TIMELINE AFTER NATURALISATION APPLICATION SUBMISSION

[kalone]

NCS or Postal: NCS
If NCS, which: East Kilbride
Date of submission of application: August 19, 2009
Date application received by H/O: August 20, 2009
CRITERIA: Spouse
Date of Payment: August 26, 2009
Date of receipt of acknowledgment: August 28, 2009
Date of receipt of Approval: September 22 2009(dated September 12, 2009)
Date of citizenship ceremony: 05 October 2009 (Private)
Date of Passport application: 05 October 2009 PO Check & Send
Date of return of application documents: Pending
Date of Passport interview: Pending
Date of receipt of passport: Pending

[sidster007]

Dear all,

I stumbled onto this forum accidently through a google search and have logged in as a guest a few times before deciding to register. Thank you all for sharing information relating to your applications...it has provided me with very useful insight into the process as I prepare to submit my application for naturalization on Thursday 8th October, 2009 via the NCS at Westminster. I will be posting updates on my application as and when progress is made.

Basis of application- 4 yrs work permit + 1 year HSMP + 1 yr ILR

I believe my application is quite straight forward as I've only changed jobs once during the last six years (same industry) and my HSMP and ILR applications were decided in 3-4 weeks...also I have only left the country for a total of 200 days during the last 5 years of which 30 are in the last 12 months.

I have all the necessary paperwork and so is it reasonable to expect approval within 4-6 weeks from 9th October 2009 (the date my application will reach the HO)?

Its just that I am planning my Christmas travels to India (scheduled to fly out on 18th December 2009) but am conscious that I will not have enough time to get my British passport and Indian visa before that day.

Just wanted to your insight on two things -

1) Is it reasonable to expect an approval within 4-6 weeks?
2) How long can I postpone my citizenship ceremony from the date of approval as technically I will only become a British citizen on the date of the ceremony (I lose my Indian nationality automatically that day and so cannot travel to India on my Indian passport)

Many thanks and sorry for the rather long post (its my 1st !)

Regards

sidster

[sidster007]

Hi guys,

The timeline for approval in my last message was based on what I've been reading in this forum. On average people seem to be getting decisions in 6 weeks.
Cheers
Sidster

[Filipinas]

NCS or Postal: NCS
If NCS, which centre: Peterborough
Date of submission or posting:12th August 2009
CRITERIA - HSMP JR (5 yrs) - Family couple + 2 children
Date of receipt of Application @ HO: 17th August 2009
Date payment taken: 18thAug 2009
Date of receipt of acknowledgment: 19th August 2009 (Dated 17th Aug 09)
Date of receipt of approval and invitation: 12th September 2009 (Dated 6th Sept 09- yeah I know, it's SUNDAY, but that's the date)
Date of Ceremony: 23 September 2009 (private)
Date of application for passport: 23 September 2009
Method used: Check and Send
Kids Passport Received: 30 September 2009
Passport Interview letter and documents received : 01 October 2009
Interview: 03 October 2009
Date of Receipt: 06 October 2009 (dated 03 October 2009)

Our UK Citizenship journey is over. Thanks for all the information shared in here.

Filipinas

[sidster007]

Hi Filipinas,

Congratulations !! wow that was pretty quick !

Did the approval letter specify the ceremony date or did you call up your local council and book one (did you take it at the Peterborough council)?? I've been told that Westminster council is always busy and so it sometimes takes almost a month to get a date !

Cheers and congrats

Sidster

[Filipinas]

Hi Sidster007,

I took it in Norwich our home council, as I didn't specify in our form AN that we wanted the ceremony done in another council. Well, the next available public ceremony here is still in 2 Dec. when we phoned the council, so we checked on the private one which they do every Wednesday (very handy isn't it- that costs £100/adult-ouch!). We could have gotten the earliear Wednesday, 16 Sept ceremony but that was too complicated and early for hubby who has loads of meeting set on that Wednesday at his project site and then travel back to Norwich.

If it's true that Westminster has got just 1 month for a waiting time then that would be quicker- probably Westminster does more than one ceremony a month.

Good luck! Hope you get to book a convenient and reasonable date for your ceremony.

Filipinas

[sidster007]

Thank you Filipinas.

A question for all - are the processing timelines for approval of naturalisation the same for all nationalities?

