Record for longest time waited to reach a decision on naturalisation (multiple threads merged)

Hello,
Thanks for your response.
Yes, I did and the response I received was that my complaint cannot be upheld.
I just don't think it is right to keep an application for months and not have a concrete reason for delay.
Thanks

Then you can ask for a review of your complaint and take the process one step further.

I read somewhere that because citizenship is not an automatic process the ukvi are allowed to keep an application unresolved up to 4 years, even longer if they have good reason that there are more checks needed.

I have literally done all what I can to raise my appliactions delay which will be 2 years in June 2025

I have asked furthernationality
I have made multiple complaints
I have asked for a review multiple times of the complaints - no responses at all for many times
I have asked mp to help twice - both times her recieved also generic responses
I have got a SARU
I have asked minister of migration and citizenship- reply in thread above
I have asked for independant review - they wouldnt look at any complaint without a review from the complaint is done

Only thing probably is to ask a immigration lawyer for help which is obviously expensive.

The immigration lawyer wouldn't get much further. You need to obtain a review of your complaint to escalate the process further.

Dear xxxx
I would like to introduce myself, I have been assigned as the resolution officer for your complaint about UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI).
The elements of complaint that have been agreed with you are:
a. On 30 October 2023 you applied for Naturalisation. To date, you have not received a decision and find the delay unacceptable.
b. You are unhappy with the responses provided by UKVI when you have contacted them about the delay. They have failed to provide a reason or offer a timeframe for completion.
I am now going to try to resolve your complaint using the information you have given.
I am going to propose that UKVI take the following action to put the matter right for you:
The complainant has told our office that they would like UKVI to provide a timeframe for when a decision will be made on their application for Naturalisation.
We will only resolve your complaint if both you and UKVI agree to the actions above to put the matter right.
Should UKVI not agree to the above action or propose an alternative action, we will contact you to discuss the changes.
Could you please confirm if the above actions would resolve your complaint?
this is the response after complain review and now its with IEC to give me some response.i will post as soon get response . hopefully get some good news

I haven't got a decision yet. Its been 1year and 11 months.
I have almade another complaint and an application for SARU.

Anyone here had better luck?

Did you receive an answer to any of your complaints? If yes, you can ask for a complaint review.

hi there i asked for complaint review and IEC write to Home office and they said home office agree to give result by 02.06.2025.i am waiting and will update if they fulfil there words by given date.

Hi there,
Finally today I received my naturalisation application approved. I have appeal review then complain to IEC and IEC write HOME OFFICE to give time frame for my application and HO was agree to give decision by 2.06.2025.
Today I received email my application approved.
Thanks everyone for advises.

Congratulations. I'm glad you received a positive outcome. Now you can book your ceremony.

Congratulations welldone!


Can I ask,
When I file a complaint, I choose the option "waiting for decision or documents".
Then when asking for a review of a complaint I file a new complaint choosing the option "An existing complaint" couting previous complaint number.

Is that the correct process to ask for a review?

I have done this multiple times throughout the past 2 years without a reply for the complaints review.

Am I doing it wrong?

Did you receive an answer to your initial complaint?

I received for one of the complaints a year ago and asked for a review within 3 months but didnt hear again about it. I have since made many complaints that get ignored.

I have recieved a new saru which is clearer than the previous one. The delay is due to an arrest 2 years ago for alleged assault. There was no evidence for it and the police didnt charge or caution me. No further ongoing investigations.

I sent further nationality an email with proof of this hoping this will speed things.

I do not have a criminal record , but have a vindictive ex wife trying to make my life difficult, which is soemtimes worse.

You can ask for a review of the complaint you got a response for.

Good at least that you know the reason why the delay has taken place - hopefully this is resolved now and your application will progress.

b44b5 wrote: ↑

Fri May 09, 2025 1:05 pm

I received for one of the complaints a year ago and asked for a review within 3 months but didnt hear again about it. I have since made many complaints that get ignored.

I have recieved a new saru which is clearer than the previous one. The delay is due to an arrest 2 years ago for alleged assault. There was no evidence for it and the police didnt charge or caution me. No further ongoing investigations.

I sent further nationality an email with proof of this hoping this will speed things.

I do not have a criminal record , but have a vindictive ex wife trying to make my life difficult, which is soemtimes worse.

May I ask which type of SAR showed the detail/progress of your citizenship application? Basic or detailed?

sabmiut wrote: ↑

Sat May 10, 2025 9:36 pm

b44b5 wrote: ↑

Fri May 09, 2025 1:05 pm

I received for one of the complaints a year ago and asked for a review within 3 months but didnt hear again about it. I have since made many complaints that get ignored.

