Naturalisation application processing timelines (only)

[noodlle]

Eligibility criteria: Tier 2 for 5 years + 1 year ILR
Method of application: Online
Date of receipt by UKVI: 20/02/2022
Date of receipt of acknowledgement: same day
Date of biometrics: 02/03/2022
Date on Approval Letter: waiting
Date of receipt of ceremony letter: waiting
Date of ceremony: waiting

[PKAJ]

Eligibility criteria: spouse of British citizen + ILR
Language B1/LIUK
Method of application: online
Payment method: online
Date of application: 21/01/2022
Date of debit of fees: 21/01/2022
Date Biometrics enrolled: 11/02/2022
Date on Approval letter/Email: N/A Still waiting-no updates
Date of receipt of approval: N/A
Date of receipt of ceremony letter: N/A
Citizenship ceremony date: N/A

[PKAJ]

Eligibility criteria: spouse of British citizen + ILR
Language B1/LIUK
Method of application: online
Payment method: online
Date of application: 21/01/2022
Date of debit of fees: 21/01/2022
Date Biometrics enrolled: 11/02/2022
Date on Approval letter/Email: N/A Still waiting-no updates
Date of receipt of approval: N/A
Date of receipt of ceremony letter: N/A
Citizenship ceremony date: N/A

[MBhat]

Nationality: Indian
Eligibility: Tier 2 (5 years) + ILR (1 year)
Method of application: Online
Payment method: Online
Date of application: 30/01/2022
Date of debit of fees: 30/01/2022
Date Biometrics enrolled: 25/02/2022
Biometrics Location: Maidstone, kent (free)
Date on Approval Email: Awaiting
Date of receipt of ceremony letter: Awaiting
Citizenship ceremony date: Awaiting

[Rajux]

Nationality: Srilankan
Eligibility: Refugee + ILR (1 year)
Method of application: Online
Payment method: Online
Date of application: 14/10/2021
Date of debit of fees: 14/10/2021
Date of acknowledgement: Never!
Date Biometrics enrolled: 26/10/2021
Biometrics Location: croydon
Date on Approval Email: 14/03/2022
Date of receipt of ceremony letter: Never!
Citizenship ceremony date: 26/04/2022
Good luck for everyone.

[a85]

Nationality: Iran
Eligibility: Tier 2 (5 years) + ILR (1 year)
Method of application: Online
Payment method: Online
Date of application: 16/01/2022
Date of debit of fees: 16/01/2022
Date of acknowledgement: Never!
Date Biometrics enrolled: 25/01/2022
Biometrics Location: Cardif (free)
Date on Approval Email: 14/03/2022
Date of receipt of ceremony letter: Never!
Citizenship ceremony date: 17/03/2022

Thanks to all your supports! Without this forum, the immigration paper work could be much more stressful!

[Gurpreet1987]

Nationality: non-EU
Method of application: Online
Payment method: Online
Date of application: 14/02/2022
Date of debit of fees: 15/02/2022
Date of acknowledgement: 15/02/2022
Date Biometrics enrolled: 18/02/2022
Date on Approval letter/Email: 14/03/22
Date of receipt of approval: 14/03/22
Ceremony booked 14/04/22


Can't believe approved in 3 weeks

[ahmedash]

Eligibility criteria: BC spouse + ILR
Nationality: Pakistani
Method of application: Online
Date of receipt by UKBA: 13/07/21
Date of debit of fees: 13/07/21
Date of biometrics: 12/08/21
Date of receipt of approval: N/A
Date of receipt of ceremony letter: N/A
Date of ceremony: N/A

Still waiting for decision, more than 8 months now

[newcitizentobe]

Eligibility criteria: 5 years + ILR for 18 months (EU settled status)
Language/LIUK Criteria: UK Bachelor’s degree + Life in the UK test (test completed and passed on 30.7.2021)
Nationality: EU (Finland)
Method of application: Online
Payment method: Credit card online

- Date of application: 25.8.2021
- Date of debit of fees: 25.8.2021 (received a payment confirmation email from “UK Visas & Immigration” on 25.8.2021)
- Date of acknowledgement: None (never received an acknowledgement of my application)
- Date Biometrics enrolled: 17.9.2021 (std appointment at Reading Central Library service point)
- Date of approval of citizenship application letter/e-mail: Email from “Home Office Atlas” noting approval of my application and invitation to book the ceremony 14.2.2022 <- I felt like a very special valentine !
- Date of contacting the council for arranging the ceremony: 14.2.2022 My email of approval from the Home Office included a link to a council search engine which led to my local council’s website. There I looked for information on arranging citizenship ceremonies and was prompted to send my inquiry about available dates through a contact form.
- Date of receipt of approval from the council: 15.2.2022 The council emailed me to say that they’ve received my naturalisation certificate from the Home Office and my request for a ceremony via their website and will contact me for a ceremony date and time in due course. They noted that due to a large number of applicants, they cannot offer a ceremony date for me at the moment, but will be in touch again when they can.
- Date of receipt of ceremony letter: 1.3.2022 The council contacted me with an invite to a citizenship ceremony that would be arranged on 14.3.2022.
- Date of citizenship ceremony: 14.3.2022
- Date of receipt of naturalisation: 14.3.2022

The process took longer than I expected and I was quite nervous waiting for the outcome. I also found it very difficult to know what to expect at each state. I’ve added description above for each step to make the process clearer to any others who might find it similarly difficult to follow.

