UKM application experience and timeline

[Bodil]

Hi David

oh no... I've got free calls on my mobile so easy for me to call. Don't suppose you're in Perth in the northern suburbs by any chance??? If so, you could use my phone. Also, check that this number is the one that does charge you that amount. I called another number and they wanted my credit card to proceed but not this number.

Hope you get a reply very, very soon.

Cheers
Jeda.

Hi Jeda,

Well phoned them a week ago. Finally got a response. What a fat waste of time and money. I got a slightly modified version of the previous e-mail saying that it may take longer than six months because of covid-19 and blah blah and basically don't bother contacting them again. No acknowledgement that it's now 4 months past the 6 months wait period and that they have my passport and other documents. I suspect they didn't even open the application upon contacting them. So what, wait 1 year, maybe 2 years? What about 10 years?

Very disappointed and kinda sorry I started the whole thing.

David

[Esy]

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:?????

Finally concluded my British citizenship/passport process..
Application for passport submitted 18/09/2020.
Application received at HMPO Durham 22/9/2020
Processing started 28/9/2020
Passport approved 27/10/2020
Passport printed and send out 28/10/2020
Passport arrived in canada 03/11/2020
Passport received by me 04/10/2020
Good luck to those waiting for there application to fall thru.

[mlavell]

So far Applying during Covid19 I am very happy with how it is going
March 3, 2020: Sent in my application
August 2020: Received confirmation they received it
August 2020: They asked for my payment
August 2020: They scheduled a biometric test
Oct. 2020: i received confirmation that i am now in queue awaiting allocation for a case worker.
With all going on with the pandemic I am very happy so far with my time line and hope that this post helps to ease any anxiety that we all feel when we apply. I did receive an email telling me it will be longer periods then normal during these times Will update all on when i hear from them again.

[MickByNameAndNature]

I have finally completed my biometrics appointment at USCIS. I was given my appointment letter back stamped and signed with an instruction sheet (that was clearly meant for Visa processing) advising me to mail it with my application within 5 days.

As the application and everything else has already been submitted, is there anything that needs to be done with the stamped appointment letter?

[Jeda]

Hi Jeda,

Well phoned them a week ago. Finally got a response. What a fat waste of time and money. I got a slightly modified version of the previous e-mail saying that it may take longer than six months because of covid-19 and blah blah and basically don't bother contacting them again. No acknowledgement that it's now 4 months past the 6 months wait period and that they have my passport and other documents. I suspect they didn't even open the application upon contacting them. So what, wait 1 year, maybe 2 years? What about 10 years?

Very disappointed and kinda sorry I started the whole thing.

David

Hi David,

I have heard nothing either since an email about 6 weeks ago just saying it's taking longer than the normal 6 months. Yes it could go on for another 6 months or more. I don't need my passport back to travel until 2022 so I don't really care but I get it's frustrating.

Cheers
Jeda

[MickByNameAndNature]

At least I know I'm still on the list....

MMST FMT NationalitySupportTeamFMT@homeoffice.gov.uk via homeoffice.gov.uk
10:40 AM (6 hours ago)
to me

Dear MickByNameAndNature,

We aim to process all applications within 6 months from the date submitted. However, in certain circumstances this target is not possible.

This is because it is taking longer than usual to process applications because of coronavirus (COVID-19). This will not affect the decision.

We expect to make a decision on your application as soon as possible, but we will write to you again if this is not going to be possible.

Yours sincerely
Managed Migration Support Team
Home Office

[Coljones]

Applying 29th Jan 2021.

How long before they return Australian passports used as identity? (Not that we can go anywhere at the moment.

[Ballet]

If you haven’t sent your passport on, yet, consider only sending a colour certified copy of every page including the cover.

I did that from South Africa.

[Jeda]

Applying 29th Jan 2021.

How long before they return Australian passports used as identity? (Not that we can go anywhere at the moment.

Well they still have mine and I sent my application in June last year. I think they're all sitting at home on furlough. Personally, I don't care too much as I bet we won't be travelling overseas for a few years yet. However, I'd just like to do the citizenship ceremony and be done with it. Why we have do this because it's our mothers born in UK and not fathers is ridiculous. My Dad was born in Australia and left with his British parents when he was a baby and grew up in England. He never even held an Aussie passport until he had to move back to Australia late in his life. Oh well, we just have to follow the rules and the process if we want our Brit citizenship.

Btw, they don't send back your passport until they have approved your application. I think they notify you that you can organise courier pick it up when they send you the email about booking your citizenship ceremony.

I think we are in for a long wait I'm afraid.
Cheers
Jeda

[cobra2]

I applied from the US.
I applied on November 4, 2020
Documents arrived on November 18, 2020
Received an email to provide my availability for Biometric appointment on February 7, 2021

[BostonBrit]

I applied from the US.
I applied on November 4, 2020
Documents arrived on November 18, 2020
Received an email to provide my availability for Biometric appointment on February 7, 2021

Thank you for this cobra2. Similarly, I applied from the US.
I applied on November 15, 2020 (confirmed application fee paid via email from noreply@visas-immigration.service.gov.uk)
Documents arrived on November 18, 2020 (known by UPS delivery confirmation only)
But I have yet to receive any other confirmation including receipt of documents, and have not had any other correspondence including biometric application notification. Hopefully I will see something soon. I get that Covid-19 disrupts everything, but this is quite a long silence with not a word from the Crown. As the Rolling Stones would say, Hang Fire.

