UKM application experience and timeline

[Pallykin]

I will post an update as soon as I have any news!

[BritAtHeart]

Just updating my timeline as I've just received my approval letter and *huge sigh of relief* my passport. I've added details below about how long it took to make the special request for the early return of my passport, just in case anyone else finds themselves in similar circumstances.

Eligibility criteria: UKM
Nationality: Canada
Applying from: Canada
Method of application: Online
Date of application: 5 January 2023
Payment method: Credit card, payment debited immediately
Date supporting documents sent (Canada Post Registered Mail): 5 January 2023
Date supporting documents received by UKVI Liverpool: 13 January 2023
Date of email requesting biometrics: 28 Jan 2023
Date of email setting biometrics date: 28 Jan 2023
Date biometrics done (Vancouver VFS Global): 2 Feb 2023
*** Needed passport returned for travel***
Date formally requested passport back from further inquiries: June 8, 2023
Date passport return request acknowledged: June 12, 2023
Date return request escalated: June 23, 2023
Date of approval letter: June 30, 2023
Date of contact from UKVI courier services personnel: July 1, 2023
Date of UKVI courier pickup window: July 5, 2023 between 10:30 and 15:00
(overnight courier service at my own cost)
Date approval letter and documents received: July 10, 2023
Date of citizenship ceremony: <pending>
Date received citizenship certificate: <pending>

In the end, I believe I could have asked for my passport back very early on without it having any negative effect on my application (I mistakenly believed I could only request it after 6 months). The other thing I learned was that when couriering identity documents, there may be confusion around whether or not clearance documentation is needed, and every customer service agent may tell you something different until it gets caught up in a customs exception. After staying up two nights during UK business hours trying to get my package cleared, I filled out two customs documents: a commercial invoice (stating these were documents being returned to me with no commercial value, that had not or would not be sold) and a proforma invoice (stating the same). It's my understanding that this is normally an either or form situation, but with the conflicting info for me it was better to supply too much paperwork then too little. For the declared values, the customs broker insisted on a value being reported for each item - they accepted replacement cost for current docs, and a nominal value for expired passport (i.e. $5). They rejected the forms when I had listed $0 for the expired passport. These forms should have been completed in advance and sent with the shipping label to UKVI, but I had misinformation about these falling into the exception for "documents" but because they are not "communication" they are a whole different beast? I think every courier service is a little different, but this was my experience.

So yes, sigh of relief, I'm looking forward to my citizenship ceremony and upcoming travel to the UK!

[Triathlete]

Wow! Congratulations. But it took all of 6 months. I applied 20 April 23 so I guess I am looking at October, bummer. I guess with all the post-Brexit requests and all they are quite busy and with the need for Visas for summer tourism, they are working a lot of different cases.

[Pallykin]

Congratulations! That took most of six months. My UKM application from the US was submitted 23 March 2023 with biometrics 1 June 2023. So I have as much as another couple of months to go, which is longer than I had hoped.

Thank you for all the details about the return shipping. I was under the possibility mistaken impression that they send the documents back via DHL at UKVI’s expense. Do I have that wrong?

Do you consider your application to be complex? I think that of my application, as my oldest birth and marriage records date from the 1890s, which is before standardised birth and marriage records were established.

And did you email them FurtherNationalityEnquiries email address? I sent some additional documents to that address, and the automated reply email said that if your email was in regards to an application from abroad, they would not respond, as this was not the correct email address.

[Pallykin]

Wow! Congratulations. But it took all of 6 months. I applied 20 April 23 so I guess I am looking at October, bummer. I guess with all the post-Brexit requests and all they are quite busy and with the need for Visas for summer tourism, they are working a lot of different cases.

Hi Triathlete,
It’s my understanding that the team reviewing citizenship applications are not the same team that reviews visa applications, so we are not competing with as an example, people applying for student visas with an autumn course start date.

[Triathlete]

That was my understanding also but the most recent application took longer than the ones a couple of years ago so maybe personnel were dispatched elsewhere or there were retirements or something. In any event, we will probably have to be patient.
I think the reason for the overnight delivery may have been a personal request because he needed his passport quickly. From others I gathered that it was sent DHL and paid for by UKVI.