Total days from submission of application to approval (incl): 174 d (ie. 5 m 21 d)

Total days from submission of application to receipt of naturalisation (incl): 202 d (ie. 6 m 18 d)

Thanks so much for sharing your timelines on this forum as well as for the excellent moderators for the hours you put in Reading everyone’s posts gave me a lot of reassurance during the process! Good luck to those of you waiting for your responses (try not to worry!) and see some of you in the passport timeline !

[yhm75]

Eligibility criteria: BC spouse + 10 year ILR
Method of application: Online
Date of receipt by UKVI: 5 feb 2022
Date of receipt of acknowledgement:
Date of biometrics: 15 feb 2022
Date on Approval Letter: 14/03/2022 email from home office atlas
Date of receipt of ceremony letter: waiting
Date of ceremony: Waiting

[Gurpreet1987]

Nationality: non-EU
Method of application: Online
Payment method: Online
Date of application: 14/02/2022
Date of debit of fees: 15/02/2022
Date of acknowledgement: 15/02/2022
Date Biometrics enrolled: 18/02/2022
Date on Approval letter/Email: 14/03/22
Date of receipt of approval: 14/03/22
Can't believe approved in 3 weeks

[Gurpreet1987]

Nationality: non-EU
Method of application: Online
Payment method: Online
Date of application: 14/02/2022
Date of debit of fees: 15/02/2022
Date of acknowledgement: 15/02/2022
Date Biometrics enrolled: 18/02/2022
Date on Approval letter/Email: pending
Date of receipt of approval: 14/03/22
Can't believe 3 weeks

[M4tt30]

Eligibility criteria: EUSS granted in Nov 2019
Language/LIUK Criteria: Ielts + Life in the UK test
Nationality: EU - Italian
Method of application: online
Payment method: online
Date of application: 14/06/2021
Date of debit of fees: 14/06/2021
Uploaded supporting documents: 30/06/2021
Date Biometrics enrolled: 30/06/2021(Paid)
Date of acknowledgement: 30/06/2021

Date on Approval letter/Email: 24/01/2022
Date of receipt of approval: 24/01/2022
Date of receipt of ceremony letter: N/A
Citizenship ceremony date: 22/02/2022

[Setmilr987]

Eligibility criteria: 5year leave to remain +1 ILR
Language+ LIUK certificates
Method of application: online
Date of application: 7 JULY 2021
Date Biometrics enrolled: 8 JULY, 2021

Date of receipt of approval: 14TH MARCH, 2022
Citizenship ceremony date: awaiting


Finally, after 8-Months and 7 Days

[Spongebob100]

Eligibility criteria: Tier 2 (5 years) +1 year ILR
Language/LIUK Criteria: US degree & LIUK certificates
Nationality: Indian
Method of application: online
Payment method: online
Date of application: 2/2/2022
Date of debit of fees: 2/2/2022
Date Biometrics enrolled: 14/2/2022 (London Mark Lane, paid)
Date on Approval letter/Email: 14/3/2022 (early am)
Date of receipt of approval: same as approval email
Date of receipt of ceremony letter: approval email said to contact council
Citizenship ceremony date: TBD

[deedot]

Eligibility criteria: 5yr spouse of BC + ILR
Method of application: Online (applied 3 days after ILR was granted)
Language/LIUK Criteria: MSc (UK) + Life in the UK test
Nationality: Nigerian
Date of Application: 18 Feb 2022
Date of receipt by UKBA: 18 Feb 2022
Payment method: Credit Card (Online)
Date of debit of fees: 18 Feb 2022
Date of receipt of Biometrics: 9 Mar 2022 (Free appointment - Lansdowne Road Cryodon)
Date of receipt of approval: Waiting
Date of Ceremony: Waiting

[Mo22]

Eligibility criteria: 5year leave to remain +1 ILR
Language/LIUK Criteria: b1 & LIUK certificates
Method of application: online
Payment method: online
Date of application: 19/12/2021
Date of debit of fees: 19/12/2021
Date Biometrics enrolled: 21/12/2021
Date on Approval letter/Email: N/A Still waiting
Date of receipt of approval: N/A
Date of receipt of ceremony letter: N/A
Citizenship ceremony date: N/A

[Zinny]

Eligibility criteria: 1 Year ILR + British Citizen Spouse
Language/LIUK Criteria: MBA + Life in the UK test
Nationality: Nigerian
Method of application: Online
Date of application: 12/09/2021
Payment method: Debit Card (Online)
Date of debit of fees: 12/09/2021
Date of acknowledgement: 12/09/2021
Date Biometrics enrolled: 27/09/2021(paid)
Date on Approval letter/Email: Waiting
Date of Ceremony: Booked : Waiting

It’s 5 months and 3 days today but still waiting!!!
I sincerely hope the wait will come to an end soonest for me and everyone still waiting.

