Naturalisation application processing timelines (only)

[Jay0804]

Hi sokrates99, thanks for the reply. Yes, as you said its purely luck. And the email is just given for name sake. The response is automated and you cant expect anything (in the same thread someone has pasted the exact reply what he got). All of my friends are from same country and maximum time it took as only 5 weeks. As I applied through NCS , i confirmed all the docs are enclosed. However, If they have asked for some doc and if the letter is missed we need to bear the cost of re-applying. We need to wait patiently. Other than this we cant do anything.

[zoobi2u]

Khattak315 - I received my approval letter on 11th Set 2013 dated 09th Sept 2013. The contents of the approval letter is similar to yours. I contacted the council and they were unable to book the ceremony without the invitation letter. I was told by council that the invitation letter will have a poll reference number that we have to provide the council when contacting them to book the ceremony.

There is nothing much we can do at this stage apart from waiting for our invitation letter. The approval letter says it can take up to 2 weeks to receive the invitation letter. I will keep you posted on any progress from my side but please do keep me updated on any progress on your end.

Thanks.

Application Timeline
Eligibility criteria: 2yr HSMP + 3yr Tier 1 + 1yr ILR
Application Type: Joint (Self + Spouse)
Nationality: Pakistani
Method of application: Postal
Date of receipt by UKBA: 12/08/13
Date of debit of fees: 12/08/13
Date of receipt of acknowledgement: 17/08/13 (dated 12/08/13)
Date of receipt of approval: 13/09/13 (dated 11/09/13)
Date of Ceremony: tbc

The letter says, "This is not an invitation to ceremony and I should not contact my Local Authority until I received my invitation". Do I've to wait or should I just call the council?

Hi Guys,
my case is also similar but the dates r different
Application Timeline
Eligibility criteria: 2yr HSMP + 3yr Tier 1 + 1yr ILR
Application Type: Joint (Self + Spouse)
Method of application: Postal
Date of receipt by UKBA: 22/06/13
Date of debit of fees: 25/06/13
Date of receipt of acknowledgement: 26/06/13
Date of receipt of approval: 13/09/13 (dated 29/07/13)
Date of Ceremony: tbc

The letter says, "This is not an invitation to ceremony and I should not contact my Local Authority until I received my invitation. if u havenot recieved ur invitation within 2weeks of the above date, u should email to the Nationality Enquries to request for a further copy".

My question
Do I've to wait or should I just need to send an email to HO about the invitation letter(because I received approval letter today: 13/09/13 but it is dated 29/07/13).
Can anybody help me and plz also share the email content what they have to send to HO
thanks

[sokrates99]

Any idea how to check the status either by online or over phone?
I have seen some members applied in April and May received this week only. However I want to check the status. Can any one help me?

You can send an email to NationalityProgress@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk. Include your ref number, full name, DOB and address. They usually respond in a day or two but they dont give any details apart from "no decision has been made yet".
I applied a week after you -17th July. This process is so frustraiting. I think the theory of high risk countries taking longer is wrong. Many August applicants got their approvals and some are from the so called high risk countries. i applied as an EEA national. Its all to do with luck and getting an efficient case worker or one that is not just about to go on hols. Good luck!

[Jay0804]

Eligibility criteria: 5 yrs (2Yrs WP+3 Yrs Tier1) + 1 (PR)
Nationality: Indian
Method of application: NCS Sutton
Date of application: 10/07/2013
Date of receipt by UKBA: 16/07/2013
Date of acknowledgement :19/07/2013 (Dated 16/07/2013)
Date of debit of fees: 15/07/2013
Date of approval and invitation: Yet to come
Date of Ceremony: TBC

Usually my friends who applied, all got within 3 to 5 weeks time. Now its more than 9 weeks for me. I was not in city for 2 weeks. Not sure whether the post is missed as this is common with our post-woman who delivers letters to adjacent houses. Tried to ring the number (0151 672 5626) but no use as they handle only applications over 6 months. Any idea how to check the status either by online or over phone?
I have seen some members applied in April and May received this week only. However I want to check the status. Can any one help me?

[zoobi2u]

Khattak315 - I received my approval letter on 11th Set 2013 dated 09th Sept 2013. The contents of the approval letter is similar to yours. I contacted the council and they were unable to book the ceremony without the invitation letter. I was told by council that the invitation letter will have a poll reference number that we have to provide the council when contacting them to book the ceremony.

There is nothing much we can do at this stage apart from waiting for our invitation letter. The approval letter says it can take up to 2 weeks to receive the invitation letter. I will keep you posted on any progress from my side but please do keep me updated on any progress on your end.

