6 month+ wait (naturalisation), got message from caseworker, what next?

[trapjaw]

Hi everyone. I applied for citizenship via naturalisation on December 1st 2024. I did my biometrics on December 23rd. There is nothing complicated about my application, I thought it would be very straightforward. I was contacted in late January by my caseworker to clarify some info regarding my application (place of birth), which I did, and they then said all was well.

There's been nothing from the Home Office since then. I haven't received the "your case is complicated and we will need more time etc" email or the "there's been an IT issue" email or anything ... just nothing. Radio silence.

I waited until the 1st of June (my 6 month mark, mentioned in the correspondence from the caseworker) and then followed the steps outlined in one of the threads that outline the steps to take if you've been waiting 6+ months and haven't had a decision.

I already previously emailed citizenship support about a month ago asking if there's been any progress but have had no response thus far.

On June 1st I emailed most of the addresses in the list on the guide thread, but I also emailed the caseworker who had previously asked me to clarify my place of birth. Much to my surprise (after reading a lot of threads on here about how you'll only get an email response in weeks if you're lucky) the caseworker emailed me on the 2nd June.

Here's part of the email response I received:
"Please note that the 6 month service standard is therefore a guide only & it is not a right to a decision after 6 months.
The enquiries are still ongoing in regards to your application and we are sorry for the delay.
As soon as the enquiries outstanding on your application are completed, I will ensure that an immediate decision is taken, and that you will be notified accordingly."

It doesn't say anything specific, pretty much a boilerplate response, but I did get it literally the morning after I emailed this caseworker.

What should I do next? Sit tight and wait, or start an official complaint? Write to my MP? Or is this stuff only done when you don't get a response?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated! This long wait has been beyond agonising.

[contorted_svy]

You can lodge a complaint and contact your MP, but as you noted the response you got was boilerplate and it is what you are likely to get if you lodge a complaint. Worth a try, but there is no guarantee of a quick response and MPs often get the same boilerplate responses.

[alterhase58]

Also note that the six months target is not a guaranteed service promise... it's an aspiration...

[trapjaw]

Yeah, I guess I'm just wondering if putting more pressure on them at this stage will speed things up at all.

[contorted_svy]

Very unlikely. There are constant reports on the forum of UKVi unresponsiveness on delayed citizenship applications.