14 months wait and counting for naturalisation

[hiberdianThistle]

Hello,

I'm writing to ask if anyone has been in a similar situation to myself and if there's any advice (other than wait) that I can take on board.

Here's my situation:
- I applied for naturalisation in November 2023, and I am yet to hear back (as of Jan 23rd 2025).
- After 6 months, I received the auto generated email. I asked my MP to follow up, they received the same response.
- After 7 months, I raised a complaint, received the same templated response and then took it for review.
- After 8 months:
- I asked for a SAR. The information I received showed no pending checks.
- The response for the review of the complaint was not helpful.
- After 13 months: I raised it with the OIEC.
- Today: the OIEC said they raised my points with the HO, the HO rejected my points of the complaint and so the OIEC is taking it on board but there's a big shortage of investigators and the current wait is 10 months.

My own background:
- Came into this country legally 12 years ago (I was a child) and my family claimed asylum as they were political dissidents.
- 3 years after the asylum application, we were granted refugee status.
- 5 years later we applied for ILR.
- 1 year later we were granted ILR.
- 1 year later I applied for naturalisation.
- History:
- No criminal records.
- No points on driving license.
- No financial problems; never declared bankruptcy.
- Never been a member of an extremist organisation, group, etc.
- Graduated from top university, work in the city.
- Long-term partner is a British citizen.

My main question is what do I do next?
Due to the wait for citizenship, I had to reject work opportunities abroad due to employers not recognising the refugee travel document and other work opportunities in countries that do not allow holders of such documents to travel to it. Even in countries that recognise it (e.g. USA), work trips had to be cancelled as in the embassy they were suspicious of such a document.

[lolo2]

A member posted the steps they followed to get their citizenship approved after more than 10 months.

Check it out: https://www.immigrationboards.com/viewt ... p?t=346267

[contorted_svy]

Hello,

I'm writing to ask if anyone has been in a similar situation to myself and if there's any advice (other than wait) that I can take on board.

Here's my situation:
- I applied for naturalisation in November 2023, and I am yet to hear back (as of Jan 23rd 2025).
- After 6 months, I received the auto generated email. I asked my MP to follow up, they received the same response.
- After 7 months, I raised a complaint, received the same templated response and then took it for review.
- After 8 months:
- I asked for a SAR. The information I received showed no pending checks.
- The response for the review of the complaint was not helpful.
- After 13 months: I raised it with the OIEC.
- Today: the OIEC said they raised my points with the HO, the HO rejected my points of the complaint and so the OIEC is taking it on board but there's a big shortage of investigators and the current wait is 10 months.

My own background:
- Came into this country legally 12 years ago (I was a child) and my family claimed asylum as they were political dissidents.
- 3 years after the asylum application, we were granted refugee status.
- 5 years later we applied for ILR.
- 1 year later we were granted ILR.
- 1 year later I applied for naturalisation.
- History:
- No criminal records.
- No points on driving license.
- No financial problems; never declared bankruptcy.
- Never been a member of an extremist organisation, group, etc.
- Graduated from top university, work in the city.
- Long-term partner is a British citizen.

My main question is what do I do next?
Due to the wait for citizenship, I had to reject work opportunities abroad due to employers not recognising the refugee travel document and other work opportunities in countries that do not allow holders of such documents to travel to it. Even in countries that recognise it (e.g. USA), work trips had to be cancelled as in the embassy they were suspicious of such a document.

You followed all the steps in the process - not many people manage to get their complaint escalated to the IEC (not a great record to hold, but one nonetheless).
Contact the HO secretary and the undersecretary of migration, with the full timeline and the toll it has taken on you (maybe be careful in mentioning you'd like to go abroad immediately after becoming a British citizen as it may not look good with the future intentions requirement).

Contacts:

https://members.parliament.uk/member/420/contact
https://members.parliament.uk/member/4253/contact

If a mod sees these contacts, could they please add them to the sticky with instructions on how to chase late applications.

