May 2015 Naturalization Application TIMELINE ONLY

I thought I will share my timeline here as well.
Rightly or wrongly I have posted my timeline in April.

Joint application 2 adults
Eligibility criteria: 5 years + 1 yr ILR
Language criteria met : UK degree and IELTS
Current nationality: Ukraine
Method of application: NCS -Aylesbury
Date of application: 30/04/2015
Payment method : debit card
Date of receipt by UKBA: 05/05/2015
Date of debit or clearance of fees: 04/06/2015
Biometrics received : 27/06/2015 (letter dated 24.06)
Biometrics completed: 29/06/2015
Date of acknowledgment: 27/06/2015 (letter dated 04/06)
Date approval received: 01/10/2015 (letter dated 21/09)
Date of ceremony: 03/11/15

Best!
V

Eligibility criteria: BC Spouse + ILR 10 months
Language criteria met (UK degree, exempt countries, PBS used documents, NARIC, or B1 test): pte(acedamic) / Life in the UK
Current nationality: Nepalese
Method of application (NCS/Postal/Solicitor etc): self
Council name if NCS used: N/A
Date of application: 21/5/2015
Payment method CC/DC, Personal cheque, Bankers cheque etc: C/Card
Date of receipt by UKBA: 22/5/2015
Date of debit or clearance of fees: 7/06/2015
Date of acknowledgment: 16/06/2015 dated 12/06/2015
Date of receipt by Biometric info: 16/06/2015 dated 12/06/2015
Date of Submission of Biometric info: 18/06/2015
Date of request of further documents : 01/10/15
Date approval received: Pending
Date of ceremony: Pending
Hi everyone I was silent reader of this forum , this forum has really been helpful so thank you everyone . I had a ccj in my name in 2014 which I did not disclose in my initial application as I was not aware I had one. when I was reading through other forum someone had a problem with ccj so I checked my credit history and found ccj against my name for phone contract which I took out for my friend . I then went to solicitor and wrote a letter to home office about the error . Today I got letter from home office (along with my orginal documents except life in uk )and they are asking me to send the proof I have paid or have been paying my CCJ, which is not a problem as I have already paid it so planning to send them the proof early next week through solicitor . DO u guys have any idea how long it may take for hopefully approval after I send the requested documents . And really sorry for long story.

Joint application 2 adults
Eligibility criteria: 5 years + 1 yr ILR
Current nationality: India
Method of application: NCS - Hillingdon
Date of application: 30/04/2015
Payment method : debit card/credit card
Date of receipt by UKBA: 05/05/2015
Date of debit or clearance of fees: 28/07/2015 (credit card - Fees taken only for 1 application)
Asked to resubmit payslip for 2nd application even if I had already submitted one
- 24/08/2015
Date of debit or clearance of fees: 02/09/2015 (credit card - Fees taken for 2nd application as per new pay slip)
Biometrics completed 1st application: 9/07/2015
Biometric letter for 2nd application: Still waiting for letter
Date of acknowledgment: Pending
Date approval received: Pending
Date of ceremony: Pending

Vitaliyz wrote:I thought I will share my timeline here as well.
Rightly or wrongly I have posted my timeline in April.

Joint application 2 adults
Eligibility criteria: 5 years + 1 yr ILR
Language criteria met : UK degree and IELTS
Current nationality: Ukraine
Method of application: NCS -Aylesbury
Date of application: 30/04/2015
Payment method : debit card
Date of receipt by UKBA: 05/05/2015
Date of debit or clearance of fees: 04/06/2015
Biometrics received : 27/06/2015 (letter dated 24.06)
Biometrics completed: 29/06/2015
Date of acknowledgment: 27/06/2015 (letter dated 04/06)
Date approval received: 01/10/2015 (letter dated 21/09)
Date of ceremony: 03/11/15

Best!
V

Hi Vitaliyz, congratulations on getting your approval! Do you know if the HO took reference from your referees? Did the HO get in touch with any of your referees? Just wondering, 'cose my referees have not hear from the HO and it has been 4 months since I applied. Thanks

Who, here, lives in the Islington North constituency? Please raise the chaos and careless service going on at Home Office with the new Labour Leader (Jeremy Corbyn). He seems a fair guy.

