Naturalisation application processing timelines (only)

[rastro]

Eligibility criteria: Work permit + Tier 1 for 5 years, ILR 1 year
Method of application: NCS Camden
Date of appointment: 2nd Oct 2012
Date of receipt by UKBA: 3nd Oct 2012
Date of debit of fees: 10th Oct 2012
Date of receipt of acknowledgement: received 15th October, dated 9th Oct 2012
Date of receipt of approval: waiting
Date of Ceremony: waiting

I am getting more nervous by the day....my coworker applied 2 weeks after I did using the same referees through NCS Westminster and was approved in early December.

Date of receipt of approval: 9th Jan 2013, letter dated 31st December 2012

The funny thing is that I just attended my coworker's ceremony this morning. I am so relieved! Good luck to all who are still waiting.

[sarwar74]

Eligibility criteria:6 years EEA +1yr PR
Method of application:NCS Sandwell 27-11-12
Date of receipt by UKBA: 03-12-12
Date of debit of fees: 07-12-12
Date of receipt of acknowledgement: 14.12.2012 dated 07.12.2012
Date of receipt of approval: 03.01.2012 recived today 09.01.2012
Date of Ceremony:TBC

[dba_kkk]

Eligibility criteria: HSMP(Judicial Review -5 Years) + 1 Year ILR
Method of application: NCS (Cambridge)
Date of application: 10 Dec 2012
Date of receipt by UKBA: 12 Dec 2012
Date of debit of fees: 21 Dec 2012
Date of receipt of acknowledgement: TBC
Date of receipt of approval: TBC
Date of Ceremony: TBC

Applied for Myself + wife and 1 year KID (MN1)
Still waiting for the acknowledgement from UKBA, usually How much time does it take?

cheers

[BigSam]

when you call the number written to your acknowledgement letter there are two options to choose. One application sent within 6 months and more than 6 months. For less than 6 month, automated voicemail said cant give you an update, for more than 6 month it said send us an email. So I did. And received an automated reply (standard stuff) and a proper response after few days saying can't give you any update because your application sent is less than 6 month.... back to squire 1

Ok thanks for the information. I hope we hear back by next week. I am beginning to think nothing will happen this week already

[fajr]

fajr, did you manage to speak to someone when you asked for an updated? Hope you get yours this week!

when you call the number written to your acknowledgement letter there are two options to choose. One application sent within 6 months and more than 6 months. For less than 6 month, automated voicemail said cant give you an update, for more than 6 month it said send us an email. So I did. And received an automated reply (standard stuff) and a proper response after few days saying can't give you any update because your application sent is less than 6 month.... back to squire 1

[Akky2000us]

Application Timeline

Eligibility criteria: 5yrs
Method of application: NCS (York)
Date of Application : 14 Dec 2012
Date of receipt by UKBA: 17 Dec 2012
Date of debit of fees: 04 Jan 2013
Date of receipt of acknowledgement:
Date of receipt of approval:
Date of Ceremony:

Update :
04 Jan 2013 : Got a call from HO about fees error. ( Paid over the phone )

To Enjore,

In what category did you applied For you Naturilisation if i may ask Please ? Because you only indicated 5 yrs .

Thanks

[Sidwho2000]

Application sent 22/11/12 fees deducted 4/12/12 approval received 5/01/13 letter dated 04/01/13. Now waiting for invitation letter.....hope u guys get urs soon.....

[BigSam]

I wouldn't lose hope. Council probably can't find any information on you because it is likely that they haven't inserted your certificate details on to their system. For all you know, Council's probably received the certificates but just haven't gone through the pile. You might receive your approval sooner than you think.

I really hope so... If this turns out to be the case, I should get you a drink

fajr, did you manage to speak to someone when you asked for an updated? Hope you get yours this week!

[fajr]

I'll have to sit tight in the meantime.

I wouldn't lose hope.

yeah there is nothing much we do except waiting. HO 6 months service standard is frustrating

[vinitmanu]

Thanks for the information bunty. This is what I thought as well so I just rang my council to check and they said they don't have a certificate for me meaning I shouldn't expect a letter from the Home Office any time soon (at least not within ten or so days)

oh well, hopefully the end of next week maybe. I'll have to sit tight in the meantime.

