not using City Council's Services

[Rubby]

I've ILR for a year now and I should apply for British citizenship and passport end of the August. I am on a tight budget and cannot afford for the city council's Nationality Checking and Nationality Document Return Services. Could you please help me in clarifying these points? Anyone who has not used these city council services please help.

1. Could I apply for the Nationality online and send all the documents by post by myself? In such case, how long is the processing time?

2. Then, for the British passport, how should I apply - online or paper/post application? And when? I mean, do I have to wait for the Nationality decision to be taken and then apply for the passport?

3. Could I apply for the Nationality and the Passport simultaneously if I am not using the City Council's Services?

Thank you

[CR001]

1. Could I apply for the Nationality online and send all the documents by post by myself? In such case, how long is the processing time?

Yes you can. It can take 2 months and often longer, sometimes 6-8 months. Your original documents are kept by HO until they make a decision.

2. Then, for the British passport, how should I apply - online or paper/post application? And when? I mean, do I have to wait for the Nationality decision to be taken and then apply for the passport?

You can then only apply for your British passport AFTER you are approved for citizenship AND have attended your ceremony.

3. Could I apply for the Nationality and the Passport simultaneously if I am not using the City Council's Services?

No you cannot.

[Rubby]

Thank you for swift reply. Another Q please.
"It can take 2 months and often longer, sometimes 6-8 months. Your original documents are kept by HO until they make a decision".
Would the processing time be shorter if I use Document Return service? Or it does not make any difference?

[CR001]

Thank you for swift reply. Another Q please.
"It can take 2 months and often longer, sometimes 6-8 months. Your original documents are kept by HO until they make a decision".
Would the processing time be shorter if I use Document Return service? Or it does not make any difference?

Not necessarily. Some are and some are not, so no it doesn't always make a difference. The difference being that you get to keep hold of your original documents if you use the service and are free to travel if you choose to.