How to apply for naturalization

[Imraan786]

I have got ILR in Oct-12, when can I apply for naturalization and anyone can please guide me the process...
Which form should I send and application criteria, fee etc....

[Jambo]

Have you read the FAQ before posting?

See Citizenship FAQs - Common Questions - Read before posting.

[Brendan]

My question is a bit more specific than Imraan's - when EXACTLY can I apply for my Naturalisation?
Yes, I have read the FAQ, the UKBA website and just about every forum post on the internet but everything says "after 12 months of ILR". However, is this 12 months from the date the UKBA received my application or 12 months from the date my ILR card was issued?

[Jambo]

My question is a bit more specific than Imraan's - when EXACTLY can I apply for my Naturalisation?
Yes, I have read the FAQ, the UKBA website and just about every forum post on the internet but everything says "after 12 months of ILR". However, is this 12 months from the date the UKBA received my application or 12 months from the date my ILR card was issued?

It's 12 months from date of issue. However, if your ILR application took more than 3 months due to HO being slow (and no fault on your side), you can apply at discretion 15 months after applying for ILR (i.e. 3 + 12).

[Amber]

My question is a bit more specific than Imraan's - when EXACTLY can I apply for my Naturalisation?
Yes, I have read the FAQ, the UKBA website and just about every forum post on the internet but everything says "after 12 months of ILR". However, is this 12 months from the date the UKBA received my application or 12 months from the date my ILR card was issued?

It's 12 months from date of issue. However, if your ILR application took more than 3 months due to HO being slow (and no fault on your side), you can apply at discretion 15 months after applying for ILR (i.e. 3 + 12).

More than 3 months or 6? You are advised that an ilr application should be made within 6 months therefore, I would imagine that longer than 6 months would be protracted?

[Jambo]

My logic is that 15 months (3 + 12) was chosen as a decision was expected to be made within 3 months. It might be that since the guidelines were written the HO have moved the post (not for the first time).
In any case, I'm not a big fan of discretion. You waited so long to apply, a few more months of wait won't change much.

[Amber]

Indeed, with the discretion is uncertainty and unless it's been a substantially long time it's perhaps not worth the risk.

[Brendan]

Thank you for your reply Jambo. I was granted ILR just over 3 months since submitting my application - although it can take up to 6 months apparently.
(ILR application submitted middle of December 2012 and granted towards the end of March 2013).
I'll probably wait until March 2014 to apply for Naturalisation then although I was hoping I could've done it in December this year as that would've been 1 year since my 5 year Ancestral visa expired.
Given that the application for Naturalisation can take up to 6 months as well (apparently), the journey to British citizenship is potentially a long 7 years including processing times!
Then it's still applying for a passport after that...