Naturalisation application processing timelines (only)

Eligibility criteria: WP + Tier 1 (5 yr) + ILR (1 yr) (Husband, Wife & 1 child)
Method of application: NCS (Hounslow)
Date of application: 13/02/13
Date of receipt by UKBA:
Date of acknowledgement:
Date of debit of fees:
Date of approval:
Date of ceremony:

Wife has spent more than 450 days out of the country (507 to be precise) in the last 5 years. We've tried out best to explain the reasons behind it. Next few days should be interesting

Eligibility criteria: 5yrs (HSMP ) + 1 Yr ILR
Method of application: NCS
Date of application: 13 February 2013
Date of receipt by UKBA: Dont know
Date of debit of fees: 19th Feb 2013
Date of receipt of acknowledgement: 20th Feb 2013
Date of receipt of approval: 12th March 2013
Date of Ceremony: pendin

Eligibility criteria: 5yrs (HSMP/Tier1 ) + 1 Yr ILR (with wife)
Method of application: NCS
Date of application: 13 February 2013
Date of receipt by UKBA: 14 February 2013
Date of debit of fees: pending
Date of receipt of acknowledgement: pending
Date of receipt of approval: pending
Date of Ceremony: pending

mailppk wrote:Eligibility criteria: 5yrs (HSMP/Tier1 ) + 1 Yr ILR (with wife)
Method of application: NCS
Date of application: 13 February 2013
Date of receipt by UKBA: 14 February 2013
Date of debit of fees: pending
Date of receipt of acknowledgement: pending
Date of receipt of approval: pending
Date of Ceremony: pending

How do you know the date of receipt? Did they give you any tracking reference

Eligibility criteria: 5yrs (HSMP/Tier1 ) + 1 Yr ILR
Method of application: NCS
Date of application: 16 January 2013
Date of receipt by UKBA: 17 February 2013
Date of debit of fees: 22nd Jan 2013
Date of receipt of acknowledgement: 24th Jan 2013
Date of receipt of approval: 2 Feb 2013
Date of Ceremony: 22 Feb 2013

BigSam wrote:Ok folks... it's been almost 3 and a half month and I am still waiting

Roney, malik0073, chicona, emigrator123, rayanbest... any news from you guys?

qaziji and 2s0e0p1, we met in the waiting club for the 10 year ILR club, are you guys still waiting for your approval? you both applied a week or so after me here

Sam, I got it finally after nearly 6 months. sorry couldn't update on here as I was tied up with work and stuff. Its been a journey and I now feel breath of fresh air as Frustration and Nerve Recking WAIT is over!!


here is my time line

Eligibility criteria: 3 years spouse of BC
Method of application: Solicitor
Date of application: 17/08/12
Date of receipt by UKBA: 20/08/12
Date of acknowledgement : 22/08/12
Date of debit of fees: 23/08/12
Date of approval: 5/02/13
Date of Ceremony: 15/02/13

I believe I was the last person from August club on here

So here I am with my Naturlization Certificate and IPS website in front of me and now keen to start getting the process of first passport rolling.

I will be around here to see how you guys get on with your approvals. Hope everyone gets it soon.

Roney... This is fantastic to hear buddy. congratulations!!!

I am stuck in a long journey from London heading up north and you just made my day by proving my analysis wrong. From all timelines I saw recently, I was getting the impression that once you've gone past four months, your application has fallen through the net and will need digging out by an MP or otherwise!!

Congratulations again buddy. Enjoy

For my wife

Eligibility criteria: 8 years spouse of BC
Method of application: Post
Date of application: 14/02/13
Date of receipt by UKBA: 15/02/13
Date of acknowledgement : letter recieved on 23 feb(date 19/02/13) no email recieved
Date of debit of fees: 19/02/13
Date of approval: 04/.03/12 arrived on 06/03/13 by secure delivery. ceremony letter invitation arrived a week later 11/03/13
Date of Ceremony: 19/03/13 . passport application also going out same date


Excelent news for my wife. although she could have applied for it back in 2008.

Thanks Sam,

Honestly speaking no Statistics or Time rules could prove how UKBA deals with applications when it comes to time lines, its a MYTH a DILEMMA I would say lols..So Yes Yours could be on the way too! I wish it comes soon as possible and your wait is over too!
See you around matey.

when did u got ur passport back with approval or without it?

Roney wrote:

BigSam wrote:Ok folks... it's been almost 3 and a half month and I am still waiting

Roney, malik0073, chicona, emigrator123, rayanbest... any news from you guys?

qaziji and 2s0e0p1, we met in the waiting club for the 10 year ILR club, are you guys still waiting for your approval? you both applied a week or so after me here

Sam, I got it finally after nearly 6 months. sorry couldn't update on here as I was tied up with work and stuff. Its been a journey and I now feel breath of fresh air as Frustration and Nerve Recking WAIT is over!!


here is my time line

Eligibility criteria: 3 years spouse of BC
Method of application: Solicitor
Date of application: 17/08/12
Date of receipt by UKBA: 20/08/12
Date of acknowledgement : 22/08/12
Date of debit of fees: 23/08/12
Date of approval: 5/02/13
Date of Ceremony: 15/02/13

I believe I was the last person from August club on here

So here I am with my Naturlization Certificate and IPS website in front of me and now keen to start getting the process of first passport rolling.

