Naturalisation application processing timelines (only)

[Alish60]

From what you explaiend I understand they may not even do the PNC check if there is no evidence to show the applicant may have criminal conviction. If that is correct, what do they mean by evidence? Is it the self declaration on application form? Or maybe I am wrong and they do the check for everyone! !

The caseworker's guidance docs are written by civil servants for civil servants to try to clarify laws that are sometimes ambiguous. If you read them, you will find a lot of points that still seem to be ambiguous ( like the one you just highlighted ).

However, my interpretation ( and belief ) from reading the doc is a PNC is done for everybody ( of course, no CRB is ever done - you will see no mention of it in the doc ).

The PNC is made up of quite a collection of information that includes all information the police have ever compiled about you including "intelligence" which may well be wrong. If for example, your neighbor stated you were growing drugs in your back garden, that would be recorded - even if the plant happened to be turnips ( but the police never bothered to check ). The sum of all the information ( "balance of probabilities" as it's stated in various docs ) is what is used to decide your naturalisation case.

Thanks for the explanation, well I have to disagree with you, I am pretty sure the caseworker does not care about "what your neighbours say" as an example, even if he cares and want, he still can't refuse your application because of minor things like that. If you read the "Annex D" good character requirements, page 10 underneath 4.1.5 it clearly says **caseworkers should not asume the applicant to be guilty of a charge itself under any circumstances"" we all know a neighbour's report is less serious than an actual charge, so if even a charge on it's own means notting, then the onlyconcern should be conviction or caution etc, not aaccusations or even charges without conviction. Am I wrong?
This is the related link:
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitec ... ch18annexd

[BigSam]

Hi emmigrator123,

Yes I thought you were supposed to have moved end of this week, sorry to hear about the trouble this is causing you.

I have been waiting for over a 3 and a half months now, however, the truth of the matter is, it has no direct impact on anythig for the time being actually. I have already decided to forget about it and as of today, I am only casually visiting the forum rather than be on it evey time I am online.

Keep us posted when you get your ceremory lad and best of luck with your new journey in Netherlands. I went to Amsterdam a few years ago, it was fun

[emmigrator123]

hi emmigrator123,

Did you find your certificate at Leeds then? I just spoke to my council and they said they don't have anything for me!

BigSam, yes the certificate is in Leeds, at least that's what they told me. I am trying to arrange a private ceremony with them as the public one is at the end of March. They have been absolutely a pain in the ***. Now I have postponed my travel to the Netherlands resulting in a lot stress and financial loss.

If the citizenship is not going to impact you massively, at least in the short term, I suggest you take it easy mate I tell you stress is no good and I won't wish UKBA and other bureaucracy issues I am dealing with even to my enemy.

[sarwar74]

FOR GOD SAKE PLEASE PLEASE USE HERE FOR TIME LINE ONLY .THANKS TO EVRY ONE TO GIVE US HELP

[rod_p]

From what you explaiend I understand they may not even do the PNC check if there is no evidence to show the applicant may have criminal conviction. If that is correct, what do they mean by evidence? Is it the self declaration on application form? Or maybe I am wrong and they do the check for everyone! !

The caseworker's guidance docs are written by civil servants for civil servants to try to clarify laws that are sometimes ambiguous. If you read them, you will find a lot of points that still seem to be ambiguous ( like the one you just highlighted ).

However, my interpretation ( and belief ) from reading the doc is a PNC is done for everybody ( of course, no CRB is ever done - you will see no mention of it in the doc ).

The PNC is made up of quite a collection of information that includes all information the police have ever compiled about you including "intelligence" which may well be wrong. If for example, your neighbor stated you were growing drugs in your back garden, that would be recorded - even if the plant happened to be turnips ( but the police never bothered to check ). The sum of all the information ( "balance of probabilities" as it's stated in various docs ) is what is used to decide your naturalisation case.

[Alish60]

No problem - only trying to clarify something that is constantly misquoted here - UKBA does not and never have used a CRB as the basis for granted citizenship.

Again, the link I gave you was:

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitec ... iew=Binary

Here are relevant sections pertaining to the check itself:

on page 122:

This section gives guidance on procedures to follow when doing a check on the Police National Computer (PNC). You must check the PNC when there is evidence an applicant may have criminal convictions. This is a check to find if there is any evidence for refusing a person on general grounds...