[BritAtHeart]

Hi Pallykin,

The courier stuff I only had to arrange for and pay for because I needed my CND passport back asap before my application was approved. They ended up sending me my approval letter at the same time, but I think this was because it just so happened my application had coincidentally just been approved.

I do not think my application was complex at all. All my records were 1900s and originals or certified copies. I do suspect my application got pulled into some kind of vortex though

I did email further national inquires (on the topic of getting my passport back early), got the same automatic email and they within a couple of business days redirected my email to someone who handled my request from what seemed like another department. If I'm reading their automatic reply correctly, they only answer queries from people looking for information on their nationality application after 6 months has gone by (which it had, in my case).

It was all very confusing but we got there in the end. Hope everything goes smoothly for you.

[Ballet]

Congratulations! That took most of six months. My UKM application from the US was submitted 23 March 2023 with biometrics 1 June 2023. So I have as much as another couple of months to go, which is longer than I had hoped.

Thank you for all the details about the return shipping. I was under the possibility mistaken impression that they send the documents back via DHL at UKVI’s expense. Do I have that wrong?

Do you consider your application to be complex? I think that of my application, as my oldest birth and marriage records date from the 1890s, which is before standardised birth and marriage records were established.

And did you email them FurtherNationalityEnquiries email address? I sent some additional documents to that address, and the automated reply email said that if your email was in regards to an application from abroad, they would not respond, as this was not the correct email address.

My application included hand written birth certificates and marriage certificates from London and South Africa. The earliest was from 1890s. My application was not complex and took 6 months.

I did not send my passport in but did include a color copy of every page including front and back covers. I sent a covering letter stating that I travel frequently and could not be without my passport at all.

[Pallykin]

UK Citizenship Timeline Update (still waiting...)

Eligibility criteria: UKM
Nationality: US
Applying from: US
Method of application: Online with documents sent via UPS to Liverpool
Date of application: 23 March 2023 (Thursday)
Payment method: Credit card. Payment acknowledged immediately by email: 23 March 23 2023 (Thursday)
Date supporting documents sent: 24 March 2023 (Friday)
Date of receipt by UKVI: (confirmation of delivery from UPS): 28 March 2023 (Tuesday)
Date of email requesting biometrics preferred location and availability: 15 April 2023 (Saturday)
Biometrics appointment email received: 17 May 2023 (Wednesday)
Biometrics appointment date: 1 June 2023 at 10am at the Boston area location
Replied to biometrics email and requested confirmation that biometrics were received: 21 July 2023
Received reply to my email 27 July 2023:

Dear
 
Thank you for your email. I apologise for the delay in replying. I can confirm that we have received your biometrics and your supporting documents. At present, there is no requirement for you to provide any additional information. Your application is in a queue awaiting consideration by a caseworker.
 
Unfortunately, we cannot provide regular updates and cannot provide a definitive application processing timescale.
 
We will endeavour to conclude the application at the earliest opportunity. Please be assured that, as soon as we are in a position to reach a decision, you will be notified accordingly.
 
Kind regards
 

Nationality Exceptions Team 
 
Passports, Citizenship & Civil Registration
1st Floor, Capital Building, 
New Hall Place, Liverpool, L3 9PP

[mfjp]

Updating my timeline as I just received notification of citizenship!

I qualified under section 4L, my solicitor advised to apply online with UKM attaching a cover letter rather than ARD which used a paper form and more expensive.

Oddly I didn’t receive any communication from UKVI, just an email from the borough that they had received my certificate and asking me to schedule a ceremony!

Eligibility criteria: UKM (Section 4L Historical Legislative Unfairness)
Nationality: Australia
Applying from: UK
Method of application: Online
Date of application: 18 March 2023
Date biometrics completed with UKVAS (London Mark Lane): 26 March 2023
Date of approval email/letter: 17 August 2023 (email from local council with ceremony request)
Date of citizenship ceremony: TBD
Date received citizenship certificate: TBD

[Triathlete]

CONGRATULATIONS. 5 Months and pretty nicely wrapped up. I’m still waiting at 4 months. Another month or two for me.

[dfernand]

How exactly does the home office / Liverpool UK Visas & Immigration center contact you regarding any further information that they require from you ? I've been scanning my emails and I've seen no communications regarding my UKM application since 5th April 2023 when I had my biometrics appointment in Madrid, Spain where they took my Spanish passport (temporarily) and took photos and finger prints etc. I applied for UKM around end of March 2023 so the biometrics appointment was obtained fairly fast.

I emailed ' Further Nationality Enquiries' and all I got was an automated email stating:

'Please be advised that if you are seeking progress of your application for British citizenship and it has been with the Home Office for less than 6 months, we will be unable to provide you with any further information or give you an update of your application and you will not receive a reply.'

which probably means I will get no reply, being left in limbo until end of September when they 'will' then start replying to my queries ?

I've been scanning my emails almost daily including Spam Folder for any communications from the UK government (searching for '.gov' or 'British Citizen Ship', 'Home Office' etc) and I can see nothing. Do they ever ring you up on your mobile ? I've received no letters from them here in Spain.

It's almost 5 months now since I applied and I've received zero communication from them. In my Further Enquries Email I re-stated my case and attached a copy of a document I received from the Madrid biometrics center when I asked for proof that I had attended. I was raised in the UK as an infant and was educated and worked there until my late 30's, having been resident in the UK constantly from infant to late 30s adult, so I have a UK national insurance number, UK education, UK bank accounts and credit history in the UK etc

My mother is living in the UK and has lived there constantly since I was an infant - she was born in England as were my grand parents, even my official Spanish surname (they use both mothers and fathers has the same surname as her surname at birth). Neither my mother or my British Citizen referees have been contacted either.

It should be a straight forward case with my application but it's a bit of a 'black box' when it comes to knowing how things are progressing etc. Also I'm noticing that some U.S. applicants already got their British Citizenship approved already who applied in March 2023 around the same time that I did.

Any advice regarding what I should do if the 6 months is up and I hear nothing ? Also I re-iterate, what form of communication does the UK Home Office /Liverpool UK Visas & Immigration center contact you with if they require more information ? if it's in email format 'what is the typical email address' or email 'header / title' ?

thanks for any opinions / advice.

[alterhase58]

The simple answer is that you won’t get any communication or status updates until the decision email is sent. Unless they actually want more details or documents.
This is the same for all nationality application types.

[dfernand]

The simple answer is that you won’t get any communication or status updates until the decision email is sent. Unless they actually want more details or documents.
This is the same for all nationality application types.

Ok, so my situation with the 5 months approaching fast since the biometrics and zero communication is 'typical' then.

[CR001]

The simple answer is that you won’t get any communication or status updates until the decision email is sent. Unless they actually want more details or documents.
This is the same for all nationality application types.

Ok, so my situation with the 5 months approaching fast since the biometrics and zero communication is 'typical' then.

It is normal not to hear everything, for every step of the process. UKM Registration applications generally take longer than naturalisation applications.

All you can do is wait unfortunately.

[Pallykin]

How exactly does the home office / Liverpool UK Visas & Immigration center contact you regarding any further information that they require from you ? I've been scanning my emails and I've seen no communications regarding my UKM application since 5th April 2023 when I had my biometrics appointment in Madrid, Spain where they took my Spanish passport (temporarily) and took photos and finger prints etc. I applied for UKM around end of March 2023 so the biometrics appointment was obtained fairly fast.

I emailed ' Further Nationality Enquiries' and all I got was an automated email stating:

'Please be advised that if you are seeking progress of your application for British citizenship and it has been with the Home Office for less than 6 months, we will be unable to provide you with any further information or give you an update of your application and you will not receive a reply.'

which probably means I will get no reply, being left in limbo until end of September when they 'will' then start replying to my queries ?

I've been scanning my emails almost daily including Spam Folder for any communications from the UK government (searching for '.gov' or 'British Citizen Ship', 'Home Office' etc) and I can see nothing. Do they ever ring you up on your mobile ? I've received no letters from them here in Spain.

It's almost 5 months now since I applied and I've received zero communication from them. In my Further Enquries Email I re-stated my case and attached a copy of a document I received from the Madrid biometrics center when I asked for proof that I had attended. I was raised in the UK as an infant and was educated and worked there until my late 30's, having been resident in the UK constantly from infant to late 30s adult, so I have a UK national insurance number, UK education, UK bank accounts and credit history in the UK etc

My mother is living in the UK and has lived there constantly since I was an infant - she was born in England as were my grand parents, even my official Spanish surname (they use both mothers and fathers has the same surname as her surname at birth). Neither my mother or my British Citizen referees have been contacted either.

It should be a straight forward case with my application but it's a bit of a 'black box' when it comes to knowing how things are progressing etc. Also I'm noticing that some U.S. applicants already got their British Citizenship approved already who applied in March 2023 around the same time that I did.

Any advice regarding what I should do if the 6 months is up and I hear nothing ? Also I re-iterate, what form of communication does the UK Home Office /Liverpool UK Visas & Immigration center contact you with if they require more information ? if it's in email format 'what is the typical email address' or email 'header / title' ?

thanks for any opinions / advice.

My UKM application date is 23 March 2023 with biometrics 1 June 2023. So, 5 months and a week of waiting as of today. And the waiting is very hard..

On 27 July they replied to one of my enquiries saying my application was still in a queue waiting to be assigned to a caseworker.

My application is not as straightforward as yours, mine is double descent as my mother was born before 1949.

I will post here when I get a result…

[Triathlete]

Mind you the wait for 6 months is much shorter than Ireland which can take 18 months or more, the United States which can take 2 years or more. But here’s how the wait feels for United Kingdom .
1. Month 1 hustling to get documents and prepare application. Checking the Boards to make sure you are not making a mistake. Relooking the UKVI guidance because of all the 22 examples none fits yours exactly. Then you file your application and begin the wait
2. Month 2 you are waiting for the email with your Biometrics appointment. You are a bit excited and can barely wait for your Biometrics. Biometrics logistics are a bit doubling but eventually your Biometrics are complete.
3. Month 3 you remain anxiously waiting some kind of recognition that your Biometrics have been received and everything is ok. Wondering if you have any unpaid parking tickets or anything else which can shuttle your application. You know you are ok but you still want some kind of validation. You check the Boards and realize the process is in motion and no recognition is coming at this point.
4. Month 4 you are becoming inpatient. You think your application is stellar and are optimistic that you will get an unusually quick decision. You check the Immigration oars again and see that virtually no one gets a 4 month decision. Still inpatient and hopeful.
5. Month 5 and still no word or Devin and you are rapidly becoming resigned that you’ll just have to wait the 6 months and you start to feel resigned that this is the process. 6 months is relatively quick but it also seems like a lifetime.
6. Month 6 and you are just waiting almost forgetful that the process has happened. You know there is little chance that you will hear anything until shortly after 6 months from application submitted.
7. Month 7 and you receive notification that DHL is sending you something. Scared and excited and exhilarated, you can barely wait the 2 days it takes from the DHL email until you actually receive the package with your documents. Inside is your approval notice and anxiety turns into joy.
8. Month 8 and you are waiting for your Citizenship Ceremony to take place. Again excitement reigns. You will soon be British.
9. Month 9 and citizenship ceremony takes place and you can finally apply for your UK passport.
10. Month 10 and you receive your passport. Journey is over and you feel validated and successful. What’s next?

[Pallykin]

Mind you the wait for 6 months is much shorter than Ireland which can take 18 months or more, the United States which can take 2 years or more. But here’s how the wait feels for United Kingdom .
1. Month 1 hustling to get documents and prepare application. Checking the Boards to make sure you are not making a mistake. Relooking the UKVI guidance because of all the 22 examples none fits yours exactly. Then you file your application and begin the wait
2. Month 2 you are waiting for the email with your Biometrics appointment. You are a bit excited and can barely wait for your Biometrics. Biometrics logistics are a bit doubling but eventually your Biometrics are complete.
3. Month 3 you remain anxiously waiting some kind of recognition that your Biometrics have been received and everything is ok. Wondering if you have any unpaid parking tickets or anything else which can shuttle your application. You know you are ok but you still want some kind of validation. You check the Boards and realize the process is in motion and no recognition is coming at this point.
4. Month 4 you are becoming inpatient. You think your application is stellar and are optimistic that you will get an unusually quick decision. You check the Immigration oars again and see that virtually no one gets a 4 month decision. Still inpatient and hopeful.
5. Month 5 and still no word or Devin and you are rapidly becoming resigned that you’ll just have to wait the 6 months and you start to feel resigned that this is the process. 6 months is relatively quick but it also seems like a lifetime.
6. Month 6 and you are just waiting almost forgetful that the process has happened. You know there is little chance that you will hear anything until shortly after 6 months from application submitted.
7. Month 7 and you receive notification that DHL is sending you something. Scared and excited and exhilarated, you can barely wait the 2 days it takes from the DHL email until you actually receive the package with your documents. Inside is your approval notice and anxiety turns into joy.
8. Month 8 and you are waiting for your Citizenship Ceremony to take place. Again excitement reigns. You will soon be British.
9. Month 9 and citizenship ceremony takes place and you can finally apply for your UK passport.
10. Month 10 and you receive your passport. Journey is over and you feel validated and successful. What’s next?

I can so relate… I’m almost at 5 and a half months wait. That doesn’t include the two months I spent putting my application together, gathering the documents, and writing the narrative explaining my case.

I’ve signed up for a DHL account which appears to have the feature of notifying you if you have a package coming to you. Let’s hope it works!

[dfernand]

I thought the approval (or rejection) arrived by email not DHL and then the ceremony and then the Certificate of British Citizenship + any original documentation you sent UKVI Liverpool sent back to you via DHL. Is that how the final stages work if you are living abroad in Europe ?

Also if you are applying for UKM from abroad - does the British passport which arrives later, is that sent to you via DHL or can it be sent to the local British Embassy instead where you can go pick it up ?

cheers.

[Triathlete]

@Dfernand. I honestly have no idea to any of your questions. I reviewed these Boards and people said they got their acceptance letter in the packet with their documents via DHL. I am only in month 4 1/2 and am entering the patience state of only having to wait another 2 months, so I really am just going to relax and let them do their job. Brexit probably caused many complications for UKVI and processing crunches. Also having to deal with EUSS and visa issues and all kinds of situations, they are busy. I am just happy that it is only taking about 6 months. It did take me about 3-4 months to get all my documents, so add that to the mix. It took me 4 months to get my mother’s birth certificate (from the US) and only 10 days to get my grandparents birth certificates from Ireland and Scotland. Go figure. So I am quite happy with the processing times for the UK actually. I have seen many people applying in the US waiting a minimum of 2 years to sometimes 30 years from approval. So the UK is excellent in comparison. Cheers!

[dfernand]

@Dfernand. I honestly have no idea to any of your questions. I reviewed these Boards and people said they got their acceptance letter in the packet with their documents via DHL. I am only in month 4 1/2 and am entering the patience state of only having to wait another 2 months, so I really am just going to relax and let them do their job. Brexit probably caused many complications for UKVI and processing crunches. Also having to deal with EUSS and visa issues and all kinds of situations, they are busy. I am just happy that it is only taking about 6 months. It did take me about 3-4 months to get all my documents, so add that to the mix. It took me 4 months to get my mother’s birth certificate (from the US) and only 10 days to get my grandparents birth certificates from Ireland and Scotland. Go figure. So I am quite happy with the processing times for the UK actually. I have seen many people applying in the US waiting a minimum of 2 years to sometimes 30 years from approval. So the UK is excellent in comparison. Cheers!

Yeah we should count our blessings that it's 'around' 6 months or so. Also dunno if the UK case workers themselves go direct to the foreign countries (with help of a language translator if need be) or if they use third party organizations. It's a bit of a black box and having to wait 6 months before you can even ask for an update is a bit too much almost. I was worried that my biometric data hadn't been received etc. Also the tracing family history mustn't be easy either, it's not always black or white in some cases.

[Triathlete]

@Dfernand. You have only one case, so it is everything to you. These are trained professionals who have seen thousands of cases (or at least hundreds) and they have a team to collaborate with and supervisors who are highly trained to view those things and even on staff solicitors to review questionably difficult situations. Do not worry about the particulars of your case. I am sure they have seen many like it or close to it. Remember they have the overwhelming number of applications for this process coming from India, Hong Kong and other former colonies where documentation is a bit less than European standards. So fear not, wait patiently and be surprised when you get notification. take a trip, enjoy the fall colors, take your mind off the process and it will happen before you know it. Watching everyday is pointless and frustrating. there is no need for frustration. they indicate that most applications take 6 months and so far according to the Boards, that is what it takes and that is far more proficient than most other countries.

[dfernand]

I'm under two weeks from month 6, so could anyone tell me what exactly I should be looking out for just to prevent me missing anything, please ?

Does the rejection / acceptance decision from the the UK Home office for UKM arrive by e-mail, DHL Post or both ?

If you are accepted does the ceremony invitation arrive along with the rejection / acceptance decision by the UK Home Office or does it arrive later and is it by e-mail /DHL or both ?

Finally I assume that the certificate for British Citizenship arrives by DHL.

How are you notified regarding the DHL letters from the UK Home Office, are you e-mailed prior to delivery, do they ring you on the phone you provided the UK Home Office with ( if you're not at home when they call) or do they phone text you beforehand ?

[CR001]

I'm under two weeks from month 6, so could anyone tell me what exactly I should be looking out for just to prevent me missing anything, please ?

Does the rejection / acceptance decision from the the UK Home office for UKM arrive by e-mail, DHL Post or both ?

If you are accepted does the ceremony invitation arrive along with the rejection / acceptance decision by the UK Home Office or does it arrive later and is it by e-mail /DHL or both ?

Finally I assume that the certificate for British Citizenship arrives by DHL.

How are you notified regarding the DHL letters from the UK Home Office, are you e-mailed prior to delivery, do they ring you on the phone you provided the UK Home Office with ( if you're not at home when they call) or do they phone text you beforehand ?

Approval email first.

Citizinship ceremony invite second, also depends where you are based on how long it will take.

You receive your certificate at the ceremony!

Please do take the time to read through this topic about members experiences. Many have posted detailed accounts of the process

[Pallykin]

People like me who have applied from abroad had to send their application documents via courier to Liverpool. It is my understanding that they use DHL to return these documents. I'm hoping that I will receive an alert from my DHL account when they send my documents back. People have been caught out when their documents were returned without warning. In some cases, people learned the outcome of their application when they read the letter included with their documents.

The approval is supposed to come via email from home.office.atlas@notifications.service.gov.uk. You might want to add this email address to your contacts list to ensure the email doesn't end up in your spam folder. Sometimes the home office fails to send this email. It is sent a few days after your application is approved.

Some councils/consulates require that you bring the home office atlas email to your citizenship, so if you didn't receive it, you will need to chase it by emailing FurtherNationalityEnquiries@homeoffice.gov.uk

Sometimes people learn that their application has been approved when further nationality replies to an email providing additional information. This seems to be a matter of good timing and a kind caseworker.

The citizenship certificate is presented to you at your citizenship ceremony. It is sent by the home office either to your council if you are in the UK, or the consulate nearest you if your are abroad.

Once you have had your ceremony, make a scan or take a photo of your certificate, and then send it off with a colour photocopy of your passport (all pages) as the supporting documents for your first adult passport application. The passport process is much faster and more transparent than visa or citizenship applications.

The UK government has published statistics: 200,362 applications for citizenship were submitted in the year ending March 2023, an 11% increase over the year ending 2022.