Congratulations again lad, you enjoy the end of your journey!!

I wouldn't lose hope. Council probably can't find any information on you because it is likely that they haven't inserted your certificate details on to their system. For all you know, Council's probably received the certificates but just haven't gone through the pile. You might receive your approval sooner than you think.

[BigSam]

Thanks for the information bunty. This is what I thought as well so I just rang my council to check and they said they don't have a certificate for me meaning I shouldn't expect a letter from the Home Office any time soon (at least not within ten or so days)

oh well, hopefully the end of next week maybe. I'll have to sit tight in the meantime.

Congratulations again lad, you enjoy the end of your journey!!

[bunty4ILR]

Fantastic news bunty... Congratulations!!

I applied 4 days after you and still waiting. There's still a few of us waiting from October

When you rang to book your ceremony today, did the council say they already have your certificate?

Thanks BigSam, dont worry mate you'll get your approval very soon just hang on a bit.
Yes I rang my council this morning, first they asked my name, dob, address and HO Ref no. Then the person told me that they have my citizenship certificate which they received before Christmas, I am guessing that HO sends citizenship certificates to councils via RM Special Delivery service as I was approved on 21st Dec (Friday) and the certificate was received by council before Christmas (let's suppose on Monday 24th Dec). The approval letter comes through 2nd class service.
The council person will send me the ceremony invitation letter via first class today. He also told me to bring my HO approval letter, without it they wont let me attend the ceremony.
Good Luck

[BigSam]

Fantastic news bunty... Congratulations!!

I applied 4 days after you and still waiting. There's still a few of us waiting from October

When you rang to book your ceremony today, did the council say they already have your certificate?

[bunty4ILR]

Dear Friends

I am so so much delighted to share my good news that this morning I received the naturalisation approval letter from HO. It was so frustrating seeing other fellow members receiving the approvals before me who applied even a month after me but all is GOOOD now. End of my 11 years and 4 months long immigration journey. My best wishes to everyone.

Whoa-oa-oa! I feel good, I knew that I would, now
I feel good, I knew that I would, now
So good, so good, I got you

Whoa! I feel nice, like sugar and spice
I feel nice, like sugar and spice
So nice, so nice, I got you

Application Timeline
Eligibility criteria: 10yr + 1yr ILR and 5 days
Method of application: NCS (Stockport)
Date of application: 26th October 2012
Date of receipt by UKBA: 29th October 2012
Date of debit of fees: 31st October 2012
Date of receipt of acknowledgement: 5th November 2012 (dated 31st October 2012)
Date of approval: 21st December 2012
Date of receipt of approval: 8th January 2013
Date of ceremony: 17th January 2013

Approved in approx 7.5 weeks from the date fee debited.

Total time from start till finish is approx 10.5 weeks

[chicona]

Eligibility criteria: 5years family EEA + 1years PR
Method of application: post myself
Date of application: 19.10.2012
Received by UKBA: 22.10.2012 (Delivered from Royal Mail )
Date of debit of fees: 27.10.2012
Date of receipt of acknowledgement: 30.10.2012
Date of approval: 28.03.2013
Date of receipt of approval: 03.04.2013 (special delivery)
Date of Ceremony : 11.04.2013

21.03.2013 home office ask additional documents for comfirmation residence because no passport or travel document from 2007 to 2010 I was sending some document bank statement, council tax record, job centre letter, tax credit letter....
so happy after 5 months 13 days approval home , thank you everybody for help!

[Akky2000us]

Application Timeline

Eligibility criteria: 5yrs
Method of application: NCS (York)
Date of Application : 14 Dec 2012
Date of receipt by UKBA: 17 Dec 2012
Date of debit of fees: 04 Jan 2013
Date of receipt of acknowledgement:
Date of receipt of approval:
Date of Ceremony:

Update :
04 Jan 2013 : Got a call from HO about fees error. ( Paid over the phone )

Could you Please tell me your type of status you have ? It seems you do not show One year req. After ILR or PR (5 yrs) only .
Thanks

[rod_p]

So the Xmas postal backlog must be holding back some 2nd class mail, or it got lost.