...When you should check the PNC:

- Where possible you should check at the earliest opportunity.
- You must use the checks to make decisions on an informed basis.
- You must only make final decisions once necessary checks are completed.

on page 127:

This page contains guidance for caseworkers on what happens after you have requested a Police National Computer (PNC) check on a person applying for leave to remain and the details you update GCID with. PNC checks will be done within 24 hours of the request and the results added to GCID within three working days.

From what you explaiend I understand they may not even do the PNC check if there is no evidence to show the applicant may have criminal conviction. If that is correct, what do they mean by evidence? Is it the self declaration on application form? Or maybe I am wrong and they do the check for everyone! !

[Alish60]

Eligibility criteria: 5yr workpermit plus 1 year ILR
Method of application: Postal
Date of receipt by UKBA: 23 Jan 13
Date of debit of fees: 28 Jan 13
Date of receipt of acknowledgement: 31 Jan 13
Date of receipt of approval: 6 Feb 13
Date of Ceremony: 26 Feb 13

Congratulations, well done ukba, hope you do everyone's as fast as this ones.

[jp1007]

Eligibility criteria: 5yr workpermit plus 1 year ILR
Method of application: Postal
Date of receipt by UKBA: 23 Jan 13
Date of debit of fees: 28 Jan 13
Date of receipt of acknowledgement: 31 Jan 13
Date of receipt of approval: 6 Feb 13
Date of Ceremony: 26 Feb 13

[rod_p]

No problem - only trying to clarify something that is constantly misquoted here - UKBA does not and never have used a CRB as the basis for granted citizenship.

Again, the link I gave you was:

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitec ... iew=Binary

Here are relevant sections pertaining to the check itself:

on page 122:

This section gives guidance on procedures to follow when doing a check on the Police National Computer (PNC). You must check the PNC when there is evidence an applicant may have criminal convictions. This is a check to find if there is any evidence for refusing a person on general grounds...

...When you should check the PNC:

- Where possible you should check at the earliest opportunity.
- You must use the checks to make decisions on an informed basis.
- You must only make final decisions once necessary checks are completed.

on page 127:

This page contains guidance for caseworkers on what happens after you have requested a Police National Computer (PNC) check on a person applying for leave to remain and the details you update GCID with. PNC checks will be done within 24 hours of the request and the results added to GCID within three working days.

[Alish60]

Well congratulations to you mate.all the best with you passport application.
**I was told by a professional immigration solicitor that from 12th of December 2012 they do police national check for the purpose of naturalization instead of Enhanced DBS (new name for crb). I was not sure whether that is true or not, but know It makes sense. This guy got aprooval in 2 weeks time, so they never had the time to chech his or her full ceriminal history. What is your opinion?

They have never done a CRB check - the PNC has always been the source.

If you look at the document you asked me for this week, that's clearly stated and it also informs the caseworker the PNC report takes about four days before the response makes it's way to UKBA's system.

Oh ok, after I was told by you about the PNC I askes some one who is specialist, he said so. But I trust what you say in here really so it has always been like this, I thought maybe that is why many guys who applied before 2013 are still waiting but that is not the case though. Thanks for putting it right.

[rod_p]

Well congratulations to you mate.all the best with you passport application.
**I was told by a professional immigration solicitor that from 12th of December 2012 they do police national check for the purpose of naturalization instead of Enhanced DBS (new name for crb). I was not sure whether that is true or not, but know It makes sense. This guy got aprooval in 2 weeks time, so they never had the time to chech his or her full ceriminal history. What is your opinion?

They have never done a CRB check - the PNC has always been the source.

If you look at the document you asked me for this week, that's clearly stated and it also informs the caseworker the PNC report takes about four days before the response makes it's way to UKBA's system.

[Alish60]

Application Timeline
Eligibility criteria:Spouse of BC (3 years)
Method of application: Postal
Date of receipt by UKBA: 29/1/2013
Date of debit of fees:2/2/2013
Date of receipt of acknowledgement: 6 Feb, dated 31/1/2013
Date of receipt of approval:?