The advice as per the UKBA website is for a wait time of upto 6 months but from what I can see on this thread people are getting their approvals anywhere between 4-8 weeks. Just wondering if people from certain nationalities (Indian) have to wait longer as the checks take longer?

Cheers

Sidster

[th]

It took me 22 days as a Kiwi.

Thank you Filipinas.

A question for all - are the processing timelines for approval of naturalisation the same for all nationalities?

The advice as per the UKBA website is for a wait time of upto 6 months but from what I can see on this thread people are getting their approvals anywhere between 4-8 weeks. Just wondering if people from certain nationalities (Indian) have to wait longer as the checks take longer?

Cheers

Sidster

[whirly]

A question for all - are the processing timelines for approval of naturalisation the same for all nationalities?

I don't think nationalities enter into it (and even if they did, would the Home Office ever admit to that?! No way!) Do you really think they check anything with your birth country? I seriously doubt it. I think they are more concerned with what you have been doing since you moved to the UK.

There have been many theories in the past: certain types of applications get done faster (e.g. spouse vs work permit), or NCS aps get processed faster than postal, or aps from this region in the UK get done faster than those from that region, etc. None of these theories have ever been proved, to my knowledge. To some extent, it's just a waiting game.

Right now it looks like aps are being processed quickly - just be grateful you're not applying in a country where it can take 2 years! (Ireland & USA, I'm looking at you...)

[justice_will_reign]

NCS or Postal: NCS
If NCS, which centre: Barking & Dagenham
Date of submission or posting: 7th August
CRITERIA - HSMP (1+3+3), ILR 1YR (backdated)JR = (5 yrs)
Date of debit of debit/credit card: 10 August
Date of receipt of acknowledgement : 14 August (dated 10th August)
Date of receipt of approval : 10th Sept. (dated 1st Sept)
Date of Ceremony: Oct. 5th
Date of appln. for passport : Oct. 7th
Method used : Check & Send
Interview Letter date: pending
Interview Date: pending
Passport Received Date: pending
Document Received Date: pending

[gseekl]

I did my ceremony at Camden Council. They have a ceremoney every week on Wednesdays. When I called to book, I got a place in the following Wednesday. You can try Camden if you wish to have it earlier.

Hi Filipinas,

Congratulations !! wow that was pretty quick !

Did the approval letter specify the ceremony date or did you call up your local council and book one (did you take it at the Peterborough council)?? I've been told that Westminster council is always busy and so it sometimes takes almost a month to get a date !

Cheers and congrats

Sidster

[Filipinas]

Unfortunately, it's no longer a matter of choice where to hold your ceremony if you have already submitted your Form (AN)/ Naturalisation application. You'd have to proceed to the council that you placed on the form. And if you did not specify any, then your papers are automatically sent to your home council. A request for a change would prove to be to officious and the wait might just take a lot longer.

It's good for others who are in a rush to take note of Camden. A little travel might as well offset the waiting time.

Filipinas

[tensailee]

Here's another update:

NCS/Postal: NCS @ Wandsworth
Submission: 19/08/2009
CRITERIA: BNA s.6(2)
Debit/credit card: 25/08/2009
Receipt of acknowledgement: 28/08/2009 (dated 25/08/2009)
Receipt of approval: 22/09/2009 (dated 12/09/2009)*
Ceremony: 21/09/2009**
App. for passport: 29/09/2009
Method: Check & Send
Receipt of interview letter: 08/10/2009 (dated 06/10/2009)
Date of interview: 10/10/2009***
Receipt of documents: 12/10/2009
Receipt of passport: pending

* delay due to postal strike
** private ceremony - council agreed ceremony without invitation letter due to postal strike; also beware despite requested ceremony at Wandsworth, UKBA sent certificate to my residential Hammersmith & Fulham
***used online tracking - was told interview letter sent out on 06/10/2009. Called 03002220000 to obtain reference number. Called 03002221000 to make interview appointment in Brighton on 10/10/2009. London and surrounding area appointments were fully booked for 2 weeks!

[bgizzle]

NCS or Postal: NCS
If NCS, which centre: Chester
Date of submission or posting: 4th August 2009
CRITERIA - 10yrs + 1yr ILR
Date of receipt of Application @ HO: 5th August 2009
Date payment taken: 4th Aug 2009 (Transcash- immediately into HO a/c)
Date of receipt of acknowledgment: 12th August 2009 (Dated 7th Aug 09)
Date of receipt of approval: 12th September 2009 (Dated 4th Sept 09)
Date of Ceremony: 7th Oct 2009 (Earliest date available for Manchester)
Date of application for passport: 7th Oct 2009
Method used: Post Office Check & Send
Date of receipt of Supporting Docs: Waiting
Date of Interview: Waiting
Date of Receipt of Passport: Waiting

[sidster007]

Just wanted to say thank you to everyone for their advice thus far...am applying for BC tomorrow (fingers crossed it'll go smoothly). Will keep you guys updates on timelines.