I believe the HO don't care about the level of service they offer immigrants and it is pathetic that after taking £1,050.00 from each of us they cannot allocate 5 minutes of their staff's time each month to provide each of of us monthly updates. How can they let us go through six months of anxiety without even helping at any point. Imagine the impact this service would have had on people who naturally suffer anxiety disorder. We need this issue raised in the Parliament.

Waitingtoolong wrote:Who, here, lives in the Islington North constituency? Please raise the chaos and careless service going on at Home Office with the new Labour Leader (Jeremy Corbyn). He seems a fair guy.

I believe the HO don't care about the level of service they offer immigrants and it is pathetic that after taking £1,050.00 from each of us they cannot allocate 5 minutes of their staff's time each month to provide each of of us monthly updates. How can they let us go through six months of anxiety without even helping at any point. Imagine the impact this service would have had on people who naturally suffer anxiety disorder. We need this issue raised in the Parliament.

Fair point! It should not be like that,You would not put up with this in any other business/service. We are paying customers and deserve a bit more of consideration. An update on the progress of our applications every once in a while is not too much to ask for.

No one will listen here about HO, you all need to start a petition on change.org

Hello Everyone,

Happy Friday! a very happy one for me, got the approval today
updated timelines below.
Looking forward to getting wasted tonight!

Good luck to everyone who is waiting.

singhsaab wrote:Hello Everyone,

Joining the club! here are my timelines:

Eligibility criteria: 5 years TIER 1 + 1 year ILR
Language criteria met: Bachelor Degree from India + PBS Calculator Printouts (from ILR application)
Current nationality: Indian
Method of application (NCS/Postal/Solicitor etc): NCS (to keep my passport and BRP)
Council name if NCS used: Hillingdon
Date of application: 26/05/2015
Payment method CC/DC, Personal cheque, Bankers cheque etc: CC
Date of receipt by UKBA: 27/05/2015 (Day 1)
Date of debit or clearance of fees: 09/06/2015 (Day 14)
Date of acknowledgment: 12/05/2015 (letter by post, dated 09/06/2015) (Day 17)
Date of receipt of Biometric info: 15/06/2015 (Day 20)
Date of Submission of Biometric info: 16/06/2015 (Day 21)
Date approval received: 02/10/2015 (letter dated 24/09/2015)
Date of ceremony: (21/10/2015)

Good luck!

Hi all,

Finally after almost 5 months, I received my approval today.

5 years tier2 + ILR + married to British citizen so applied immediately after getting ILR
Date of application: 08-05-2015
NCS Halifax
Acknowledgement email: 01-06-2015
Biometric letter received 13-06-2015 (dated 07-06-2015)
Biometric submitted: 15-06-2015
Approval received: 03-10-2015 (dated 23-09-2015)

I hadn't thought about it for a week and then the letter came; when I least expected it.

Good luck everyone.

Waitingtoolong wrote:Who, here, lives in the Islington North constituency? Please raise the chaos and careless service going on at Home Office with the new Labour Leader (Jeremy Corbyn). He seems a fair guy.

I believe the HO don't care about the level of service they offer immigrants and it is pathetic that after taking £1,050.00 from each of us they cannot allocate 5 minutes of their staff's time each month to provide each of of us monthly updates. How can they let us go through six months of anxiety without even helping at any point. Imagine the impact this service would have had on people who naturally suffer anxiety disorder. We need this issue raised in the Parliament.

I'm really glad none of you are responsible for HM services.

Do the maths. Using your number (5 minutes) x every single applicant for naturalisation alone in May 2015 (7,215).

7,215 x 5 minutes = 36,075 minutes of work to do your little monthly update. 601 hours!

Honestly...Parliament will laugh in your face - keeping the economy on track, the EU, Syria...bigger fish to fry than impatience from applicants. If the anxiety is so bad, take a damn Valium.

Wife Applied and still waiting. Isn't it too late?
===========================================

Eligibility criteria: Married to British Citizen. Lived 3 years in UK.
Language criteria met: English Language Certificate
Nationality: Pakistani
Method of application: NCS
Date of application: 2nd May 2015
Payment method: CARD
Date of receipt by UKBA: 28 May 2015
Biometrics done : 02 June, 2015
Date of approval : Waiting
Date of ceremony : Waiting
Date applied for passports: Waiting
Date passports received: Waiting

Does anyone know for sure that once the approval letter arrives then is travelling allowed on the original passport?

