa applications. Based on other's timelines I expect I'll get approval within a few weeks, which would put the ceremony sometime this summer probably.

Eligibility Criteria: UKM
Nationality: United States
Applying from: Unites States
Method of application: Online with documents sent via DHL
Payment method: Credit card
Date of application: Dec 17, 2018
Date documents sent: Dec 19, 2018
Date of UKVI acknowledgement email: Dec 18, 2018
Date of receipt by UKVI: Dec 21, 2018
Date funds withdrawn: Dec 18, 2018
Date of e-mail requesting biometrics: Mar 1, 2019
Bio-metrics done: Mar 18, 2019
Date of approval: PENDING
Date of ceremony: PENDING
Date applied for passport: PENDING
Date passports received: PENDING

bletchlypark wrote: ↑

Mon Mar 18, 2019 3:53 pm

Biometrics complete this morning, there was some confusion at the service center about me not having my passport, since it's in Liverpool...But in the end they let me do it. I think they are more used to Visa applications. Based on other's timelines I expect I'll get approval within a few weeks, which would put the ceremony sometime this summer probably.

Eligibility Criteria: UKM
Nationality: United States
Applying from: Unites States
Method of application: Online with documents sent via DHL
Payment method: Credit card
Date of application: Dec 17, 2018
Date documents sent: Dec 19, 2018
Date of UKVI acknowledgement email: Dec 18, 2018
Date of receipt by UKVI: Dec 21, 2018
Date funds withdrawn: Dec 18, 2018
Date of e-mail requesting biometrics: Mar 1, 2019
Bio-metrics done: Mar 18, 2019
Date of approval: PENDING
Date of ceremony: PENDING
Date applied for passport: PENDING
Date passports received: PENDING

The waiting is the worst!! Not sure to expect email notification or just receive something in the mail with my documents. Here’s to hoping it doesn’t take too long for either of us!

keh723 wrote: ↑

Mon Mar 18, 2019 4:01 pm

The waiting is the worst!! Not sure to expect email notification or just receive something in the mail with my documents. Here’s to hoping it doesn’t take too long for either of us!

If I remember correctly I think if you apply online, you get an email when your application is approved. But if you apply by mail you get the approval via mail with all your documents back. Although, there does seem to be some inconsistency here.

I'm all done!

Eligibility criteria: UKM (Mother born in UK, not Romein route)
Nationality: United States
Applying from: United States
Method of application: Online
Date of application: Sept 6, 2018
Payment method: Credit card
Date of receipt by UKVI: Sept 6, 2018 (online)
Date money gone off account: Sept 6, 2018 (online)
Date of UKVI acknowledgement email: Sept 7, 2018
Date of emailed letter requesting biometrics: Nov 19 2018
Biometrics date: Dec 3 2018
Date of approval: Dec 18 2018
Date of ceremony: Feb 26 2019
Date applied for passports: Feb 28 2019
Date documents received by HMPO: Mar 11 2019
Date passport marked dispatched: Mar 14 2019
Date passports received: March 18 2019
Date supporting documents received: March 15 2019

sunburn wrote: ↑

Mon Mar 18, 2019 11:57 pm

I'm all done!

Eligibility criteria: UKM (Mother born in UK, not Romein route)
Nationality: United States
Applying from: United States
Method of application: Online
Date of application: Sept 6, 2018
Payment method: Credit card
Date of receipt by UKVI: Sept 6, 2018 (online)
Date money gone off account: Sept 6, 2018 (online)
Date of UKVI acknowledgement email: Sept 7, 2018
Date of emailed letter requesting biometrics: Nov 19 2018
Biometrics date: Dec 3 2018
Date of approval: Dec 18 2018
Date of ceremony: Feb 26 2019
Date applied for passports: Feb 28 2019
Date documents received by HMPO: Mar 11 2019
Date passport marked dispatched: Mar 14 2019
Date passports received: March 18 2019
Date supporting documents received: March 15 2019

CONGRATS! So about 6 months total from Application to Passport. Not bad...

sunburn wrote: ↑

Mon Mar 18, 2019 11:57 pm

I'm all done!

Eligibility criteria: UKM (Mother born in UK, not Romein route)
Nationality: United States
Applying from: United States
Method of application: Online
Date of application: Sept 6, 2018
Payment method: Credit card
Date of receipt by UKVI: Sept 6, 2018 (online)
Date money gone off account: Sept 6, 2018 (online)
Date of UKVI acknowledgement email: Sept 7, 2018
Date of emailed letter requesting biometrics: Nov 19 2018
Biometrics date: Dec 3 2018
Date of approval: Dec 18 2018
Date of ceremony: Feb 26 2019
Date applied for passports: Feb 28 2019
Date documents received by HMPO: Mar 11 2019
Date passport marked dispatched: Mar 14 2019
Date passports received: March 18 2019
Date supporting documents received: March 15 2019

Congratulations!!

sunburn wrote: ↑

Mon Mar 18, 2019 11:57 pm

I'm all done!

Eligibility criteria: UKM (Mother born in UK, not Romein route)
Nationality: United States
Applying from: United States
Method of application: Online
Date of application: Sept 6, 2018
Payment method: Credit card
Date of receipt by UKVI: Sept 6, 2018 (online)
Date money gone off account: Sept 6, 2018 (online)
Date of UKVI acknowledgement email: Sept 7, 2018
Date of emailed letter requesting biometrics: Nov 19 2018
Biometrics date: Dec 3 2018
Date of approval: Dec 18 2018
Date of ceremony: Feb 26 2019
Date applied for passports: Feb 28 2019
Date documents received by HMPO: Mar 11 2019
Date passport marked dispatched: Mar 14 2019
Date passports received: March 18 2019
Date supporting documents received: March 15 2019

Congratulations!! We need a different format for this group. A “like” button would be nice.

Thanks! It was a great experience, and I gotta agree - the passport itself is a very well put together document that feels stiffer than the US one.

bletchlypark wrote: ↑

Mon Mar 18, 2019 4:51 pm

keh723 wrote: ↑

Mon Mar 18, 2019 4:01 pm

The waiting is the worst!! Not sure to expect email notification or just receive something in the mail with my documents. Here’s to hoping it doesn’t take too long for either of us!

If I remember correctly I think if you apply online, you get an email when your application is approved. But if you apply by mail you get the approval via mail with all your documents back. Although, there does seem to be some inconsistency here.

My sister missed her mailman today and had delivery from England!!! (Our applications were sent together) Could it really be our decision and documents already?! I’m running home to try to beat my mailman!!

Tears of joy!!! My sister and I have received the letter approving our application!!! So happy right now!! Quite surprised with how quickly it seemed to go.

Eligibility criteria: UKM ( By descent )
: American
Applying from: US
Method of application: Paperform
Date sent to UKVI - 1/24 USPS Priority Intl
According to parcel tracking, UKVI in Liverpool received my Form & Docs - Feb 1
Payment method: Debit Card
Date of fee debit: Feb 11
Email with case number : Feb 12
Date of acknowledgement by letter : Feb 12
Date of email requesting biometrics: Feb 11
Date of email confirming biometrics appt: Feb 18
Biometrics appointment scheduled for: Feb 27
Biometrics done: Feb 27
Date of approval: March 12, 2019 (received 19th)
Date of ceremony:
Date applied for passports: