Naturalisation Process Severe Delays

[AmazonianX]

Hi Everyone

I’m having the same issue with my application, I applied on 14/01/2022 with my spouse and our son (12 years old)and submitted biometrics on 11/02/2022 after 6 months with no response I have sent several emails to all citizenship inquiries emails and I was getting the same standard response that they are waiting for checks. I filed a complaint after 9 months and complaint response was the same, I have escalated my complaint and on November 2022 UKVI admitted that my application was delayed due to IT issue I went further with my complaint to the Independent Examiner of Complaint (ICE) who’s been trying to get an update from home office but there was no solution, on begging of May 2023 the case worker sent me an inquiry asking to confirm my full name ( I always used one full name for more than 10 years) and since then I’m waiting and the last response from further inquiries was back to them waiting for the checks to be returned.
The (ICE) investigator is very responsive but it looks like their role is to chase the home office for updates but with no obligation for home office to respond.

I have requested a SAR 3 weeks ago and I have a question about SAR if someone know please dose SAR results comes back as an email or letter ?

You will get email(s) with attachments.

[hina_pirzada]

Hi Everyone

I’m having the same issue with my application, I applied on 14/01/2022 with my spouse and our son (12 years old)and submitted biometrics on 11/02/2022 after 6 months with no response I have sent several emails to all citizenship inquiries emails and I was getting the same standard response that they are waiting for checks. I filed a complaint after 9 months and complaint response was the same, I have escalated my complaint and on November 2022 UKVI admitted that my application was delayed due to IT issue I went further with my complaint to the Independent Examiner of Complaint (ICE) who’s been trying to get an update from home office but there was no solution, on begging of May 2023 the case worker sent me an inquiry asking to confirm my full name ( I always used one full name for more than 10 years) and since then I’m waiting and the last response from further inquiries was back to them waiting for the checks to be returned.
The (ICE) investigator is very responsive but it looks like their role is to chase the home office for updates but with no obligation for home office to respond.

I requested a SAR 3 weeks ago and I have a question about SAR if someone knows please dose SAR results comes back as an email or letter?

so your application is pending since Feb 2022. It's quite long. SAR result comes back depends what option did you select.

With regards to chasing Home Office, the best to chase through your local MP. Local MPs have contact with Home Office Engagement Team and normally they do meeting on a monthly basis about immigration complaints and updates on cases. I can understand how this time is difficult and we are suffering for nothing.

[Beloo]

Hi Again

I’m still waiting for the decision on my application although I just now finds out 2 days ago that when I check my right to work or rent it shows that my PRB card is either expired or invalid, my wife status check is still showing no time limit but mine not (I applied as main applicant)I’m not sure if that means anything regarding my application, I will update here if I hear anything

[Beloo]

Hi
It’s been the same with UKVI since last time I posted here but today I received my son’s Certificate so I’m a bit confused is this means they approved my son’s as he is a child and refused mine and my wife’s application I’m asking because I thought when family applied together they would send an email and children’s Certificate are to be collected at the ceremony
Dose anyone know how it works for family applications?

[alterhase58]

There is no family application. Every applicant is assessed separately and not altogether at the same time. So this is nothing new. And your son has been approved and issued his certificate. You can apply for his passport now. Your approvals are in the pipeline. Remember children’s registration is different from adults naturalization.

[Beloo]

So do they always send children’s certificates by post when they apply with parents ? I thought the parents would collect them along with their certificates that why I’m worried that they might refused us!

[alterhase58]

It’s no indication that your applications have stalled.
I have seen plenty of reports lately that certificates for children were sent by post. Note the certificate is the document that confers citizenship, same for adults.
All I can recommend is to wait a bit longer. If there was a problem you would know by now.

[Beloo]

Thank for your response alterhase58 it made me feel better yesterday and today my council sent me a ceremony invitation email , I still need the email or letter from HO to attend the ceremony but that wouldn’t be an issue I suppose, finally after 22 months wait.
Thank you all and good luck for everyone waiting

[alterhase58]

Congratulations.
The email letter from UKVI should come soon, but the council will book you in anyway, they have your certificates, so you are approved.

[uam225]

Hoping someone is still watching this thread…
Discovered this thread after having exhausted every other avenue. Been waiting for 2 years now and have had the same response as everyone else here.
We trying to make SAR after the advice given here but turns they require me to verify my id by a solicitor or charity! Never heard of that before since whenever I need to versification it’s the HO that provides that! Anyway, hoping to find out what others did?
Thanks

[MuhammadM86]

Hoping someone is still watching this thread…
Discovered this thread after having exhausted every other avenue. Been waiting for 2 years now and have had the same response as everyone else here.
We trying to make SAR after the advice given here but turns they require me to verify my id by a solicitor or charity! Never heard of that before since whenever I need to versification it’s the HO that provides that! Anyway, hoping to find out what others did?
Thanks

Yes it is required as part of their due diligences. Copy of Driving Licence or a Passport, verified by a solicitor would do, a lot of solicitors do the service, when I did mine cost me £20

[contorted_svy]

Hoping someone is still watching this thread…
Discovered this thread after having exhausted every other avenue. Been waiting for 2 years now and have had the same response as everyone else here.
We trying to make SAR after the advice given here but turns they require me to verify my id by a solicitor or charity! Never heard of that before since whenever I need to versification it’s the HO that provides that! Anyway, hoping to find out what others did?
Thanks

Have you raised a complaint? https://www.gov.uk/government/organisat ... -procedure

[MuhammadM86]

Complaint link https://www.gov.uk/government/organisat ... -procedure

I am not sure about the difference between the link above and this one, but this seems to be the one for UKVI.

[DanaG]

Hoping someone is still watching this thread…
Discovered this thread after having exhausted every other avenue. Been waiting for 2 years now and have had the same response as everyone else here.
We trying to make SAR after the advice given here but turns they require me to verify my id by a solicitor or charity! Never heard of that before since whenever I need to versification it’s the HO that provides that! Anyway, hoping to find out what others did?
Thanks

Yes it is required as part of their due diligences. Copy of Driving Licence or a Passport, verified by a solicitor would do, a lot of solicitors do the service, when I did mine cost me £20

it is not required any more…even if you have Checklist saying otherways…when I requested SAR about month ago I just quoted the HO website “We no longer require photo evidence to be certified.” ...and it was accepted

[Bibivaly]

Hoping someone is still watching this thread…
Discovered this thread after having exhausted every other avenue. Been waiting for 2 years now and have had the same response as everyone else here.
We trying to make SAR after the advice given here but turns they require me to verify my id by a solicitor or charity! Never heard of that before since whenever I need to versification it’s the HO that provides that! Anyway, hoping to find out what others did?
Thanks

I’m in the same situation, do you have any updates, have you done any further steps?

[uam225]

Hoping someone is still watching this thread…
Discovered this thread after having exhausted every other avenue. Been waiting for 2 years now and have had the same response as everyone else here.
We trying to make SAR after the advice given here but turns they require me to verify my id by a solicitor or charity! Never heard of that before since whenever I need to versification it’s the HO that provides that! Anyway, hoping to find out what others did?
Thanks

I’m in the same situation, do you have any updates, have you done any further steps?

I got the SAR, they have an incorrect alias. Only just getting around to getting it corrected due to lack of time.
The MP didn't really help. The first one just copied HO's email and the MP for the county we moved to got told the same thing HO has been saying to me and that's all he did.
Not sure what to do at this stage. A friend with Italian background only applied recently and has his ceremony booked this week, all within 3 months!

[contorted_svy]

You identified the roadblock and hopefully it will be resolved soon. Best of luck.

[secret.simon]

The MP didn't really help. The first one just copied HO's email and the MP for the county we moved to got told the same thing HO has been saying to me and that's all he did.

Not sure what you expected the MP to do anyway. MPs don't have any control or power over the Home Office. And I doubt that they would dare interfere in a naturalisation application.

Imagine if they try to expedite a naturalisation application and then the person whose citizenship they expedited or their family turned out to have an insalubrious or shady history. That could mean the end of their (the MP's) career.

At most all they would do is liaise between the applicant and the Home Office, which is exactly what both MPs have done in your case.

A friend with Italian background only applied recently and has his ceremony booked this week, all within 3 months!

I am from an Asian background, but my naturalisation was approved within a month and a half. Then again, my immigration history was clean. I held one salaried job across the five years, had no dependents, don't have a driver's license (so nothing to check there) and so barely any checks for the Home Office to do.

Worth looking at the rest of your immigration history. I would presume (I don't work for the Home Office, so this is speculation) that somebody who resided in the UK across multiple different visas/longer timeframe and/or those with dependents may take longer to get their approval, simply because there is more material to scrutinise.