Naturalisation application processing timelines (only)

[maggie786]

Eligibility criteria: spouse oof british citizen + 1 week ilr
Language criteria met: Life in the UK + B1 english test
Current nationality: Pakistani
Method of application: NCS
Council name if NCS used:southhall
Date of application: 15/01/2015
Payment method: Debit card
Date of receipt by UKBA: 16/01/2015
Date of acknowledgment: 26/01/2015
Date of debit or clearance of fees: 26/01/2015
Date approval received: waiting

[Misty]

I received the same letter yesterday the 6th of February 2015 and I applied in August. This is just a piss take but o well. All is well for those who trust in HIM.

[dkara]

Hi all,

I have seen questions about naturalizing without ILR or PR card. I am EEA citizen and I applied for British citizenship in October 2014. I did not have ILR or PR but at the time I applied I had completed 6 years in UK. During these years I had been studying towards a PhD degree and at the same time I had been working at uni to meet my expenses. I received my approval letter last week (in less than 4 months!). I believe I am an example of an EEA citizen who had been exercising his treaty rights continuously for 6 years and was granted citizenship without ILR or PR card. My timelines are as follows:

Eligibility criteria: 6 years EEA without ILR or PR card
Language criteria met: UK PhD degree + Life in The UK Test
Method of application: Special delivery by lawyer
Date of application: 20/10/2014
Date application received: 21/10/2014
Payment method: Debit Card
Date of debit or clearance of fees: 05/11/2014
Date of acknowledgment letter received: 13/11/2014 dated 05/11/2014
Date approval received: 05/02/2015 dated 30/01/2015
Date of ceremony: TBC

[Badman87]

Guys, it's so sad to hear about people waiting 6 months or more. I have only just applied and hope not to wait that long. HO have a weird way of processing applications but I knew applying before October would be a very bad decision seeing as the new rules were implemented, couple with the massive backlog of passport applications. Therefore, old applications are probably archived somewhere. Lets all pray and hope- it's all we have.

[happyguy82]

so it seems that the trigger is always 'immigration history'. any suggestions as to what factors might have triggered this?

[Magdalena L]

Got a letter from home office saying.

I am writing in regard to your outstanding application for BC, we aim to process all application within 6months from the date submitted, however in certain circumstances this target is not possible, following out assessment of your case, unfortunately it appears your application will not be processed within the 6month target.

Following recent clarification of the nationality rules greater levels of scrutiny will be applied to certain applications. this will be dependent on certain indicators within their immigration history that pre date the application for BC ( I HAVE NEVER BROKEN IMMIGRATION LAW AS I HAVE ALWAYS HAD THE RIGHT VISA AND ABIDE BY IT)

Your case has been identified as such a case and will not be decided within 6months ( its 6months already anyway)

We expect to make a decision on your application within the next 3-6 months, but we will write to you again if this is not going to be possible. Pls note we will contact you with further update and can advise you do not need to contact us again unless your circumstances change significantly.

Yours
Nationality casework.


Well at least i know i now have a case worker looking at the application after 6months, so i expect anyone whos application is 6months and over will start receiving this letters soon.

Good luck

today I received same letter .
I think they sent to all people who was waiting more than 6 months

I've got the same letter

[slough_Boy]

Hey people pliz don't causr unnecessary protest..its not your right to have brit passport. .just wait and be positive. IIt will come when they are done..

well said

[happygirl0580]

Hi All Need Help here - I Applied for British Citizen Ship 6 Months Ago Which run out on 27-01-15, Today i received a letter from H.O, dated 03-02-15, that application is stil under consideration and they will let me know within next 3 or 6 months ,
letter says following.

Recent clarification of the nationality rules greater levels of scrutiny will be applied for certain applications, this will depend on certain indicators within thier immigration history that pre date the application for british citizenship, your case has been identified as such a case and will not be decided within 6 months, , we expect to make decsion on your application within the next 3- 6 months but we will write to you again if this is not going to be possible , and they have told not to contact them.
Do u all know on what basis they could have held the application.

Please suggest.

I received this letter today.

[meb4ne1]

Eligibility criteria: 10 years + 1 year ILR
Language criteria met: UK degree
Current nationality: Pakistani
Method of application: Postal
Date of application: 05-Feb-2015
Payment method: Cheque
Date of receipt by UKVI: 06-Feb-2015
Date of acknowledgment: Waiting ..
Date of debit or clearance of fees: Waiting ..
Date approval received: Waiting ..
Date of ceremony: Waiting ..

The wait starts again....