I will be around here to see how you guys get on with your approvals. Hope everyone gets it soon.

ana ali wrote:when did u got ur passport back with approval or without it?

Roney wrote:

BigSam wrote:Ok folks... it's been almost 3 and a half month and I am still waiting

Roney, malik0073, chicona, emigrator123, rayanbest... any news from you guys?

qaziji and 2s0e0p1, we met in the waiting club for the 10 year ILR club, are you guys still waiting for your approval? you both applied a week or so after me here

Sam, I got it finally after nearly 6 months. sorry couldn't update on here as I was tied up with work and stuff. Its been a journey and I now feel breath of fresh air as Frustration and Nerve Recking WAIT is over!!


here is my time line

Eligibility criteria: 3 years spouse of BC
Method of application: Solicitor
Date of application: 17/08/12
Date of receipt by UKBA: 20/08/12
Date of acknowledgement : 22/08/12
Date of debit of fees: 23/08/12
Date of approval: 5/02/13
Date of Ceremony: 15/02/13

I believe I was the last person from August club on here

So here I am with my Naturlization Certificate and IPS website in front of me and now keen to start getting the process of first passport rolling.

I will be around here to see how you guys get on with your approvals. Hope everyone gets it soon.

I didn't send my original passport, only certified copies which were then returned along with approval.

Wow that's great news!many many congrats to you Rooney!and please pray for us as well!I am right behind of your total waiting period.thank you!god bless!

malik0073 wrote:Wow that's great news!many many congrats to you Rooney!and please pray for us as well!I am right behind of your total waiting period.thank you!god bless!

cheers malik.

Hope you get yours soon.

Roney wrote:Thanks Sam,

Honestly speaking no Statistics or Time rules could prove how UKBA deals with applications when it comes to time lines, its a MYTH a DILEMMA I would say lols..So Yes Yours could be on the way too! I wish it comes soon as possible and your wait is over too!
See you around matey.

Thanks buddy. I hope mine comes through soon. I've let this stress me out enough over the past couple of weeks. It is time to put it behind me and forget about it for the time being. I will keep this forum updated with my progress.

Like you said, your case clearly proves that timeline are unpredictable!!

Eligibility criteria: 5 year family member EEA National+1 year ILR
Method of application: NCS hackey
Date of application: 11/02/2013
Date of receipt by UKBA: 12/02/2013
Date of acknowledgement : received on 20/02/2013, dated 15/02/2013
Date of debit of fees: 15/02/2013
Date of approval: TBC
Date of Ceremony: TBC

Wsf4ever wrote:Eligibility criteria: 3yr spouse of BC
Method of application: NCS (Lewisham)
Date of receipt by UKBA: 22 Jan 13
Date of debit of fees: ?
Date of receipt of acknowledgement: 28 Jan 13 (email)
Date of receipt of approval: 8 Feb 13 (dated 4 Feb)
Date of Ceremony: 7 Mar 13 (Greenwich)

OMG!! only 12 days?!!
Congratulations mate. you are one of the luckiest people I've ever seen.

furqankarim wrote:

incywincy wrote:hi,
i am preparing for my naturalization application form and i have some concerns. i came to uk on 17 feb 2010 on spouse visa. got my ilr on 09 july 2012. what i could understand from ukba web site is, i can apply for naturalization application any time after 17 feb 2013 with out waiting for full one year after granted ilr in july 2012 (because i am spouse to british citizen.)please correct me if i am wrong.or do i have to wait till 09 july 2013 when i shall complete one year of ilr?
i have refrees to sign my application one is sub post master( is it a professional standing?) and other is director of a limited company. i shall be greatful if some one help me here.

About your first question, You can apply for naturalization any time after 17 feb 2013. spouses and civil partners of British citizen can apply for Citizenship 3 years after they first arrived in the UK. you can still apply for BC even if you got your ILR 1 day before the date you send your naturalization application. you do not have to wait 1 year. this is my personal experience.
and about your second question, your refrees are more than enough, they do not have to be professional both, 1 need to be a professional or member of standing and the other one can be a british citizen who is over the age of 25.but in your case they are fine, more than fine.
Good Luck

Eligibility criteria: 5yrs (HSMP/Tier1 ) + 1 Yr ILR - joint application
Method of application: NCS
Date of application: 11 Feb 2013
Date of receipt by UKBA: 12 Feb 2013
Date of debit of fees: 14 Feb 2013 (credit card payment)
Date of receipt of acknowledgement: 16 Feb 2013 (issued on 14 Feb 2013)
Date of receipt of approval:
Date of ceremony:

chrisrich wrote:Application Timeline
Eligibility criteria:Spouse of BC (3 years)
Method of application: Postal
Date of receipt by UKBA: 29/1/2013
Date of debit of fees:2/2/2013
Date of receipt of acknowledgement: 6 Feb, dated 31/1/2013
Date of receipt of approval:?