15/2/2013; Recieved a letter from UKBA dated 12/2/2013, application successful, waiting to receive invitation letter to attend citizenship ceremony.

Iam so excited!

Well congratulations to you mate.all the best with you passport application.
**I was told by a professional immigration solicitor that from 12th of December 2012 they do police national check for the purpose of naturalization instead of Enhanced DBS (new name for crb). I was not sure whether that is true or not, but know It makes sense. This guy got aprooval in 2 weeks time, so they never had the time to chech his or her full ceriminal history. What is your opinion?

[argyle_estate]

Eligibility criteria: 5yrs (HSMP/Tier1 ) + 1 Yr ILR - joint application
Method of application: NCS
Date of application: 11 Feb 2013
Date of receipt by UKBA: 12 Feb 2013
Date of debit of fees: 14 Feb 2013 (credit card payment)
Date of receipt of acknowledgement: 16 Feb 2013 (issued on 14 Feb 2013)
Date of receipt of approval:
Date of ceremony:

[Alish60]

hi,
i am preparing for my naturalization application form and i have some concerns. i came to uk on 17 feb 2010 on spouse visa. got my ilr on 09 july 2012. what i could understand from ukba web site is, i can apply for naturalization application any time after 17 feb 2013 with out waiting for full one year after granted ilr in july 2012 (because i am spouse to british citizen.)please correct me if i am wrong.or do i have to wait till 09 july 2013 when i shall complete one year of ilr?
i have refrees to sign my application one is sub post master( is it a professional standing?) and other is director of a limited company. i shall be greatful if some one help me here.

About your first question, You can apply for naturalization any time after 17 feb 2013. spouses and civil partners of British citizen can apply for Citizenship 3 years after they first arrived in the UK. you can still apply for BC even if you got your ILR 1 day before the date you send your naturalization application. you do not have to wait 1 year. this is my personal experience.
and about your second question, your refrees are more than enough, they do not have to be professional both, 1 need to be a professional or member of standing and the other one can be a british citizen who is over the age of 25.but in your case they are fine, more than fine.
Good Luck

[Alish60]

Eligibility criteria: 3yr spouse of BC
Method of application: NCS (Lewisham)
Date of receipt by UKBA: 22 Jan 13
Date of debit of fees: ?
Date of receipt of acknowledgement: 28 Jan 13 (email)
Date of receipt of approval: 8 Feb 13 (dated 4 Feb)
Date of Ceremony: 7 Mar 13 (Greenwich)

OMG!! only 12 days?!!
Congratulations mate. you are one of the luckiest people I've ever seen.

[cabarete]

Eligibility criteria: 5 year family member EEA National+1 year ILR
Method of application: NCS hackey
Date of application: 11/02/2013
Date of receipt by UKBA: 12/02/2013
Date of acknowledgement : received on 20/02/2013, dated 15/02/2013
Date of debit of fees: 15/02/2013
Date of approval: TBC
Date of Ceremony: TBC

[BigSam]

Thanks Sam,

Honestly speaking no Statistics or Time rules could prove how UKBA deals with applications when it comes to time lines, its a MYTH a DILEMMA I would say lols..So Yes Yours could be on the way too! I wish it comes soon as possible and your wait is over too!
See you around matey.

Thanks buddy. I hope mine comes through soon. I've let this stress me out enough over the past couple of weeks. It is time to put it behind me and forget about it for the time being. I will keep this forum updated with my progress.

Like you said, your case clearly proves that timeline are unpredictable!!

[Roney]

Wow that's great news!many many congrats to you Rooney!and please pray for us as well!I am right behind of your total waiting period.thank you!god bless!

cheers malik.

Hope you get yours soon.

[malik0073]

Wow that's great news!many many congrats to you Rooney!and please pray for us as well!I am right behind of your total waiting period.thank you!god bless!

[Roney]

when did u got ur passport back with approval or without it?