[ollymma]

Application Timeline
Eligibility criteria: 2yr HSMP + 3yr Tier 1 (+ 1yr ILR (Self + Wife + Children)
Nationality: Nigerian
Method of application: Postal (through Solicitor)
Date sent to UKBA: 07/01/2015
Date of receipt by UKBA: 08/01/2015
Date of debit of fees: 14/01/2015
Date of receipt of acknowledgement: 19/01/2015 (dated 14/01/2015)
Date of receipt of approval: 04/02/2015 (dated 30/01/2015)
Date of Ceremony: Wednesday 11/02/2015

Praise be to God....Hallelujah. Next is to go for out British Passport. It has been really great the support from the forum. Appreciated and thanks to all. For those waiting, the Lord will work a way through for your applications in Jesus Name...AMEN.

[syed1980]

Hi All Need Help here - I Applied for British Citizen Ship 6 Months Ago Which run out on 27-01-15, Today i received a letter from H.O, dated 03-02-15, that application is stil under consideration and they will let me know within next 3 or 6 months ,
letter says following.

Recent clarification of the nationality rules greater levels of scrutiny will be applied for certain applications, this will depend on certain indicators within thier immigration history that pre date the application for british citizenship, your case has been identified as such a case and will not be decided within 6 months, , we expect to make decsion on your application within the next 3- 6 months but we will write to you again if this is not going to be possible , and they have told not to contact them.
Do u all know on what basis they could have held the application.

Please suggest.

[Rahel1984]

hello everyone if makes you feel better i applied mine 09/04/2014 have contacted the home office after 6 months to ask what's going on is there anything i should be knowing why is taking this long they keep telling me same story,until i decided to contact my local MP and told her everything she contacted 4 weeks ago then today the home office wrote me letter saying this i have lived in UK for 11 years never been arrested or been to court its shocking to me spending all this months wondering when will i get respond its very stressful now 3 or 6 months more lord.

I am writing in regard to your outstanding application for British Citizenship.

We aim to process all application within 6 months from the date submitted.
However, in certain circumstances this target is not possible. Following our assessment of your case, unfortunately it appears your application will not be processed within the 6 month target.

Following recent clarification of the Nationality rules greater levels of scrutiny will be applied to certain applications. This will be dependent on certain indicators within their immigration history that pre-date the application for British Citizenship.

We expect to make a decision on your application within the next 3-6 months, but we will write to you again if this is not going to be possible. Please note we will contact you with further updates and can advise you do not need to contact us again unless your circumstances change significantly.

This also applies to any family members whose applications for citizenship were submitted at the same time.

Yours sincerely."

I think our application has been assigned with the caseworker now at least

[misskebede]

hello everyone if makes you feel better i applied mine 09/04/2014 have contacted the home office after 6 months to ask what's going on is there anything i should be knowing why is taking this long they keep telling me same story,until i decided to contact my local MP and told her everything she contacted 4 weeks ago then today the home office wrote me letter saying this i have lived in UK for 11 years never been arrested or been to court its shocking to me spending all this months wondering when will i get respond its very stressful now 3 or 6 months more lord.

I am writing in regard to your outstanding application for British Citizenship.

We aim to process all application within 6 months from the date submitted.
However, in certain circumstances this target is not possible. Following our assessment of your case, unfortunately it appears your application will not be processed within the 6 month target.

Following recent clarification of the Nationality rules greater levels of scrutiny will be applied to certain applications. This will be dependent on certain indicators within their immigration history that pre-date the application for British Citizenship.

We expect to make a decision on your application within the next 3-6 months, but we will write to you again if this is not going to be possible. Please note we will contact you with further updates and can advise you do not need to contact us again unless your circumstances change significantly.

This also applies to any family members whose applications for citizenship were submitted at the same time.

Yours sincerely."

[benson147]

Got a letter from home office saying.

I am writing in regard to your outstanding application for BC, we aim to process all application within 6months from the date submitted, however in certain circumstances this target is not possible, following out assessment of your case, unfortunately it appears your application will not be processed within the 6month target.

Following recent clarification of the nationality rules greater levels of scrutiny will be applied to certain applications. this will be dependent on certain indicators within their immigration history that pre date the application for BC ( I HAVE NEVER BROKEN IMMIGRATION LAW AS I HAVE ALWAYS HAD THE RIGHT VISA AND ABIDE BY IT)

Your case has been identified as such a case and will not be decided within 6months ( its 6months already anyway)

We expect to make a decision on your application within the next 3-6 months, but we will write to you again if this is not going to be possible. Pls note we will contact you with further update and can advise you do not need to contact us again unless your circumstances change significantly.

Yours
Nationality casework.


Well at least i know i now have a case worker looking at the application after 6months, so i expect anyone whos application is 6months and over will start receiving this letters soon.