15/2/2013; Recieved a letter from UKBA dated 12/2/2013, application successful, waiting to receive invitation letter to attend citizenship ceremony.

Iam so excited!

Well congratulations to you mate.all the best with you passport application.
**I was told by a professional immigration solicitor that from 12th of December 2012 they do police national check for the purpose of naturalization instead of Enhanced DBS (new name for crb). I was not sure whether that is true or not, but know It makes sense. This guy got aprooval in 2 weeks time, so they never had the time to chech his or her full ceriminal history. What is your opinion?

Alish60 wrote: Well congratulations to you mate.all the best with you passport application.
**I was told by a professional immigration solicitor that from 12th of December 2012 they do police national check for the purpose of naturalization instead of Enhanced DBS (new name for crb). I was not sure whether that is true or not, but know It makes sense. This guy got aprooval in 2 weeks time, so they never had the time to chech his or her full ceriminal history. What is your opinion?

They have never done a CRB check - the PNC has always been the source.

If you look at the document you asked me for this week, that's clearly stated and it also informs the caseworker the PNC report takes about four days before the response makes it's way to UKBA's system.

rod_p wrote:

Alish60 wrote: Well congratulations to you mate.all the best with you passport application.
**I was told by a professional immigration solicitor that from 12th of December 2012 they do police national check for the purpose of naturalization instead of Enhanced DBS (new name for crb). I was not sure whether that is true or not, but know It makes sense. This guy got aprooval in 2 weeks time, so they never had the time to chech his or her full ceriminal history. What is your opinion?

They have never done a CRB check - the PNC has always been the source.

If you look at the document you asked me for this week, that's clearly stated and it also informs the caseworker the PNC report takes about four days before the response makes it's way to UKBA's system.

Oh ok, after I was told by you about the PNC I askes some one who is specialist, he said so. But I trust what you say in here really so it has always been like this, I thought maybe that is why many guys who applied before 2013 are still waiting but that is not the case though. Thanks for putting it right.

No problem - only trying to clarify something that is constantly misquoted here - UKBA does not and never have used a CRB as the basis for granted citizenship.

Again, the link I gave you was:

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitec ... iew=Binary

Here are relevant sections pertaining to the check itself:

on page 122:

This section gives guidance on procedures to follow when doing a check on the Police National Computer (PNC). You must check the PNC when there is evidence an applicant may have criminal convictions. This is a check to find if there is any evidence for refusing a person on general grounds...

...When you should check the PNC:

- Where possible you should check at the earliest opportunity.
- You must use the checks to make decisions on an informed basis.
- You must only make final decisions once necessary checks are completed.

on page 127:

This page contains guidance for caseworkers on what happens after you have requested a Police National Computer (PNC) check on a person applying for leave to remain and the details you update GCID with. PNC checks will be done within 24 hours of the request and the results added to GCID within three working days.

Eligibility criteria: 5yr workpermit plus 1 year ILR
Method of application: Postal
Date of receipt by UKBA: 23 Jan 13
Date of debit of fees: 28 Jan 13
Date of receipt of acknowledgement: 31 Jan 13
Date of receipt of approval: 6 Feb 13
Date of Ceremony: 26 Feb 13

jp1007 wrote:Eligibility criteria: 5yr workpermit plus 1 year ILR
Method of application: Postal
Date of receipt by UKBA: 23 Jan 13
Date of debit of fees: 28 Jan 13
Date of receipt of acknowledgement: 31 Jan 13
Date of receipt of approval: 6 Feb 13
Date of Ceremony: 26 Feb 13

Congratulations, well done ukba, hope you do everyone's as fast as this ones.

rod_p wrote:No problem - only trying to clarify something that is constantly misquoted here - UKBA does not and never have used a CRB as the basis for granted citizenship.

Again, the link I gave you was:

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitec ... iew=Binary

Here are relevant sections pertaining to the check itself:

on page 122:

This section gives guidance on procedures to follow when doing a check on the Police National Computer (PNC). You must check the PNC when there is evidence an applicant may have criminal convictions. This is a check to find if there is any evidence for refusing a person on general grounds...

...When you should check the PNC:

- Where possible you should check at the earliest opportunity.
- You must use the checks to make decisions on an informed basis.
- You must only make final decisions once necessary checks are completed.

on page 127:

This page contains guidance for caseworkers on what happens after you have requested a Police National Computer (PNC) check on a person applying for leave to remain and the details you update GCID with. PNC checks will be done within 24 hours of the request and the results added to GCID within three working days.

From what you explaiend I understand they may not even do the PNC check if there is no evidence to show the applicant may have criminal conviction. If that is correct, what do they mean by evidence? Is it the self declaration on application form? Or maybe I am wrong and they do the check for everyone! !