We have plan to go to India in last week of Dec and are still waiting for the approval letter. I am worried about the time required to get everything sorted (i.e. passport, and Indian Visa if not OCI for a start) and only limited time is left before we need to travel.

R1013X wrote:

Waitingtoolong wrote:Who, here, lives in the Islington North constituency? Please raise the chaos and careless service going on at Home Office with the new Labour Leader (Jeremy Corbyn). He seems a fair guy.

I believe the HO don't care about the level of service they offer immigrants and it is pathetic that after taking £1,050.00 from each of us they cannot allocate 5 minutes of their staff's time each month to provide each of of us monthly updates. How can they let us go through six months of anxiety without even helping at any point. Imagine the impact this service would have had on people who naturally suffer anxiety disorder. We need this issue raised in the Parliament.

I'm really glad none of you are responsible for HM services.

Do the maths. Using your number (5 minutes) x every single applicant for naturalisation alone in May 2015 (7,215).

7,215 x 5 minutes = 36,075 minutes of work to do your little monthly update. 601 hours!

Honestly...Parliament will laugh in your face - keeping the economy on track, the EU, Syria...bigger fish to fry than impatience from applicants. If the anxiety is so bad, take a damn Valium.

This is the maths I did:

Application fee - £1,050.00 = £7,575,750.00 in total
Admin cost - £166.88 = £1,204,032.91 in total
Excess (call it profit if you like) = £6,371,717.09

Cost of monthly update assuming £15 per hour and using your 601 hours per month
May = £9,018.75
June = £9,018.75
July = £9,018.75
August = £9,018.75
September = £9,018.75
October = £9,018.75
Total = £54,112.50

Difference £6,317,604.59

How's spending extra £55K too much to ask? And by the way, I am not sure talking about the marginalised service to a few is laughing matter.

Waitingtoolong wrote:

R1013X wrote:

Waitingtoolong wrote:Who, here, lives in the Islington North constituency? Please raise the chaos and careless service going on at Home Office with the new Labour Leader (Jeremy Corbyn). He seems a fair guy.

I believe the HO don't care about the level of service they offer immigrants and it is pathetic that after taking £1,050.00 from each of us they cannot allocate 5 minutes of their staff's time each month to provide each of of us monthly updates. How can they let us go through six months of anxiety without even helping at any point. Imagine the impact this service would have had on people who naturally suffer anxiety disorder. We need this issue raised in the Parliament.

I'm really glad none of you are responsible for HM services.

Do the maths. Using your number (5 minutes) x every single applicant for naturalisation alone in May 2015 (7,215).

7,215 x 5 minutes = 36,075 minutes of work to do your little monthly update. 601 hours!

Honestly...Parliament will laugh in your face - keeping the economy on track, the EU, Syria...bigger fish to fry than impatience from applicants. If the anxiety is so bad, take a damn Valium.

This is the maths I did:

Application fee - £1,050.00 = £7,575,750.00 in total
Admin cost - £166.88 = £1,204,032.91 in total
Excess (call it profit if you like) = £6,371,717.09

Cost of monthly update assuming £15 per hour and using your 601 hours per month
May = £9,018.75
June = £9,018.75
July = £9,018.75
August = £9,018.75
September = £9,018.75
October = £9,018.75
Total = £54,112.50

Difference £6,317,604.59

How's spending extra £55K too much to ask? And by the way, I am not sure talking about the marginalised service to a few is laughing matter.

Easy. Because an additional spend of £55K to the budget is not needed to placate impatient people. That's all you're trying to achieve with this recommendation.

The HO makes it very clear to people how long it will take and that they offer no updates apart from the communications you are meant to receive or if you need to send any further information upon their asking for it.

That's the caveat emptor. No one held a gun to all of these people's head telling them to send the money - they sent their money knowing the score that the service came without regular updates, texts, emails, whatever you want.

You are paying that money to become a Citizen of the United Kingdom, nothing more, nothing less.

What we need is not an update but transparency on the application process. they could enable this by letting applicant to access the database, similar to what we get when we apply for a UK entry clearance from outside the UK.

Vitaliyz wrote:I thought I will share my timeline here as well.
Rightly or wrongly I have posted my timeline in April.