Your council receives your certificate via special delivery.

UKBA mails your approval 2nd delivery which can take 3 to 14 days to arrive.

Not necessarily a Christmas backlog.

[andyzauk]

Thought I'd also post here since I've found the board very helpful during my application process.

Eligibility criteria: 5 Years HSMP + Tier 1, 1 YR ILR
Method of application: NCS (Wandsworth)
Date of application: 26 November 2012
Date of receipt by UKBA: 28 November 2012
Date of debit of fees: 04 December 2012
Date of receipt of acknowledgement: 05 December 2012 (Letter dated 04 December 2012)
Date of receipt of approval: 05 January 2013 (dated 4 January from council)
Date of Ceremony: Private

My approval letter from Home Office has not yet arrived, but I have received the letter from my council (1st class) inviting me to a ceremony (which I cant make due to travelling). So the Xmas postal backlog must be holding back some 2nd class mail, or it got lost. Either way less than a month from debit of fees to approval!

So hang in there, your letter might be in the post! Good luck to all.

[BigSam]

Congratulations Sean.. If anybody else heard any news, please update us

Hope this leads to a good week ahead!!

[seanjoe]

Application: Joint
Eligibility criteria: 5 Years, 1 YR WP + 4 YRS HSMP/Tier 1
Method of application: NCS
Date of application: 19 November 2012
Date of receipt by UKBA: 22 November 2012
Date of debit of fees: 03 December 2012
Date of receipt of acknowledgement: 04 December 2012 (Letter dated 03 December 2012)
Date of receipt of approval: 05 January 2013
Date of Ceremony: 28 February 2013

Total time for receipt of approval: 47 days (approx. 1.5 months)
Happy Bunny!!!

[ejore]

Application Timeline

Eligibility criteria: 5yrs work permit + 1 yr ILR
Method of application: NCS (York)
Date of Application : 14 Dec 2012
Date of receipt by UKBA: 17 Dec 2012
Date of debit of fees: 04 Jan 2013
Date of receipt of acknowledgement: 08 Jan 2013
Date of receipt of approval: 08 Feb 2013 ( Dated 29 January 2013)
Date of Ceremony: TBA

Update :
04 Jan 2013 : ( application fee declined ) Got a call from Home Office about fees error. ( Paid over the phone )

Have really appreciated being able to check updates here to ascertain current time frames! Thanks to all who have posted and good luck to those still waiting.

[fajr]

the thing is they get way doing that crap customer service because there is no shortage of customers. Whether they send letters in 1st or 2nd class woouldnt stop anyone applying citizenship.

[dr_raihan29]

i second the above comment! and what abt paying a shi*load of money and getting docs/approval in a 2nd class post??? even the ppl sending out junk adverts(virgin for example) sends it first class.......after charging so much should atleast have the decency to use 1st class/if not special delivery post!

[Roney]

I have also heard people saying that when case workers go on holiday the work gets stopped on that case. Can you just imagine that...imagine you going to a hospital and someone tells you the doctor is on holiday and therefore you can't be seen before that...
some of the procedures and systems HO has are absolutely Pre-hisotrical..How much does it cost to develope a tracking system where all applicants can see the status of the applications..it would save them cost of replying over email and taken calls over the phone , will reduce applicant's frustration too. It Surprises me how such a high turnover organisation can get away with 1970's systems.

[oye_rg]

Application Timeline

Eligibility criteria: 5yr + 1yr ILR
Method of application: NCS (hounslow)
Date of receipt by UKBA: 14 Sep 2012
Date of debit of fees: 27 Sep 2012
Date of receipt of acknowledgement: 21 Sep 2012
Date of receipt of approval: 03 Nov 2012
Date of Ceremony: 09 Jan 2013 (earliest group ceremony available in Hounslow due to holidays and usual rush)