Ok folks... it's been almost 3 and a half month and I am still waiting

Roney, malik0073, chicona, emigrator123, rayanbest... any news from you guys?

qaziji and 2s0e0p1, we met in the waiting club for the 10 year ILR club, are you guys still waiting for your approval? you both applied a week or so after me here

Sam, I got it finally after nearly 6 months. sorry couldn't update on here as I was tied up with work and stuff. Its been a journey and I now feel breath of fresh air as Frustration and Nerve Recking WAIT is over!!


here is my time line

Eligibility criteria: 3 years spouse of BC
Method of application: Solicitor
Date of application: 17/08/12
Date of receipt by UKBA: 20/08/12
Date of acknowledgement : 22/08/12
Date of debit of fees: 23/08/12
Date of approval: 5/02/13
Date of Ceremony: 15/02/13

I believe I was the last person from August club on here

So here I am with my Naturlization Certificate and IPS website in front of me and now keen to start getting the process of first passport rolling.

I will be around here to see how you guys get on with your approvals. Hope everyone gets it soon.

I didn't send my original passport, only certified copies which were then returned along with approval.

[ana ali]

when did u got ur passport back with approval or without it?

Ok folks... it's been almost 3 and a half month and I am still waiting

Roney, malik0073, chicona, emigrator123, rayanbest... any news from you guys?

qaziji and 2s0e0p1, we met in the waiting club for the 10 year ILR club, are you guys still waiting for your approval? you both applied a week or so after me here

Sam, I got it finally after nearly 6 months. sorry couldn't update on here as I was tied up with work and stuff. Its been a journey and I now feel breath of fresh air as Frustration and Nerve Recking WAIT is over!!


here is my time line

Eligibility criteria: 3 years spouse of BC
Method of application: Solicitor
Date of application: 17/08/12
Date of receipt by UKBA: 20/08/12
Date of acknowledgement : 22/08/12
Date of debit of fees: 23/08/12
Date of approval: 5/02/13
Date of Ceremony: 15/02/13

I believe I was the last person from August club on here

So here I am with my Naturlization Certificate and IPS website in front of me and now keen to start getting the process of first passport rolling.

I will be around here to see how you guys get on with your approvals. Hope everyone gets it soon.

[Roney]

Thanks Sam,

Honestly speaking no Statistics or Time rules could prove how UKBA deals with applications when it comes to time lines, its a MYTH a DILEMMA I would say lols..So Yes Yours could be on the way too! I wish it comes soon as possible and your wait is over too!
See you around matey.

[tinux]

For my wife

Eligibility criteria: 8 years spouse of BC
Method of application: Post
Date of application: 14/02/13
Date of receipt by UKBA: 15/02/13
Date of acknowledgement : letter recieved on 23 feb(date 19/02/13) no email recieved
Date of debit of fees: 19/02/13
Date of approval: 04/.03/12 arrived on 06/03/13 by secure delivery. ceremony letter invitation arrived a week later 11/03/13
Date of Ceremony: 19/03/13 . passport application also going out same date


Excelent news for my wife. although she could have applied for it back in 2008.

[BigSam]

Roney... This is fantastic to hear buddy. congratulations!!!

I am stuck in a long journey from London heading up north and you just made my day by proving my analysis wrong. From all timelines I saw recently, I was getting the impression that once you've gone past four months, your application has fallen through the net and will need digging out by an MP or otherwise!!

Congratulations again buddy. Enjoy

[Roney]

Ok folks... it's been almost 3 and a half month and I am still waiting

Roney, malik0073, chicona, emigrator123, rayanbest... any news from you guys?

qaziji and 2s0e0p1, we met in the waiting club for the 10 year ILR club, are you guys still waiting for your approval? you both applied a week or so after me here

Sam, I got it finally after nearly 6 months. sorry couldn't update on here as I was tied up with work and stuff. Its been a journey and I now feel breath of fresh air as Frustration and Nerve Recking WAIT is over!!


here is my time line

Eligibility criteria: 3 years spouse of BC
Method of application: Solicitor
Date of application: 17/08/12
Date of receipt by UKBA: 20/08/12
Date of acknowledgement : 22/08/12
Date of debit of fees: 23/08/12
Date of approval: 5/02/13
Date of Ceremony: 15/02/13

I believe I was the last person from August club on here

So here I am with my Naturlization Certificate and IPS website in front of me and now keen to start getting the process of first passport rolling.

I will be around here to see how you guys get on with your approvals. Hope everyone gets it soon.