TIMELINE AFTER NATURALISATION APPLICATION SUBMISSION

[sara01]

Criteria : 2yrs (spouse visa) + 1yr ILR

Date of submission : 25/03/2011 Type : NCS Newham
Date application received by UKBA : 28/03/2011 via Warrington delivery office
Date of debit of credit card : 01/04/2011
Date of receipt of acknowledgement : 09/04/2011 dated 01/04/2011
Date of receipt of approval : ....
Date of receipt of invitation letter from council : ...
Date of ceremony : ....
Date of application for passport : ....
Date of interview letter : ....
Date of interview : ....
Date of receipt of documents : ....
Date of receipt of passport : ....

[lionking007]

CRITERIA - 5 Year Work Permit + 1 yr ILR
Type - NCS (Birmingham)
Date of submission - 17/03/2011
Date reached HO - 23/03/2011
Date of debit of credit card - 27/03/2011
Date of receipt of acknowledgement - 31/03/2011 dated 27/03/2011
Date of receipt of approval -
Date of receipt of invitation letter from council -
Date of Ceremony -
Date of appln. for passport -
Method used -
Date of Receipt of documents -
Date of interview -
Date passport received -

My employer (one of the gov department rang HO last week for an update on my application, and they were advised that it is still awaiting case worker allocation. My employer advised them that I need access to British Passport due to the nature of my work so UKBA need to expedite the process, because my employer need to do some advanced planning and spend of the departmental budgets etc... The person advised my employer that they need to send a letter with a request but they do not guarantee anything)

I would have thought that despite charging such a huge amount in fees etc..., they would have improved their process, taken more staff on, but I guess due the recruitment freeze in all the government departments things will just keep on getting delayed and stuck in pipeline. What a shame

[wunder]

I called the Home Office today. My application is still sitting in a corner, unloved and feeling dejected.

Submitted on 14th March.

I think it is a bit too early for you to worry!

Where is the place of traditional British customer service?

Traditional British customer service is no customer service - so it's all as it should be

[ukpl]

My employer (one of the gov department rang HO last week for an update on my application, and they were advised that it is still awaiting case worker allocation. My employer advised them that I need access to British Passport due to the nature of my work so UKBA need to expedite the process, because my employer need to do some advanced planning and spend of the departmental budgets etc... The person advised my employer that they need to send a letter with a request but they do not guarantee anything)

the above is irrelevant - no employer (even govt one) can demand to make you a BC (and I suppose the person who will sign such demand will not do good to himself) - read British Nationality Act and you will find out that Secretary of State decision is not based on employer's need

If, on an application for naturalisation as a British citizen made by a person of full age and capacity, the Secretary of State is satisfied that the applicant fulfils the requirements of Schedule 1 for naturalisation as such a citizen under this subsection, he may, if he thinks fit, grant to him a certificate of naturalisation as such a citizen.

also, take a note of the wording: he may, not he must
What's more, you are referring to Passport which is not UKBA's concern.

Personally, I wouldn't even tell any employer about applying for BC as this is a personal matter.
if they really need BC then watch your back as you may be replaced

Good Luck with your application

[lionking007]

My employer (one of the gov department rang HO last week for an update on my application, and they were advised that it is still awaiting case worker allocation. My employer advised them that I need access to British Passport due to the nature of my work so UKBA need to expedite the process, because my employer need to do some advanced planning and spend of the departmental budgets etc... The person advised my employer that they need to send a letter with a request but they do not guarantee anything)

the above is irrelevant - no employer (even govt one) can demand to make you a BC (and I suppose the person who will sign such demand will not do good to himself) - read British Nationality Act and you will find out that Secretary of State decision is not based on employer's need

If, on an application for naturalisation as a British citizen made by a person of full age and capacity, the Secretary of State is satisfied that the applicant fulfils the requirements of Schedule 1 for naturalisation as such a citizen under this subsection, he may, if he thinks fit, grant to him a certificate of naturalisation as such a citizen.

also, take a note of the wording: he may, not he must
What's more, you are referring to Passport which is not UKBA's concern.

Personally, I wouldn't even tell any employer about applying for BC as this is a personal matter.
if they really need BC then watch your back as you may be replaced

Good Luck with your application

UKPL thanks for your advise. I did not tell my employer to contact the HO. They want to me deliver certain projects; but thanks for pointing that out. much appreciated

[SunBlue]

I was trying to think what job required a change in nationality, because:
1 - I know that some governmental jobs will require people to be British citizen, but there again, they will recruit only British citizen then.
2 - I am struggling to understand what type of job will require someone to get British citizenship after some time already working for the company.

