fielddrive wrote:seagul &
Arsal385 I feel your frustration but I have been through the postal process for SET(LR) where some folks who applied weeks after me got it before me. HO has always been unpredictable when it comes to the order in which they approve. Unfortunate but what can we do
Perhaps the pilot scheme will be rolled out to the entire country and bring about some much needed reforms. There is also the selection of applicants for enhanced security/background checks, which can add to timescales for some of the folks here. Just contemplating...
Fielddrive - you are speaking via the experience of someone who got their approval in a month or less - so i can see why you are so benign with HO. The majority of us - did not have the option to apply under the pilot scheme because that was rolled out after we submitted the apps
I personally have nothing against those using this scheme - the world is ever changing and everything progresses - so lucky you - if i could roll time back i would still apply in Sept without the Joint Application Scheme because as an EEA citizen - i wouldnt be affected by the change in law in Nov that now asks for PR certificate to be in possession before applying for AN
At the same time - i understand and agree with the frustration of those like me - who are waiting and waiting and waiting - daily checking this thread and timelines sheet - only to see no approvals for them but plenty of approvals for November/December (someone applied under the Joint Scheme on 21 Dec and got citizenship
AND passport back on 21 January.)
Little to say - i probably will still be waiting even in month's time - considering how slow they are with Sept applications. By then I would have only had maybe an approval, and i would still be 1-2 months away from holding a physical passport in my hand.
The frustration comes from various sources:
a) we all paid
same money - why is someone's case who applied 2 months after me being reviewed and decided before mine and the other hundreds apps from 4-6 months ago still waiting; is crazy as it seems there is no logic or interest from HO to provide an equal and objective service. Yes the pilot scheme - as any pilot scheme - has a degree of importance - as its a trial they will need to evaluate and decide of its use - so in a way i understand there will be some urgency - but even so - they are approving cases who have not applied under Joint Scheme - so no logic
b) is been 4 months for me (maybe still early some would say) - but my case couldn't be more str8 fwd: lived as EEA in UK for 8 years - all under yellow card permit - and have gained automatic PR status 3 years ago, I have been living at only 2 addresses in my life of which last one for 6 years, never ever had a fine in my life here or abroad, have 5/5 (or 999 of 999) credit score, working same place for 6 y, have not been out of the UK for more than 130 days in 5 years and have provided all evidence to support my case, on top of that I had max score for both language and LIUK test. I have even paid 1 grand to an immigration lawyer company to deal with the app - so i can rest assured my application has all the documents required and is been overseen by experienced people.
After the lawyers send the app - they took money fast and send biometric 2 days after, but haven't heard back from them since
My legal representative has chased them last week to see if there is a reason why no news and they came back with their bleak answer: application received and pending consideration - what this means? god knows
c) my other passport is now expired and i cannot travel for work and pleasure; while i can postpone any personal holidays for a few more months (although i haven't been on a holiday abroad in more than a year and i really need one) my work travelling is something i cannot postpone indefinitely. When I applied i instructed my company i will hopefully receive an answer and have a passport by beginning of 2016 the latest but that is now an utopia
In conclusion, i am very soured by the experienced of the naturalisation, i know its a long process and i am happy to accept it but then i see every day people who applied months later after me are getting their passports back and im still waiting praying every day that this is the day, im telling you guys - it has been killing me inside everyday since January because i really hoped (after watching timelines for others that mine would also come any time soon) that mine is close too...
The fact that you also cannot do anything even to get an update is not helping
Im wondering if i should write an email to them explaining them as i explained here - the frustration and inconvenience this erratic approval system is creating for me and rest of us in the same boat
But where would i even send this email?
What kind of experiences did you guys had so far and is there anyone else here who is sharing the same frustration/pain and powerless feeling?
PS: i don't hold a grudge against those who've been fast-tracked - good for you and enjoy this - is the system that,s rotten