[cobra2]

I applied from the US.
I applied on November 4, 2020
Documents arrived on November 18, 2020
Received an email to provide my availability for Biometric appointment on February 7, 2021

Thank you for this cobra2. Similarly, I applied from the US.
I applied on November 15, 2020 (confirmed application fee paid via email from noreply@visas-immigration.service.gov.uk)
Documents arrived on November 18, 2020 (known by UPS delivery confirmation only)
But I have yet to receive any other confirmation including receipt of documents, and have not had any other correspondence including biometric application notification. Hopefully I will see something soon. I get that Covid-19 disrupts everything, but this is quite a long silence with not a word from the Crown. As the Rolling Stones would say, Hang Fire.

Yeah, I tried to get confirmation that my documents had been received as all i had was confirmation from DHL, but I could not get anyone to respond to me. So my first correspondence was yesterday with the email about biometrics. Hopefully your email is coming soon. And lets hope this process can speed up a bit, I feel like my claim is pretty straight forward and I provided more than enough supporting documents.

[MickByNameAndNature]

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
Email sent to HO requesting biometrics appointment: 14/9/2020
Follow up email sent to HO regarding biometrics appt: 28/9/2020
Biometrics appointment received: 12/10/2020
Biometrics appointment date: 16/11/2020
Additional Documents Requested: 11/2/2021
Notification of Documents being returned: 11/2/2021

Today I received an email requesting my German birth certificate. I was born in Germany while my father was stationed there with the US Air Force. My birth was never registered in Germany but only through the US Consulate as a US Citizen Born Abroad.

I responded to the email within about 4 hours and explained the above and provided additional scanned copies of my US Consular birth certificates. I received a response 45 minutes later advising "That’s fine" and that they would be returning my passports and my mother's cancelled passport by either International Signed post (free), a different courier at my cost, or returned to a UK address.

I responded choosing the free option and asked if this meant that a decision has been made or is imminent, but I don't expect a response as the auto-reply when sending emails to this specific address states:

Thank you for contacting the CT4caseworkenquries mailbox.

Please note that this mailbox is ONLY to be used for sending documents to us that you have been requested to supply in support of your Nationality Application.

It is not used for any other purpose and as such you will not receive a response if you are making enquiries about your application or seeking general guidance advice.

For this, please contact the Citizenship and Nationality Enquiries team on: nationalityenquiries@homeoffice.gov.uk or by telephone: 0300 123 2253

If we require further information from you the case-working team will contact you directly.

[MickByNameAndNature]

Another addition to my timeline update:

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
Email sent to HO requesting biometrics appointment: 14/9/2020
Follow up email sent to HO regarding biometrics appt: 28/9/2020
Biometrics appointment received: 12/10/2020
Biometrics appointment date: 16/11/2020
Additional Documents Requested: 11/2/2021
Notification of Documents being returned: 11/2/2021
Notification of Application Approval: 11/2/2021

So, I was wrong about not getting a response about the status:

Your application has been approved.

Our letter is enclosed with your documents.

The tracking number is: XX XXXX XXXX XXX

Thanks and take care.

[cobra2]

Congratulations MickByNameAndNature. Thank you so much for posting your experience it has really helped me a lot.

I got an email on Sunday regarding scheduling my biometrics, responded an hour later, and still haven't heard anything. You followed up two weeks later, do you think that helped, or do you think it just took that long for them to schedule you?

[MickByNameAndNature]

You followed up two weeks later, do you think that helped, or do you think it just took that long for them to schedule you?

In my case I actually think it hurt me. I received an appointment for November 9, then a few hours later I received an appointment for November 16 and was told to ignore the first appointment. So I think they scheduled based on my first email, then scheduled again based on my second email and cancelled the first one.

Not positive but I would say it shouldn't hurt to follow up, but I gave it 2 weeks and apparently should have waited 3 and might have had my biometrics a week earlier. The timelines are all still in flux due to Covid so patience really is the key.

Also, if they had not asked for further documentation, I don't know if I would have found out I was approved until I received my documents back.

[MickByNameAndNature]

Not positive but I would say it shouldn't hurt to follow up, but I gave it 2 weeks and apparently should have waited 3 and might have had my biometrics a week earlier. The timelines are all still in flux due to Covid so patience really is the key.

After looking at my timeline, I probably should have waited longer as I remember now that I was about to send a 2nd follow up. I had decided to follow up about every 2 weeks. I think the best course is to give it a month, then maybe follow up. That's about how long it took me to receive my appointment date.

[cobra2]

Good to know, thanks for the info. I will be patient.