Good luck

Yet again another excuses for HO to as why application hasn't been processed, all bullocks, i will just wait and hope the letter turn up one day lol.

[Babloo85]

Received a letter today telling me the same crap like everyone else.
"We are doing to scrutiny on certain cases after chief inspector's report and your case is one of them that's why it isn't processed in 6 months and it can take another 6 months or even more but we will contact you. We advise you not to contact us again unless your circumstances change."

What about the scrutiny of those who's applications been processed in a week even after chief inspector report and what the hell my application was doing for last 6 months even before that report.

[awnoor]

Got a letter from home office saying.

I am writing in regard to your outstanding application for BC, we aim to process all application within 6months from the date submitted, however in certain circumstances this target is not possible, following out assessment of your case, unfortunately it appears your application will not be processed within the 6month target.

Following recent clarification of the nationality rules greater levels of scrutiny will be applied to certain applications. this will be dependent on certain indicators within their immigration history that pre date the application for BC ( I HAVE NEVER BROKEN IMMIGRATION LAW AS I HAVE ALWAYS HAD THE RIGHT VISA AND ABIDE BY IT)

Your case has been identified as such a case and will not be decided within 6months ( its 6months already anyway)

We expect to make a decision on your application within the next 3-6 months, but we will write to you again if this is not going to be possible. Pls note we will contact you with further update and can advise you do not need to contact us again unless your circumstances change significantly.

Yours
Nationality casework.


Well at least i know i now have a case worker looking at the application after 6months, so i expect anyone whos application is 6months and over will start receiving this letters soon.

Good luck

today I received same letter .
I think they sent to all people who was waiting more than 6 months

[zara1364]

What a surprise!

I applied mid August also and received this very letter also!

I will contact our MP soon to write to them.

[Rahel1984]

I think everyone waiting more than 6 months got this letter. I got one too.

[benson147]

Got a letter from home office saying.

I am writing in regard to your outstanding application for BC, we aim to process all application within 6months from the date submitted, however in certain circumstances this target is not possible, following out assessment of your case, unfortunately it appears your application will not be processed within the 6month target.

Following recent clarification of the nationality rules greater levels of scrutiny will be applied to certain applications. this will be dependent on certain indicators within their immigration history that pre date the application for BC ( I HAVE NEVER BROKEN IMMIGRATION LAW AS I HAVE ALWAYS HAD THE RIGHT VISA AND ABIDE BY IT)

Your case has been identified as such a case and will not be decided within 6months ( its 6months already anyway)

We expect to make a decision on your application within the next 3-6 months, but we will write to you again if this is not going to be possible. Pls note we will contact you with further update and can advise you do not need to contact us again unless your circumstances change significantly.

Yours
Nationality casework.


Well at least i know i now have a case worker looking at the application after 6months, so i expect anyone whos application is 6months and over will start receiving this letters soon.

Good luck

[OrangeSceptre]

Hello Folks,

I applied in August 2014 and got a letter today from the HO stating that they will not be able to process my application within the 6 months and due to additional scrutiny etc it can take 3-6 months or more. I am getting very worried now. Mine was a straight forward application for my family - 2 + 2 dependants. What can be done now ..can someone please advise?
Regards
T

[Rahel1984]

My brother applied 2 weeks after me on 22nd of july last year. He got his approval today.

[akhurshid]

Yeah and it also says that if they can't decide the application within 6 months, they will write to you few weeks before 6 months are up. Clearly that doesn't happen.
I am not talking about taking them into court. My application took just over 2 months to decide and wife took just over 1 month.
I have no personal issues against HO but HO clearly has many things to improve on.
I am not suggesting that we should take them to the court. When MPs receive so many complaints from their constituents, they actually bring this up in parliament and that puts pressure on HO. Only then HO reacts. That is why I would advise everyone make a complaint so it is discussed in parliament. Only then there will be improvements in HO process. Why do you think UKBA was scrapped?

We are living in 21st century for god's sake. How hard is it to make application process transparent do you think?
If it's my application, I have right to know what is happening with it.
And about the money, why do we pay £906? We pay that for a SERVICE. A service which is to decide if discretion should be applied to give the applicant BC.
If you don't get good service from a company, you go an complain about it. Why should HO not be treated the same way?

[avy_baby]

Please let him go to court dont insist.

[Badman87]

You can protest as much as you want, write letters, complaint... that won't change this : British citizenship is a privilege NOT a right. you can't argue with that, even if when they refuse an application, you can ask for reconsideration and not an appeal. I think this is very important that people understand these words : PRIVILEGE AND RECONSIDERATION.

