BC time increased because Pre-Life in the UK test Applicant?

[K2004]

Hello All,

It seems that everyone is assuming that the timeline for BC application is longer due to the fact that HO are busy with the surge of applicants before the 1st of November,,

My question is:

are you saying to me that there was plenty of applicants who were sitting on their BC applications and not applying even when they are allowed to do so?

if it is the case , then why they should jump and apply before the 1st of November?? is it just to avoid the Test fees??? well everyone know that you should apply as soon as you can because fees are going to increase anyway...also reading through this board I see that 99% of BC applicants apply as soon as they are allowed to do so..

in my mind, i think that the IND are slow because something to do with the ELECTRONIC link between Life in the UK test centres and the IND..and nothing more..

just a thought,,,

[ppron747]

Hello All,

It seems that everyone is assuming that the timeline for BC application is longer due to the fact that HO are busy with the surge of applicants before the 1st of November,,

My question is:

are you saying to me that there was plenty of applicants who were sitting on their BC applications and not applying even when they are allowed to do so?

if it is the case , then why they should jump and apply before the 1st of November?? is it just to avoid the Test fees??? well everyone know that you should apply as soon as you can because fees are going to increase anyway...also reading through this board I see that 99% of BC applicants apply as soon as they are allowed to do so..

in my mind, i think that the IND are slow because something to do with the ELECTRONIC link between Life in the UK test centres and the IND..and nothing more..

just a thought,,,

Have we really left it long enough to form a view as to whether there has been a surge or not? I had the impression that things are moving along smoothly at the moment....

But I have to disagree with your view that 99% of people apply as soon as they are able - I think it is absolutely clear that there are many people who qualify but who haven't applied - and there always will be. As I said in another post earlier today, it simply isn't a priority for a lot of people, for a variety of reasons.

I'm old enough to have seen a real surge, back in the 1980s. Until 1983, Commonwealth citizens living in UK were entitled to be registered as citizens of the UK & Colonies after completing a residence requirement, and also the wives of citizens of the UK & Colonies were entitled to be registered, simply by virtue of being married to their British husband.

The 1981 Act removed these entitlements, but gave people a five year "grace period" during which they could still apply. I can well remember the TV News reports at Christmas 1987 showiing Lunar House in Croydon virtually under seige, with literally hundreds of people trying to submit their applications before the deadline finally expired on 31 Dec.

The fact that the tap was being turned off at the end of 1987 had been public knowledge since 1981, and by definition every one of these applicants had been entitled to apply for over five years - and often for a great deal longer than that - but they still left it until the very last moment.

Those late applications - and the thousands that arrived by post - were incredibly damaging to the speed with which HO dealt with cases. People were waiting for 3 or 4 years for their applications to be processed. Even straightforward child registrations were taking 18 months to 2 years. That's a surge!

If (and it's a big "If") the Home Office are taking a little longer this month than they were in October, I think it's only a temporary blip - more of a seasonal fluctuation, really...

[JAJ]

I'm old enough to have seen a real surge, back in the 1980s. Until 1983, Commonwealth citizens living in UK were entitled to be registered as citizens of the UK & Colonies after completing a residence requirement, and also the wives of citizens of the UK & Colonies were entitled to be registered, simply by virtue of being married to their British husband.

The 1981 Act removed these entitlements, but gave people a five year "grace period" during which they could still apply. I can well remember the TV News reports at Christmas 1987 showiing Lunar House in Croydon virtually under seige, with literally hundreds of people trying to submit their applications before the deadline finally expired on 31 Dec.

The fact that the tap was being turned off at the end of 1987 had been public knowledge since 1981, and by definition every one of these applicants had been entitled to apply for over five years - and often for a great deal longer than that - but they still left it until the very last moment.

Those late applications - and the thousands that arrived by post - were incredibly damaging to the speed with which HO dealt with cases. People were waiting for 3 or 4 years for their applications to be processed. Even straightforward child registrations were taking 18 months to 2 years. That's a surge!

And ironically, most of those who 'rushed' to beat the deadline on 31 December 1987 would still have been able to apply for and obtain naturalisation without any problems had they waited until 1988 or later.

The fact that naturalisation is 'discretionary' doesn't change the fact it will normally be granted if the statutory requirements are met.

[ppron747]

And ironically, most of those who 'rushed' to beat the deadline on 31 December 1987 would still have been able to apply for and obtain naturalisation without any problems had they waited until 1988 or later.

The fact that naturalisation is 'discretionary' doesn't change the fact it will normally be granted if the statutory requirements are met.

Yes - but IIRC the fee for registration was substantially lower than the naturalisation fee - presumably because fewer checks needed to be made. And even during "the big surge" registrations took less time to deal with. Having waited for years before bothering to apply, people then - of course - decided that they were in a desperate hurry for their applications to be processed! (No change there, then.....)