Hopefully I don't need to follow up with any additional documentations I don't know if I have any documentation left. lol. I sent my mothers birth cert from Scotland, my birth cert, my parents wedding cert, her expired passport from the time of my birth, a color photo copy of her current UK passport, and my current passport. I just really hope I get my passport back by the time the world starts opening up, I need a break from America and hope to escape for a couple weeks the moment I can travel again. Haha.

Not positive but I would say it shouldn't hurt to follow up, but I gave it 2 weeks and apparently should have waited 3 and might have had my biometrics a week earlier. The timelines are all still in flux due to Covid so patience really is the key.

After looking at my timeline, I probably should have waited longer as I remember now that I was about to send a 2nd follow up. I had decided to follow up about every 2 weeks. I think the best course is to give it a month, then maybe follow up. That's about how long it took me to receive my appointment date.

[Jeda]

Greetings All - Victory!
Overnight I received confirmation by email that my application has been approved. This is 8 months exactly to the day I submitted my online application.
I now await my Ceremony Invitation. This, of course, may take some time.
All good things come to those who wait (and take action )

Here is my timeline, applying from Australia. Straightforward application - mum born in England.

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: 08/09/2020

Date of approval: Advised of successful application on: 16/02/2021

Documents returned: (DHL)

Invitation for ceremony:

Date of ceremony:

Date applied for passport:

Date passport received:

[Jeda]

Yesterday I received the email from the courier service to advise my documents are ready to pick up next Tuesday. I've instructed DHL to pick them up and they'll be back with me in a week and a half.

Now, the waiting game is on for the Ceremony Invite. Hopefully get that before Christmas

[MickByNameAndNature]

I received my letter and passports back by post on Monday, Feb 22. The letter is jammed full of notices not to contact them regarding the ceremony and that they are working to get it done as fast as possible. So, yes, the next step is more waiting.

[BostonBrit]

I applied from the US.
I applied on November 4, 2020
Documents arrived on November 18, 2020
Received an email to provide my availability for Biometric appointment on February 7, 2021

Thank you for this cobra2. Similarly, I applied from the US.
I applied on November 15, 2020 (confirmed application fee paid via email from noreply@visas-immigration.service.gov.uk)
Documents arrived on November 18, 2020 (known by UPS delivery confirmation only)
But I have yet to receive any other confirmation including receipt of documents, and have not had any other correspondence including biometric application notification. Hopefully I will see something soon. I get that Covid-19 disrupts everything, but this is quite a long silence with not a word from the Crown. As the Rolling Stones would say, Hang Fire.

Yeah, I tried to get confirmation that my documents had been received as all i had was confirmation from DHL, but I could not get anyone to respond to me. So my first correspondence was yesterday with the email about biometrics. Hopefully your email is coming soon. And lets hope this process can speed up a bit, I feel like my claim is pretty straight forward and I provided more than enough supporting documents.

Update: last week (17-Feb) I received an email from MMST FCT Callnotes <mmstfctcallnotes@homeoffice.gov.uk> thanking me for applying for British citizenship and requesting my availability to schedule biometrics. I responded the same day (17-Feb) to UKNationalityAppointmentsUS@homeoffice.gov.uk with my selected nearby location in the US, name, DOB, and my availability as requested ("giving 10 days notice" it said, and I'm quite open I must say, as I am working from home). The email instructed not to make such appointment with the local Application Support Centre directly (as I was already aware from this forum).

The email goes on to say, "Once you have emailed your availability you will receive a letter confirming your appointment. You will need to take this with you when you attend your appointment or you will be unable to enrol your biometrics. Your Reference number (beginning GWF9) will be located on this letter."

So I would assume the "letter confirming your appointment" will come via email, but I don't know. Now I'm wondering whether I should be looking in my USPS mailbox, or checking my email inbox carefully (including my junk folder), likewise in both cases each day for a month or so hoping I don't miss it! Does the biometric appointment letter come via email or post mail?

[MickByNameAndNature]

So I would assume the "letter confirming your appointment" will come via email, but I don't know. Now I'm wondering whether I should be looking in my USPS mailbox, or checking my email inbox carefully (including my junk folder), likewise in both cases each day for a month or so hoping I don't miss it! Does the biometric appointment letter come via email or post mail?

You get the letter as an attachment by email. Also, be prepared to wait for the appointment. I received my appointment about a month after giving my availability.

[BostonBrit]

So I would assume the "letter confirming your appointment" will come via email, but I don't know. Now I'm wondering whether I should be looking in my USPS mailbox, or checking my email inbox carefully (including my junk folder), likewise in both cases each day for a month or so hoping I don't miss it! Does the biometric appointment letter come via email or post mail?

You get the letter as an attachment by email. Also, be prepared to wait for the appointment. I received my appointment about a month after giving my availability.

Thank you, MickByNameAndNature! That saves me half the trouble (of checking my post box)!

[Timgoes]

Hello, has anyone used a lawyer to check or assist in their application and to write their cover letter and answer any questions through the process? If so who did you use and what did it cost? I have my UKM form filled out and I believe all of my needed documents but I just want to stack my chances of doing it right the first time and hopefully find some affordable assistance since this is my first time doing this, thank you.