Thanks.

Application Timeline
Eligibility criteria: 2yr HSMP + 3yr Tier 1 + 1yr ILR
Application Type: Joint (Self + Spouse)
Nationality: Pakistani
Method of application: Postal
Date of receipt by UKBA: 12/08/13
Date of debit of fees: 12/08/13
Date of receipt of acknowledgement: 17/08/13 (dated 12/08/13)
Date of receipt of approval: 13/09/13 (dated 11/09/13)
Date of Ceremony: tbc

The letter says, "This is not an invitation to ceremony and I should not contact my Local Authority until I received my invitation". Do I've to wait or should I just call the council?

Hi Guys,
my case is also similar but the dates r different
Application Timeline
Eligibility criteria: 2yr HSMP + 3yr Tier 1 + 1yr ILR
Application Type: Joint (Self + Spouse)
Method of application: Postal
Date of receipt by UKBA: 22/06/13
Date of debit of fees: 25/06/13
Date of receipt of acknowledgement: 26/06/13
Date of receipt of approval: 13/09/13 (dated 29/07/13)
Date of Ceremony: tbc

The letter says, "This is not an invitation to ceremony and I should not contact my Local Authority until I received my invitation. if u havenot recieved ur invitation within 2weeks of the above date, u should email to the Nationality Enquries to request for a further copy".

My question
Do I've to wait or should I just need to send an email to HO about the invitation letter(because I received approval letter today: 13/09/13 but it is dated 29/07/13).
Can anybody help me and plz also share the email content what they have to send to HO
thanks

[cricinfo]

Elegibility criteria-7year student+2year spouse+1year ilr
method of application. Postal
date of application. 4/4/2013
date of receipt ukba.8/4/2013
date of debit fees.18/4/2013
date of aproval.11/9/2013
date of cermoney.pending
its took 5 months and 8days
good luck to everyone.

You really deserve congratulation. It must have been a long wait but have come good in the end which matters Congratulation

[fiqbal]

Elegibility criteria-7year student+2year spouse+1year ilr
method of application. Postal
date of application. 4/4/2013
date of receipt ukba.8/4/2013
date of debit fees.18/4/2013
date of aproval.11/9/2013
date of cermoney.pending
its took 5 months and 8days
good luck to everyone.

[time4BN]

Khattak315 - I received my approval letter on 11th Set 2013 dated 09th Sept 2013. The contents of the approval letter is similar to yours. I contacted the council and they were unable to book the ceremony without the invitation letter. I was told by council that the invitation letter will have a poll reference number that we have to provide the council when contacting them to book the ceremony.

There is nothing much we can do at this stage apart from waiting for our invitation letter. The approval letter says it can take up to 2 weeks to receive the invitation letter. I will keep you posted on any progress from my side but please do keep me updated on any progress on your end.

Thanks.

Application Timeline
Eligibility criteria: 2yr HSMP + 3yr Tier 1 + 1yr ILR
Application Type: Joint (Self + Spouse)
Nationality: Pakistani
Method of application: Postal
Date of receipt by UKBA: 12/08/13
Date of debit of fees: 12/08/13
Date of receipt of acknowledgement: 17/08/13 (dated 12/08/13)
Date of receipt of approval: 13/09/13 (dated 11/09/13)
Date of Ceremony: tbc

The letter says, "This is not an invitation to ceremony and I should not contact my Local Authority until I received my invitation". Do I've to wait or should I just call the council?

[khattak315]

Application Timeline
Eligibility criteria: 2yr HSMP + 3yr Tier 1 + 1yr ILR
Application Type: Joint (Self + Spouse)
Nationality: Pakistani
Method of application: Postal
Date of receipt by UKBA: 12/08/13
Date of debit of fees: 12/08/13
Date of receipt of acknowledgement: 17/08/13 (dated 12/08/13)
Date of receipt of approval: 13/09/13 (dated 11/09/13)
Date of Ceremony: tbc

The letter says, "This is not an invitation to ceremony and I should not contact my Local Authority until I received my invitation". Do I've to wait or should I just call the council?

[rajan1984]

Very pleased to hear that you got your results. All the best for the ceremony. I am still waiting and hope to get soon. I will up the thread as soon as I get. 17th of May is my application date.

Much pleased today!!!

Application date: 17 May

Date of UKBA acknowledgment: 23 May

Date of Approval 02 September

Date of receipt of approval letter: 06 September

Date of Private ceremony booked: *14 September, normal appointment availability was 30 October as of today.