[hiberdianThistle]

Contact the HO secretary and the undersecretary of migration, with the full timeline and the toll it has taken on you (maybe be careful in mentioning you'd like to go abroad immediately after becoming a British citizen as it may not look good with the future intentions requirement).

Contacts:

https://members.parliament.uk/member/420/contact
https://members.parliament.uk/member/4253/contact

Thank you very much for the recommendation.

I have actually emailed both back in October (11 months wait).

The HO secretary never replied.

The undersecretary of migration responded with a forwarded reply from "Customer Operations Support Services" saying "At this time, I am unable to add anything further to our response of 30 September 2024".

As it has been some time, I should probably try emailing again.

[contorted_svy]

You could also try requesting another updated SAR and attach it to your email.

[hiberdianThistle]

You could also try requesting another updated SAR and attach it to your email.

Just sent another one, thank you!

Will report back here in case of any updates.

[contorted_svy]

Hopefully things move along - there aren't many cases that take this long, it's always unfortunate when they don't respond timely.

[asimuk]

I am also in same situation and waiting since November 2023 and after so many emails not yet any good news.im totally frustrated due to this long wait.

[b44b5]

I have been waiting slightly longer than you , with almost identical story.

I have applied on the 23rd of June 2023.
Entered country legally in 2016 through TIER5 Visa, and then applied to family visa when wife arrived)
I have Settled status through EU scheme (Through wife , now ex wife and divorce still not finalised)
I am from Sudan (Thought alot if this could be the reason, perhaps checks with sudanese embassy taking longer? it wouldn't be unusual)

Have 3 points on my license which I declared (for speeding)


Multiple complaints raised - only to receive generic reply.
PM emailed them on two occasions - received generic reply.
Undersecretary emailed - never replied
SARU done - some bits are redacted (Is this the same for you too?) - no clear reason for delay.

I have lost faith in the complaint system PM or undersecretary.
I do not think there is anything we can do as they will always claim there are pending checks, and there is nothing we can do know what these checks are!

[contorted_svy]

If you received a response to any of your complaints you can ask for a review.

[asimuk]

i was divorced back 2018 and have my ilr 2021 and applied for passport 11 November still 2023 and also have 3 points which mentioned in application and have 3 more points which i later send them email and my DBS clear no issue still checks going on no idea what kind od checks .I recently received email for saru and it say my case with other person or organization and last further action was updated in November 2024 and after that nothing special.I have send them email again and lodge review against last appeal as well email my MP.
sadly its waiting game and recently i have child born outside of uk and due to this long process he is not eligible to apply passport.

[b44b5]

My application was in 26/6/2023

I complained to the undersecretary of immigration and citizenship.

This is the response I got today.

Thank you for your email correspondence of 26 February 2025 to the Minister for Migration and Citizenship about your application for Nationality. Your enquiry has been passed to me to reply.



We are sorry that we have not been able to conclude you application within our Service Level Agreement.



We are progressing your application and do not seek to delay any consideration unnecessarily.



We will write to inform you of our decision at the earliest opportunity.



We believe we have addressed all the points you have raised. If you do have any further questions, please contact us at: www.gov.uk/contact-ukvi-inside-outside-uk




To me this is a polite way of them saying "don't bother us we will get it done when we feel like it"

[contorted_svy]

Have you received a response to any of your complaints?

[b44b5]

Only generic responses .

I havent received any response to the many requests to review the complaints.

[smaj99]

I am in a similar circumstance.
I applied in Feb. 2024
Received the automatic email by the sixth month saying the application cannot be completed within 6 months blah blah. Funny enough, it had someone else’s name but my reference number. I complained about that and they apologised.

I have sent series of emails on the 12 months of application (Feb 2025). I received the standard email that naturalisation is not automatic and all.
I plan to send another email on the 14 months of application.

[contorted_svy]

Did you lodge a complaint?

[smaj99]

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

[contorted_svy]

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

[b44b5]

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.

[contorted_svy]

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

[asimuk]

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

[b44b5]

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?

[contorted_svy]

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