UPDATE:
Date on Approval letter/Email: 14/03/2022 @ 8:25am from Home Office Atlas
Date of Ceremony: Booked : 18/03/2022

My application was approximately 6months before approval. I am glad the tension and worry is over for me. For anyone still waiting after the 6 months duration, try contacting your MP or fill out a complaint from the UKVI website. Goodluck!

[Alilanister]

Eligibility criteria: spouse of British citizen + ILR
Language/LIUK Criteria: UK degree
Method of application: online
Payment method: online
Date of application: 26/09/2021
Date of debit of fees: 26/09/2021
Date Biometrics enrolled: 12/10/2021
Date on Approval letter/Email: N/A Still waiting-no updates
Date of receipt of approval: N/A
Date of receipt of ceremony letter: N/A
Citizenship ceremony date: N/A

[Amannn91]

Application Timeline
Eligibility criteria: 6yr+ 4yr ILR; spouse of a British citizen
Nationality: Indian
Method of application: Postal
Date of receipt by UKBA: 16/06/2021
Date of debit of fees: 15/06/2021
Date of receipt of acknowledgement: 16/06/2021
Date of Biometrics enrolled: 20/10/2021 (Croydon, £112)
Date of receipt of approval: letter received 04/03/2022, dated 16/02/2022
Date of Ceremony: booked for 24/03/2022

Email sent to furthernationalityenquiries@homeoffice.gov.uk: 10/01/2022
Reply received: 29/01/22 ("We aim to process all applications 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. This is because it is taking longer than usual to process applications because of coronavirus (COVID-19). This will not affect the decision. We expect to make a decision on your application as soon as possible, but we will write to you again if this is not going to be possible.")

[jafersadeq]

My Wife's Case:
Eligibility criteria: spouse of British citizen + ILR
Language/LIUK Criteria: St Kitts&Nevis Nationality
Nationality: Kittitian
Method of application: online
Payment method: online
Date of application: 20/07/2021 - July 2021
Date of debit of fees: 20/07/2021
Date of acknowledgement: 20/07/2021
Uploaded supporting documents: 25/07/2021
Date Biometrics enrolled: 05/08/2021
Date on Approval letter/Email: N/A Still waiting-no updates
Date of receipt of approval: N/A
Date of receipt of ceremony letter: N/A
Citizenship ceremony date: N/A
Emails sent to UKVI and MP, no updates.

Nothing yet, contacted MP, no updates.

[Zimgal357]

Eligibility criteria: 6YRS + 16YRS ILR
Language/LIUK Criteria: Degree + Life in the UK test
Nationality: Zimbabwean
Method of application: Online
Date of application: 09/03/22
Payment method: (Online)
Date of debit of fees: 09/03/22
Date of acknowledgement: -
Date Biometrics enrolled: 10/03/22(paid)
Date on Approval Email: Awaiting
Date of receipt of approval: Awaiting
Date of receipt of ceremony letter: Awaiting

[chrisbp]

Nationality: Canadian
Eligibility: UK Ancestry (5 years) and ILR (1 year)
Method of application: Online
Payment method: Online
Date of application: 30/10/2021
Date of debit of fees: 30/10/2021
Date of acknowledgement: 30/10/2021
Date Biometrics enrolled: 30/10/2021
Biometrics Location: Croydon (£112)
Date on Approval letter/Email: Awaiting
Date of receipt of ceremony letter: Awaiting
Citizenship ceremony date: Awaiting

[mvs1]

Application Timeline

Eligibility criteria: BC spouse + ILR
Nationality: Indian
Method of application: Online
Date of receipt by UKBA: 3rd Feb 2022
Date of debit of fees: 3rd Feb 2022
Date of biometrics: 8th Feb 2022
Date of receipt of approval: 21st Feb 2022 (email at 08:12am)
Date of receipt of ceremony letter: 8th Mar 2022
Date of ceremony: 23rd Mar 2022 (Stafford)

[Setmilr987]

Eligibility criteria: ILR + English test & LIUK
Nationality: Non-EU
Method of application: Online
Date of application : 7th JULY, 2021
Date of debit of fees: 8th JULY 2021
Date of receipt of approval: AWAITING
Date of receipt of ceremony letter: AWAITING
Date of ceremony: AWAITING.

It's been over 8- Months now and no update from H.O