I have recieved a new saru which is clearer than the previous one. The delay is due to an arrest 2 years ago for alleged assault. There was no evidence for it and the police didnt charge or caution me. No further ongoing investigations.

I sent further nationality an email with proof of this hoping this will speed things.

I do not have a criminal record , but have a vindictive ex wife trying to make my life difficult, which is soemtimes worse.

May I ask which type of SAR showed the detail/progress of your citizenship application? Basic or detailed?

I asked for detailed and wrote in the request to not redact the reason for the delay.

asimuk wrote: ↑

Thu May 01, 2025 10:59 pm

hi there i asked for complaint review and IEC write to Home office and they said home office agree to give result by 02.06.2025.i am waiting and will update if they fulfil there words by given date.

Would you be able to share the template of the complaint review letter. Ofcourse, blocking out your personal information.

Thanks you

I have not yet received a decision. I applied in 26/6/2023. It will be 2 years soon.

I have done the following to try and expadite.
1.Asked furthernationality
2.Made multiple complaints
3. Asked for formal review of the complaints (NOT RECIEVED ANY REPLY FOR THIS MULTIPLE TIMES SO PLEASE DONT ASK ME THIS, I DO NOT KNOW WHY!)
4.Asked MP to help expedite
5.Received SARU twice - previous arrest by allegation from ex-wife that is delaying application, this in 2022 and no charges made as not enough evidence (and that it was all fabricated by vindictive exwife)
6. Received ACRO SARU - used this as proof of no charges
7. Made multiple complaints about my emails and complaints completely ignored
8. Last this I did today was complain to Omdusman

I completely understand that citizenship is not a right but a privilege, I am not upset that if it was refused for good reason I would understand. But lack of communication and painful extensive delay is what I am really furious about. It feels so unfair.

I am thinking of taking legal action - Pre-action protocol , ChatGPT suggested this, has anyone seen this work well?

b44b5 wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 12, 2025 7:16 pm

I am thinking of taking legal action - Pre-action protocol , ChatGPT suggested this, has anyone seen this work well?

I'm not convinced a Pre-Action Protocol would do anything, for many reasons.

For a start, a Pre-Action Protocol is the first step to action, in this case, a Judicial Review. But it is not clear what the Judicial Review will be against, given that there has been no decision. What will the Judicial Review review?

Secondly, there is no legal deadline on the decision timeframe for naturalisation application, so not sure if there is a legal basis for demanding a decision on the naturalisation application.

Thirdly, you will have ILR already at the time of your naturalisation application and therefore there is no negative impact on your right to reside in the UK due to any delay in assessing your naturalisation application. You are also free to travel abroad while your application is under consideration.

Lastly, courts are very traditionally reluctant in getting involved in naturalisation applications. That is seen as the preserve of the executive, for which they (the executive/the Home Office) would carry the can if anything went wrong.

Also see this thread about somebody whose application has taken more than two and a half years.

Unfortunately it has been 2 years and 1 month now, even after all my efforts and complaints raised , I still recieved a generic response few days ago. This is deeply frustrating.

I am hoping people here in the same situation had a better outcome than me?

I have applied in 26/6/2023 for UK citizenship. As of today 28/07/2025, I am still waiting for a decison. I have done every possible thing to expadite with no outcome. So thought to myself if I dont get it, at least maybe I have a record of somesort of the longest time waiting for a decison!

My record today is 2 years 1 month and 2 days


Think you can beat mine? Post below!

That is indeed a disproportionate amount of time to wait for an outcome. Could it be worth starting the escalation process again? I don't have a record to contribute, but hopefully there are some useful tips here? https://www.immigrationboards.com/month ... 43483.html

contorted_svy wrote: ↑

Mon Jul 28, 2025 7:43 pm

That is indeed a disproportionate amount of time to wait for an outcome. Could it be worth starting the escalation process again? I don't have a record to contribute, but hopefully there are some useful tips here? https://www.immigrationboards.com/month ... 43483.html

Thank you, I have done everything possible mentioned in that post.

Is there a time limit for ukvi by which they are obligated to make a decision?

Sadly, no. You would need to start the process again. Did you consult the parliamentary ombudsman too? What did they say?

contorted_svy wrote: ↑

Tue Jul 29, 2025 2:46 pm

Sadly, no. You would need to start the process again. Did you consult the parliamentary ombudsman too? What did they say?

I have, they require approval from the MP. I have sent the MP the ombudsman complaint form with multiple reminders but haven't received and answer yet.