When you pay £906 and send off your application, you have to agree with those 'terms'. It clearly says 'A decision about your application will usually be made within 6 months - some applications can take longer' AND 'While we try to deal with cases quickly this cannot be guaranteed'... Again you have to read the sentence properly and see the words 'usually' and 'cannot' it doesn't say they will, may, must, can, have to make a decision within 6 months, but 'usually'. The fact that they are using those words mean they can take as long as they want, even years if they have to. So you can protest but they are pretty much covered with that, the HO haven't misled anyone, are not late or anything, and complaining and protesting about 'delays' is pointless...

Another good example, is the good character requirement. While there is a 'definition' and a guidance for it. This doesn't limit the HO to apply certain rules, change or define the 'good character' in a different way. Like this has changed in December 2014, for anyone who has been in Britain illegally, overstayed etc (and probably causing the 'delays' and affecting a lot of applications as they have to start them over again), and this applies even for applications submitted BEFORE this change, and you cannot complaint about it because there is no accurate definition of the 'good character' requirements and the HO defines it, not the applicants.

To sum up, protesting, complaining, taking them court, won't affect or speed up your applications. Just take it easy, honestly, this is not worth stressing as most of you have ILR and have the same right as British citizen and can travel too. But you are free to do otherwise, not going to achieve anything though...

Good luck!

Please listen to this guy, he speaks sense! Protesting will NOT do any favours instead, it will result in a backlash from the indigenous British people. Remember, they don't have to give you an option to be Naturalised - they could just offer ILR and nothing more. The fact they're offering their passport makes it a privilege not a right! Yes you've paid almost a £1,000 and so what?! I want my application processed in one day but we can't all get what we wish for. So, just sit back, pray and stop calling for updates on your application!

Where I agree with some of it, I don't agree that you shouldn't make a complaint. Yes BC is a privilege but HO has an SLA set by themselves to make a decision on 95% of applications within 6 months. I am not sure how much you know about SLAs but its a legal binding. Just because HO is govt department does not mean that they can not be chased for SLAs.

That's not the point. They clearly state in the wording that it CAN take longer than 6 months.
"A decision about your application will usually be made within 6 months - some applications can take longer".
For that statement, they've covered themselves in case it goes beyond 6 months. The original post about this covers everything about the wording...it doesn't say "will be decided". If you take them to court, you'll never win.

[akhurshid]

You can protest as much as you want, write letters, complaint... that won't change this : British citizenship is a privilege NOT a right. you can't argue with that, even if when they refuse an application, you can ask for reconsideration and not an appeal. I think this is very important that people understand these words : PRIVILEGE AND RECONSIDERATION.

When you pay £906 and send off your application, you have to agree with those 'terms'. It clearly says 'A decision about your application will usually be made within 6 months - some applications can take longer' AND 'While we try to deal with cases quickly this cannot be guaranteed'... Again you have to read the sentence properly and see the words 'usually' and 'cannot' it doesn't say they will, may, must, can, have to make a decision within 6 months, but 'usually'. The fact that they are using those words mean they can take as long as they want, even years if they have to. So you can protest but they are pretty much covered with that, the HO haven't misled anyone, are not late or anything, and complaining and protesting about 'delays' is pointless...

Another good example, is the good character requirement. While there is a 'definition' and a guidance for it. This doesn't limit the HO to apply certain rules, change or define the 'good character' in a different way. Like this has changed in December 2014, for anyone who has been in Britain illegally, overstayed etc (and probably causing the 'delays' and affecting a lot of applications as they have to start them over again), and this applies even for applications submitted BEFORE this change, and you cannot complaint about it because there is no accurate definition of the 'good character' requirements and the HO defines it, not the applicants.

To sum up, protesting, complaining, taking them court, won't affect or speed up your applications. Just take it easy, honestly, this is not worth stressing as most of you have ILR and have the same right as British citizen and can travel too. But you are free to do otherwise, not going to achieve anything though...

Good luck!

Please listen to this guy, he speaks sense! Protesting will NOT do any favours instead, it will result in a backlash from the indigenous British people. Remember, they don't have to give you an option to be Naturalised - they could just offer ILR and nothing more. The fact they're offering their passport makes it a privilege not a right! Yes you've paid almost a £1,000 and so what?! I want my application processed in one day but we can't all get what we wish for. So, just sit back, pray and stop calling for updates on your application!

Where I agree with some of it, I don't agree that you shouldn't make a complaint. Yes BC is a privilege but HO has an SLA set by themselves to make a decision on 95% of applications within 6 months. I am not sure how much you know about SLAs but its a legal binding. Just because HO is govt department does not mean that they can not be chased for SLAs.