Long delay; still no biometrics request after 7 months

[735513]

Hi, this is my first post, so I'll explain my timeline and hopefully someone might have an idea for me. I'm becoming pretty disillusioned with the process and finding it hard to believe there hasn't been an error somewhere - lost application? Something wrong in my documents? I feel helpless and increasingly stressed by the situation.

Background:
New Zealander. Arrived in UK on 5 year ancestry visa on 22 August, 2007. I'm not yet eligible for ILR, due to 3 months spent out of the UK in 2010.

Application timeline:
12 July 2012: postal application for ancestry visa renewal, sent on date of visa expiry
26 July 2012: acknowledgement letter received
27 July 2012: fee taken from my bank account

Early Oct 2012: change of address notified using online form
8 Nov: received email requesting further information - seems that my change of address couldn't be attached to my application, as it's not been put onto their system yet.
12 Nov: replied with requested info and copy of acknowledgement letter
29 Nov: called UKBA; told to wait until six months had passed
25 Jan: called UKBA; application still not on system; the lady sounded a little surprised I hadn't received biometrics request yet. I was told to write to office in Sheffield asking for information. I did so; haven't heard anything back yet, one month later.

I have still not received anything further - nothing about the biometrics. I've checked at my previous address and also provided a forwarding address in case anything turns up there. I've tried calling the UKBA a few times in the last week but can no longer get through to any human via any of the phone line options.

I have a couple of business/ personal trips within Europe planned for the summer, and I want to book a trip home to NZ for October, however I'm not comfortable doing so without any guarantee of having my passport back, with visa. I am able to get a temporary passport from the NZ Embassy very easily, however I want to get an assurance from the UKBA that they'll let me back into the UK on my return, as I'll not have any visa. I run my own business here, I pay my taxes, I do not use public funds.

Thanks for reading. Any ideas?

[jaberdene]

Hi

call UKBA and tell them your reference as your name, birthday, nationality rather than your Royal Mail tracking number of the application you sent. this number won't bring up your details online for them.
It happened to me.

it may help you out,

JE

[735513]

call UKBA

Thanks jaberdene - I will try calling them again; however I've not been able to get a human the last few times I tried, no matter which option I choose. I'm calling 0870 606 7766.

I didn't have a tracking number; but I did receive a letter of acknowledgement so I know my application was received. It just doesn't seem to have gone any further, since July last year.

[opotemo]

I'm also from NZ and have applied to extend my ancestry visa and have been waiting 8 months (although I received my biometrics letter last month)
It's killing me, had to turn down a job offer today as I needed to show them my passport and visa. This visa has actually cost me thousands of £'s due to the excessive wait

Date of application: 24/06/12
Letter of acknowledgement: 28/06/12
Biometrics Letter: 04/01/12
Biometrics taken: 12/01/12
Date of approval: Still waiting

[735513]

I'm also from NZ and have applied to extend my ancestry visa and have been waiting 8 months (although I received my biometrics letter last month)

Sorry to hear you're waiting too - although you receiving the biometrics letter last month does give me some hope that they haven't just lost my application!

I'm wondering about the temporary passport and what kind of risk is involved in re-entering the UK.

[KH2013]

Hello,

Thought I would tag onto this post so other people can see my situation.

Originally from NZ. Applied to extend my UK Ancestry Visa on 1 August 2012. Money taken from account three days' later and acknowledgement letter received a week after that. Waited the six month time frame without any news, phoned the UKBA who asked me to write them a letter asking for an update on my situation (she was surprised I hadn't received a request to complete my biometrics).

Decided that I've had enough of the whole system and made a request to withdraw my application on 11 February 2013. It's now been 15 days and no passport back. My partner got his in four days - I've contacted my MP and Lord Avebury (who was kind enough to give me a call). Both were told by the UKBA that they've received my request to withdraw my application but can't confirm how long it'll take to process this.

Getting a little stressed that my partner needs to be out of the UK in two weeks and I'll be stuck here by myself waiting for my passport to be returned. If worst comes to worst, I'll report my passport as lost - but I'd rather not have to resort to that given that I'll need to request a police report and pay for a new passport.

If anyone else has withdrawn their application recently, I'd be interested in the timeframes you're working to.

Thanks

[735513]

Getting a little stressed that my partner needs to be out of the UK in two weeks and I'll be stuck here by myself waiting for my passport to be returned. If worst comes to worst, I'll report my passport as lost - but I'd rather not have to resort to that given that I'll need to request a police report and pay for a new passport.

Sorry to hear that! Give the NZ Embassy a call - you can get a temporary passport really easily - they'll tell you the criteria. That should allow you to leave without any problems.

I'm going to get a temp passport as a last resort, so I can at least get home to my father's 70th birthday in October. But surely it will be resolved by then.

[735513]

Update: today I received my biometrics letter Massively relieved and hopeful this might all be over within another month or two.

Application timeline:
12 July 2012: postal application for ancestry visa renewal, sent on date of visa expiry
26 July 2012: acknowledgement letter received
27 July 2012: fee taken from my bank account
6 March 2013: received biometrics letter

[opotemo]

Good luck guys I received my BRP today

Date of application: 24/06/12
Letter of acknowledgement: 28/06/12
Biometrics Letter: 04/01/13
Biometrics taken: 12/01/13
Documents returned: 07/03/13
BRP received: 30/03/13 (had to chase this up)

Total wait: 9 months 4 days

[735513]

Got mine too - really fast, once the BRP photo and prints were done:

Application timeline:
12 July 2012: postal application for ancestry visa renewal, sent on date of visa expiry
26 July 2012: acknowledgement letter received
27 July 2012: fee taken from my bank account
6 March 2013: received biometrics letter
7 March 2013: biometrics done at post office
19 March 2013: BRP received; passport and documents returned

Looks like all the bad press lately has hurried them along. Best of luck to all who are still waiting!