Joint application 2 adults
Eligibility criteria: 5 years + 1 yr ILR
Language criteria met : UK degree and IELTS
Current nationality: Ukraine
Method of application: NCS -Aylesbury
Date of application: 30/04/2015
Payment method : debit card
Date of receipt by UKBA: 05/05/2015
Date of debit or clearance of fees: 04/06/2015
Biometrics received : 27/06/2015 (letter dated 24.06)
Biometrics completed: 29/06/2015
Date of acknowledgment: 27/06/2015 (letter dated 04/06)
Date approval received: 01/10/2015 (letter dated 21/09)
Date of ceremony: 03/11/15

Best!
V

These dates are almost identical to mine... No approval for me yet though I'm afraid... Actually starting to get worried that there is a problem... Almost 6 months now since date of application.

Is it even legal to make someone not to leave the country just because their naturalisation application is under process, otherwise they'll be risking to miss 21 days deadline to book the ceremony. At least they should abolish this stupid rule so people can leave the country for their holidays or sort other urgent matters.

I don't understand why HO thinks we need to arrange our diary to suit them?

Some people might be getting impatient because they need to leave the country for some personal reasons and I'm one of them.

Purplewindow wrote:Is it even legal to make someone not to leave the country just because their naturalisation application is under process, otherwise they'll be risking to miss 21 days deadline to book the ceremony. At least they should abolish this stupid rule so people can leave the country for their holidays or sort other urgent matters.

I don't understand why HO thinks we need to arrange our diary to suit them?

Some people might be getting impatient because they need to leave the country for some personal reasons and I'm one of them.

If you applied via NCS you can still travel while they assess your application because they never take possession of your passport.

Cnicola78,

Yes I know you can travel, but what if you received the approval letter the day you fly out and failed to book your ceremony in next 21 days. You'll return to find the approval letter along with a rejection letter as well.

Not that they'll email you your approval letter so you can access it anywhere.

Purplewindow wrote:Cnicola78,

Yes I know you can travel, but what if you received the approval letter the day you fly out and failed to book your ceremony in next 21 days. You'll return to find the approval letter along with a rejection letter as well.

Not that they'll email you your approval letter so you can access it anywhere.

Set up a redirect with the Royal Mail to someone you trust in the UK?

Tell them to open any brown envelope that arrives.

Once it arrives, you sort things out on your end. And then cancel the redirect when you get back or have it end right before you get back.

So is that only the ceremony appointment that needs to be sorted within 21 days not the ceremony itself?

How much is the maximum time allowed between the approval letter and the ceremony itself?

mona12 wrote:So is that only the ceremony appointment that needs to be sorted within 21 days not the ceremony itself?

How much is the maximum time allowed between the approval letter and the ceremony itself?

I recall 3 months (from reading on this forum), but I suggest you do your own searches and possibly call your local council to confirm; that would be the safest bet.

I am starting to wonder whether there is any correlation between those that have IELTS versus ESOL and the approvals. Maybe those that have ESOL will have difficulties when the policy changes in November and I would be one of them. Please let me have your thoughts and maybe we could get the English exam type added to the spreadsheet.

R1013X wrote:

mona12 wrote:So is that only the ceremony appointment that needs to be sorted within 21 days not the ceremony itself?

How much is the maximum time allowed between the approval letter and the ceremony itself?

I recall 3 months (from reading on this forum), but I suggest you do your own searches and possibly call your local council to confirm; that would be the safest bet.

I found this on the council's website:

The Home Office will normally expect you to have your ceremony within 11 weeks from the date of receiving your notification. Council Chamber (Opens in a new window) If you do not think you will be able to attend a ceremony within this period, you may apply to the Home Office for an extension.

mona12 wrote:

R1013X wrote:

mona12 wrote:So is that only the ceremony appointment that needs to be sorted within 21 days not the ceremony itself?

How much is the maximum time allowed between the approval letter and the ceremony itself?

I recall 3 months (from reading on this forum), but I suggest you do your own searches and possibly call your local council to confirm; that would be the safest bet.

I found this on the council's website:

The Home Office will normally expect you to have your ceremony within 11 weeks from the date of receiving your notification. Council Chamber (Opens in a new window) If you do not think you will be able to attend a ceremony within this period, you may apply to the Home Office for an extension.

Thanks Mona12,

Can you please fwd the link.
I have plans to visit India as well.
Still wondering do we have to book appointment with in 21 days of approval?
or Is it ok come back in 6th week and able to get appointment with in 11 weeks?