Cheers

Sidster007

[taliska]

goodluck sidster007, I applied on monday, hope it goes well for you, I have already started posting and will keep the forum up to date so we can compare timelines

[sidster007]

Dear all,

Just got back from the NCS at Westminster City Council..so finally the process is now underway after a long long wait. The woman at the NCS was helpful and suggested that the naturalization application should be processed within 6-8 weeks (that's what they have been observing for fairly straight forward applications).

Just for everyone's info I am applying based on

4 years work permit, 1 year HSMP and 1 year ILR.

Will keep you all updated. Good luck to everyone.

[jas]

Here's an update on the progress of my application

NCS or Postal: NCS, Oxfordshire
Date of submission or posting: 30/09/09
Date of arrival at HO: 01/10/09
CRITERIA: 5 yr Stay WP+ILR
Date of debit of debit/credit card: 05/10/09
Date of receipt of acknowledgement: 08/10/09 (Dtd. 05/10/09)
Date of receipt of approval: pending
Date of invitation letter: pending
Date of Ceremony: pending
Date of appln. for passport: pending
Method used: pending
Date of Receipt: pending

[gseekl]

DELETED

[gseekl]

DELETED

[gseekl]

Hi everyone

I have finally received my passport. A very smart and high tech looking passport!

Many thanks to everyone on this forum who has given each other help and encouragement. And to those who are still waiting, best wishes. It is a long journey, but you WILL get there!

NCS or Postal: NCS
If NCS, which centre: Camden, London
Date of submission or posting: 27 July 2009
CRITERIA - WP/HSMP (5 years) + ILR (1 year)
Date of debit of debit/credit card: 30 July 2009
Date of receipt of acknowledgement: (dated) 30 July 2009
Date of receipt of approval: 8 Sep (dated 24 Aug - delay probably due to postal strike)
Date of Ceremony: 16 Sep
Date of appln. for passport: 16 Sep
Method used: Post Office Check and Send
Supporting Documents returned: 28 Sep
Date of Interview: 3 Oct
Date of Receipt: 8 Oct (first attempted delivery on 6 Oct by courier)

[taliska]

They have taken the money that makes my heart sink

NCS or Postal: Postal
Joint Application AN for me and wife + 1 Child-appl MN1 section 3(1)
Date of submission or posting: 05/10/09 Arrived @HO 06/10/09
CRITERIA - 9 yr stay (3yr student + 5yrWP + 1 yr ILR)
Date of debit of debit/credit card: 09/10/09
Date of receipt of acknowledgement
Date of receipt of approval
Date of Ceremony
Date of appln. for passport
Method used
Date of Receipt

[sidster007]

Ok folks my application reached the home office on Friday 9th October (was sent via NCS, Westminster on the 8th October). Will keep you all posted with updates.

Quick question meanwhile- Is there an expiry date for the BC approval letter by which one has to schedule and attend the citizenship ceremony? one of my friends said its 3 months while another said it is 2 ...just want to be sure as I might need to delay my ceremony (assuming I get approved !!) to January as I will be travelling to my country of origin in December and so won't have sufficient time to get my British passport and get an Indian visa stamped in it.

Cheers

Sidster007

[taliska]

I thinks there is a deadline that you should ensure you attend a citizenship ceremony by see below I copied from the UKBA website

Arranging the ceremony
When you receive your invitation to a ceremony, you have 90 days to attend one. Your invitation will include contact details for the local authority that will arrange your ceremony. The ceremony usually takes place at a register office.

Most local authorities arrange group ceremonies for everyone in the local area who is becoming a British citizen at that time. You will usually be able to take two guests with you to the ceremony. Attendance at the ceremony is by invitation only.

You can arrange a private ceremony. You should discuss your requirements with your local authority. You may have to pay an additional fee to arrange a private ceremony

[sidster007]

Taliska thanks very much for the post. I'm assuming they mean 90 days from the date of approval?

Cheers

Sidster007