Hounslow council charges 200/ gbp for the private ceremony: I think it is probably one of highest in the UK.

Good Luck to the rest who are still waiting.
Best regards

I am still waiting and I am still giving you company

I have applied on 17th May 2013 through NCS.

Regards,
Robinson

No Status update my side, it remains awaited

Can other May 17 applicants update please?

Thank you.

My timeline.....

Application made: 17 May 2013
Acknowledgement letter dated 23 May 2013

Eligibility: 2 years HSMP + 3 years Tier 1 + 1 year ILR.

Self application.

Awaiting further progress...

[Notabene]

Eligibility criteria: 2 years HSMP +3 years Tier 1 + 1 yr ILR
Method of application: NCS Cambridge
Date of application: 12 Sept 2013 (Thursday)
Date of Debit of Fees: not checked
Acknowledgement letter received : 19/09/13 dated 17/09/13
Date of approval/Invitation : 09/10/13 received 16/10/13
Date of Ceremony : 6/11/13

quick and painless. good luck to everyone who is still waiting!

[alex68]

Eligibility criteria: 5 Yrs+ 1 ILR
Method of application: Postal
Date of application: 21 May 2013
Date of receipt by UKBA: 22 May 2013
Date of acknowledgement: 28 May 2013
Date of debit of fees: 28 May 2013
Date of approval: 10 Sep 2013
Date of Ceremony: Awaiting

[tar123zan]

Eligibility criteria: 5 yrs (Student) + 2 Years (Spouse) + 1 (ILR)
Nationality: Turkish
Method of application: NCS
Date of application: 12/08/2013
Date of acknowledgement : 22/08/2013 (Dated 15/08/2013)
Date of debit of fees: 15/08/2013
Date of approval and invitation: 12/09/2013 (dated 08/09/2013)
Date of Ceremony: 18 September

Thank you for everybody in this forum, I hope you all get your approvals quickly.

[sup3rb]

Eligibility criteria: 5 yrs (EEA) + 1 (PR)
Nationality: Romania
Method of application: NCS Camden
Date of application: 31/07/2013
Date of receipt by UKBA: 05/08/2013
Date of acknowledgement : 09/08/2013 (Dated 05/08/2013)
Date of debit of fees: 05/08/2013
Date of approval and invitation: 12/09/2013 (dated 05/09/2013)
Date of Ceremony: TBC


Hope this help guys. Thanks and good luck .

[pkt1980]

GmanILR2012,
I think this is the first time, at least as far as I have known, that someone who knows the internal workings have posted about it. I can completely see the random nature from the arrival of the approvals for seemingly similar cases - thanks for confirming it. Can you please tell us if AN+MN1 3(1) go to a higher authority to be approved because of the discretion involved? I am posting this here since this topic is related to the timings. Sorry if it wrongly placed.

PKT

[tki_eve]

Posted in the August thread as well.

Eligibility criteria :3yrs WP+ 2yrs Spouse of BC
Method of application : NCS Redbridge
Date of application : 01/08/13
Date of receipt by UKBA : 05/08/13
Date of acknowledgement : 16/08/13 (dated 08/08/13)
Date of debit of fees : 08/08/13
Date of approval : 08/09/13 (received today 12/09/13)
Date of Ceremony :16/10/13

[Gatesee]

Joint application by my wife & I, both originally New Zealanders and both from Ancestry work visas.

Eligibility criteria: 5 years Ancestry working visa + 1yr ILR
Method of application: NCS Wandsworth 10/09/13
Date of receipt by UKBA: 11/09/13 (Royal Mail Tracking)
Date of debit of fees: 13/09/13 (monitoring bank account)
Date of receipt of acknowledgement: 13/09/13 (letter received 16/09/13)
Date of receipt of approval: 06/10/13 (letter received 15/10/13)
Date of Ceremony: 18/10/13 - private ceremony

[GmanILR2012]

Eligibility criteria : 5 years Ancestry, 12 months ILR
Method of application : NCS Wandsworth
Date of application : 01/08/13
Date of receipt by UKBA : 05/08/13
Date of acknowledgement : 16/08/13 (dated 08/08/13)
Date of debit of fees : 08/08/13
Date of approval :
Date of Ceremony :

I got a letter today (11 September 2013) from HO advising me that "they are returning my Special Delivery envelope as I applied through NCS and therefore have no original documents that need to be returned to me" - at first I was so excited and for a moment thought that my wait was over.... I'm happy that I now know my application has been passed to a case officer but wouldn't you think that they would realise that I wanted my grant letter returned in that special delivery envelope? Also the time it took to draft that letter, couldn't they have processed my application?