[srini_ma]

NCS or Postal : NCS (Bracknell)
Date of submission or posting : 28/03/11
CRITERIA - 5 yr stay (4 + 1 yr ILR)
Date of debit of debit/credit card : 07/04/11
Date of receipt of acknowledgement
Date of receipt of approval
Date of Ceremony
Date of appln. for passport
Method used
Date of Receipt

[allta]

It's almost as if every case worker at the NATIONALITY dept is on early summer vacation!

Anyways, we can be patient, we've come too far to give up out of impatience at the last hurdle......hold on guys, our approvals will surely come.....

[Ness]

Criteria - ILR (Married to British Citizen)
Type - NCS
Date of submission - 25/03/2011
Date reached HO – 28/03/2011 (checked tracking number given by NCS)
Date of debit of credit card - 04/04/2011
Date of receipt of acknowledgement - 08/04/2011 (dated 04/04/2011)
Date of receipt of approval -
Date of receipt of invitation letter from Council -
Date of Ceremony -
Date of appln. for passport -
Method used -
Date of Receipt of documents -
Date of interview -
Date passport received –

I'll update more as it happens.

[Anivip]

Has anyone applied on or before 30th March 2011 and still not received the acknowledgment or credit/debit card payment not yet deducted?

Yes, my friend who submitted on 28 March told me the money has not been debited yet. They submitted through NCS Hounslow

[kamalin10]

Same here my appointment with NCS was on the 1st of April, assuming application has reached HO on the 4th of April.

[forwardever]

its seems like postal app is faster than NCS lately..anyway i plan to send mine after ILR appointment on wednesday.will send via special delivery on thrusday or next week monday will update you guys if any defference

[Mike London]

CRITERIA - 4yr HSMP / Tier 1 >>2 Judicial Reviews<< + 1 yr ILR
Type NCS - Camden
Date of submission 24/02/11 Date reached HO- 24/02/11 (as per Royal Mail tracking service!)
Date of debit of credit card - 03/03/11
Date of receipt of acknowledgement - just a few days after - dated 03/03/11

Starting to get worried as it certainly seems that my time line went "above average" - currently at over 5 weeks since money was debited from the account.

I wonder if it has anything to do with 2 Judicial Reviews I used for my ILR? I lost my original HSMP status; had to leave the country and return shortly as a student dependant, then left again and returned as HSMP Dependant, and only later was able to reinstate my Tier 1 based on the 2nd HSMP Forum JR, with HO letter stating that any "out of right status" duration is covered as qualifying period.

It's fine from the "days absent" aspect - it's just over 100 days in total. But I know it can be confusing to a case worker to look at all these different visas and think "what on earth was this guy up to?"

I applied for ILR in person, and the case worker there had to refer to her boss to clarify the issues before issuing the ILR.

So, the hope was that at the nationality stage they wouldn't worry about those status changes too much, given that ILR was already issued.

Does anyone know whether in itself this may be causing the delay? Or is it just the case of lack of luck / "slow queue" ?

Hopefully, this doesn't get delayed for months...

[ferrarilondon]

MIKE LONDON currently things are bit slow in Nationality department, they are saying now average is around 12 weeks. Did you try to call them recently if so what is the update on your application?

[Mike London]

MIKE LONDON currently things are bit slow in Nationality department, they are saying now average is around 12 weeks. Did you try to call them recently if so what is the update on your application?

12 weeks! Well, thanks anyway - it does help to know! Although, looking at some cases in this topic where people are getting approved within 3 weeks, one can only wonder!

I didn't call them yet, thinking I can't expedite things by a call anyway, and if it's been decided, I'll know within a few days...

Another question is - no one seems to mention how the approval letter is sent - the usual 2nd class or registered delivery, requiring a signature? If it is 2nd class than perhaps it might be worth a call, as it may go astray, I guess.

Thanks!

[lionking007]

CRITERIA - 4yr HSMP / Tier 1 >>2 Judicial Reviews<< + 1 yr ILR
Type NCS - Camden
Date of submission 24/02/11 Date reached HO- 24/02/11 (as per Royal Mail tracking service!)
Date of debit of credit card - 03/03/11
Date of receipt of acknowledgement - just a few days after - dated 03/03/11

Starting to get worried as it certainly seems that my time line went "above average" - currently at over 5 weeks since money was debited from the account.