Oh well, I am just happy that someone is now actioning my application

having been an immigration officer I understand how things work and the distribution of applications is totally luck, whether your application lands up in an experienced and efficient case officers inbox or whether it lands in an officers inbox that is due to take some well deserved leave, it is on the most part luck of the draw.

So here is to all you still waiting and those applying, may your application land in the right inbox and may your next peice of mail be a second class brown royal mail envelope. Have a good day all.

[greatxander]

Eligibility: student 11 months + 2 year spuse + 1 month ILR
Nationality: Philippines
Method of application: NCS Wandsworth
Date of application: 3rd September 2013
Date of receipt by UKBA: 4th September 2013
Date of debit of fees: 6th September 2013
receipt of acknowledgement : 11/09/2013 dated 06/09/2013
Date of approval: pending
Date of Ceremony: pending

[pkt1980]

Application Timeline
Nationality: Indian
Eligibility criteria: 3 year Work Permit + 2 years Tier 1 + 1 years ILR (self + minor 3(1))
Method of application: NCS Bristol
Date of application: 22/07/13
Date of debit of fees: 24/07/13
Date of receipt of acknowledgement: 24/07/13
Date of receipt of approval: 03/10/13 (Dated 25/09/13)
Date of receipt of invitation letter : Same as approval
Date of Ceremony: still waiting

Good luck to every one who are still waiting. I am sure it will come in due time.

[azhfaq]

Hi, I have been a silent reader of this site for a long while. Many thanks for everyone for posting. Here is my timeline:

Eligibility criteria: 1 year cohabiting prior to 4 years of marriage to dual EEA/British citizen, no PR, EEA2 for 4 years
Method of application: Postal
Date of application: 7 August 2013
Date of receipt by HO: 8 August 2013
Date of debit of fees: 13 August 2013
Acknowledgement letter received : 16 August 2013 (dated 13 August)
Date of approval: 9 September 2013
Date of receipt of approval: 11 September 2013 (in enclosed Special Delivery envelope)

The approval letter says that: "I'm pleased to say that your application has been successful and you will shortly receive a certificate of naturalisation as a British citizen". No reference to ceremony, invitation letter or contacting council!??!. Is it a bit strange? Has anyone received a letter wording like this? Should I just sit around waiting? Many thanks.

Congrats maroubra

Just wait around a few days and you should have the invitation letter. If in few days you don't get a letter you can call your local council and check if they have received your details.

[jp1981]

Application Timeline
Nationality: Indian
Eligibility criteria: 2 year HSMP + 3 year Tier 1 + 1 years ILR
Method of application: NCS Bristol
Date of application: 26/07/13
Date of debit of fees: 30/07/13
Date of receipt of acknowledgement: 06/08/13
Date of receipt of approval: 26/09/2013 (dated:20/09/2013)
Date of receipt of invitation letter :
Date of Ceremony: 16/10/2013

[maroubra]

Hi, I have been a silent reader of this site for a long while. Many thanks to everyone for posting. Here is my timeline:

Eligibility criteria: 1 year cohabiting prior to 4 years of marriage to a dual EEA/British citizen, no PR, EEA2 for 4 years
Method of application: Postal
Date of application: 7 August 2013
Date of receipt by HO: 8 August 2013
Date of debit of fees: 13 August 2013
Acknowledgement letter received : 16 August 2013 (dated 13 August)
Date of approval: 9 September 2013
Date of receipt of approval: 11 September 2013 (in enclosed Special Delivery envelope)

The approval letter says that: "I am pleased to say that your application has been successful and you will shortly receive a certificate of naturalisation as a British citizen". No reference to ceremony, invitation letter or contacting council!??!. Is it a bit strange? Has anyone received a letter wording like this? Should I just sit around waiting? Many thanks.

[raja999]

Application Timeline
Eligibility criteria: 5 years WP + 1 years ILR
Method of application: Self
Date of application: 29/04/13
Date of debit of fees: 05/04/13
Date of receipt of acknowledgement: 10/04/13
Date of receipt of approval: 14 july 2013 (dated 10 july 2013)
Date of receipt of invitation letter from home office and council: 30th August 2013 (dated 21 AUG 2013)
Date of Ceremony: 10 Sep 2013 done
Nationality: Pakistani
Thanks all for your help and good luck with your applications.

[gvijaygadde]

I too received similar reply from HO..Not sure how many months should we need to wait on this.