I wonder if it has anything to do with 2 Judicial Reviews I used for my ILR? I lost my original HSMP status; had to leave the country and return shortly as a student dependant, then left again and returned as HSMP Dependant, and only later was able to reinstate my Tier 1 based on the 2nd HSMP Forum JR, with HO letter stating that any "out of right status" duration is covered as qualifying period.

It's fine from the "days absent" aspect - it's just over 100 days in total. But I know it can be confusing to a case worker to look at all these different visas and think "what on earth was this guy up to?"

I applied for ILR in person, and the case worker there had to refer to her boss to clarify the issues before issuing the ILR.

So, the hope was that at the nationality stage they wouldn't worry about those status changes too much, given that ILR was already issued.

Does anyone know whether in itself this may be causing the delay? Or is it just the case of lack of luck / "slow queue" ?

Hopefully, this doesn't get delayed for months...

My application was received at the HO on the 23rd and payment debited on the 27th. as of last week it was still awaiting the allocation to the caseworker.

Looking at the holidays, half term, public holidays etc... looks like for the applications sent in from 2nd week of Feb to now will take a bit of time. I know the feeling and the anxiety. I think we have waited this long, maybe a few more weeks. As they say, those who wait gets the best and patience is virtue. I am sure not everyone will agree. Just staying positive will make a bit of difference

[lionking007]

MIKE LONDON currently things are bit slow in Nationality department, they are saying now average is around 12 weeks. Did you try to call them recently if so what is the update on your application?

12 weeks! Well, thanks anyway - it does help to know! Although, looking at some cases in this topic where people are getting approved within 3 weeks, one can only wonder!

I didn't call them yet, thinking I can't expedite things by a call anyway, and if it's been decided, I'll know within a few days...

Another question is - no one seems to mention how the approval letter is sent - the usual 2nd class or registered delivery, requiring a signature? If it is 2nd class than perhaps it might be worth a call, as it may go astray, I guess.

Thanks!

Its normally 2nd class from what I have seen with others on this forum

[ferrarilondon]

You are right LionKing007, they are going to take bit longer now, i have sent mine on 14th March Via NCS and until now its going through checks and waiting to be allocated to the case worker. fingers crossed and waiting.

[Mike London]

patience is virtue. I am sure not everyone will agree. Just staying positive will make a bit of difference

I can only agree where would we be without patience?
my only other concern is whether the double JR may also contribute to further delays...

Its normally 2nd class from what I have seen with others on this forum

oh well, one just has to hope it doesn't go too far astray...

I guess I will have to call them at some point...

[ferrarilondon]

Yes Mike that would be a good idea, to check the progress of your application

[lionking007]

You are right LionKing007, they are going to take bit longer now, i have sent mine on 14th March Via NCS and until now its going through checks and waiting to be allocated to the case worker. fingers crossed and waiting.

When did you ring them for your status update Ferrarilondon? was it today

[ferrarilondon]

Yes today about couple of hours ago, I always happen to talk to very helpful advisers or may be they are all very helpful lol. He said to me that now average is around 12 weeks , and my case is going through checks since last week , so by the end of this week or early next week case workers time might pick up my application. When i said that some people are getting reply within 2 or 3 weeks he said depends on case workers and cases and also not any more as they received so many applications and they have so much back log to clear. so their average time line is around 12 weeks which was 6 weeks until mid of Feb.

[lionking007]

Yes today about couple of hours ago, I always happen to talk to very helpful advisers or may be they are all very helpful lol. He said to me that now average is around 12 weeks , and my case is going through checks since last week , so by the end of this week or early next week case workers time might pick up my application. When i said that some people are getting reply within 2 or 3 weeks he said depends on case workers and cases and also not any more as they received so many applications and they have so much back log to clear. so their average time line is around 12 weeks which was 6 weeks until mid of Feb.

Do you know if they do a credit check,(I am sure they do) and if they do does it get reflected on the experian etc... I have just subscribed to the credit reports as I was applying for BC and wanted to make sure the acount was nice and clean

[avis]

..

[Mike London]

Yes Mike that would be a good idea, to check the progress of your application

agree although one of my problems is that my workday coincides with theirs, and they way things are it's not easy at all for me to call during day time - I even have lunches at my desk but I'll find a way eventually...