General Discussion During Naturalisation Application Process

[mmali]

Hi Everyone,
I received my ceremony invitation letter today so I will go ahead with my booked ceremony on the 03/05/2018. I would like to know if the counter signatory person is the same person(Accountant) as my naturalisation application Referee, will this be ok?
Any recommendation for first passport application will be appreciated. I mean shall I use online application or paper one, which one is faster route?
Thanks

[CdeT]

Hi Everyone,
After waiting for 6 months and 1 day I finally received my approval letter yesterday! Thank god! I applied on 03/10/2017 and my application wasn’t as straight forward as others due to a number of factors. My long wait has come to an end . I wish all the best to everyone still waiting, be patient and everything will work out.

Congratulations. I am from Zimbabwe too. Submitted in December 2017. Close to 5 months now and I am becoming impatient. I thought my case was straight forward but doesn't look like. I I may ask did you ever wrote emails chasing progress of your applications and what was the reply.

Thank you. My application definitely was not straight forward and I already anticipated that it might take longer than usual so for your situation goes I’m sure a decision will be on it’s way soon. I did in fact email them on citizenship.support@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk back in February and this was the response I received.

Good afternoon,

Thank you for your email below.

Your application is currently in a queue and will be dealt with shortly.

Kind Regards
AO/CCST Nationality Group

Thanks vekumusha. Keeping my fingers crossed that I wont pass the 6month mark.Have you booked the ceremony already?

[bbgwenzi]

Hi Everyone,
After waiting for 6 months and 1 day I finally received my approval letter yesterday! Thank god! I applied on 03/10/2017 and my application wasn’t as straight forward as others due to a number of factors. My long wait has come to an end . I wish all the best to everyone still waiting, be patient and everything will work out.

Congratulations. I am from Zimbabwe too. Submitted in December 2017. Close to 5 months now and I am becoming impatient. I thought my case was straight forward but doesn't look like. I I may ask did you ever wrote emails chasing progress of your applications and what was the reply.

Thank you. My application definitely was not straight forward and I already anticipated that it might take longer than usual so for your situation goes I’m sure a decision will be on it’s way soon. I did in fact email them on citizenship.support@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk back in February and this was the response I received.

Good afternoon,

Thank you for your email below.

Your application is currently in a queue and will be dealt with shortly.

Kind Regards
AO/CCST Nationality Group

Thanks vekumusha. Keeping my fingers crossed that I wont pass the 6month mark.Have you booked the ceremony already?

Try not to think about it too much though I know it’s hard not to. It will hopefully be soon! Yes I booked my private ceremony for the 04/05/2018. I had pay an extra £100 because they told me the next group ceremony is not until the 15/06/2018!

[nishanttailor]

Hi Everyone,
I got my approval letter few days ago , and waiting for British Citizenship Ceremony invitation letter to arrive ,in the meantime I put a request for Citizenship Ceremony online in my local council to reserve a date in advance.They got back to me and offered me 04/May/2018 by e-mail. They have not asked me for anything yet. I may receive the invitation letter by 3nd may.
My questions are.
1- It possible to do the ceremony without invitation letter because every council has different view on that?
2- When you attend the ceremony do they ask for invitation letter ?
I have my passport and driving licence as ID to present.

Thank

Hi,

Congratulations on getting your naturalisation approval.

I have applied my naturalisation on 21st March. I can see from timeline thread thread, other people applied after me already got their approval.

Does this approval letter delivered by via Royal Mail ?

Thanks

[CR001]

Hi,

Congratulations on getting your naturalisation approval.

I have applied my naturalisation on 21st March. I can see from timeline thread thread, other people applied after me already got their approval.

Does this approval letter delivered by via Royal Mail ?

Thanks

Yes, A5 brown envelope by second class post.

[Jonny31t]

Hi,

Congratulations on getting your naturalisation approval.

I have applied my naturalisation on 21st March. I can see from timeline thread thread, other people applied after me already got their approval.

Does this approval letter delivered by via Royal Mail ?

Thanks

Yes, A5 brown envelope by second class post.

Don't worry. I applied in early / mid-March too and not gotten anything. I think it will take 2-3 months thereabouts.

I'm guessing it's similar to my ILR - which took equally long. That took me 4 months.

[Mfnkhan]

Hi Everyone,
I applied for British Naturalisation on 16/04/2018 using farm papers and Ealing NCS until today HO didn't took money from my account it's about two weeks now. I didnt receive any thing from them either any Idea what shall I do.

Hi I am in same situation I applied through NCS paper form on 11 april HO received it next day. Till now they have not taken the fee out. Did they took money out from you ?

[Ja314ja]

Yay, long wait over, i applied on 28/11 and it took 5 long stressful months but now approved. My advice to anyone waiting is try to take it off your mind, u will get the answer

[rents_78]

I applied online and then used the JCAP service to provide all documents. The citizenship fee payment was made online when I applied on 12/3.
The passport fee was charged on my card on 9/4.

I assumed they would only take the payment for the passport at the very end, after approving my citizenship application. However I have not received any letter yet so clearly they are still assessing my application.

Does anyone know at what point of the process they take the payment due for the passport?

Judging from the post on the timelines I have seen on this forum and from what I have heard from a few people who have recently been through this, people are getting an answer within 4-6 weeks from when the application was initially received by the HO.

In my case it has been ~7.5 weeks. Anything to be worried about?

[venomby]

I applied online and then used the JCAP service to provide all documents. The citizenship fee payment was made online when I applied on 12/3.
The passport fee was charged on my card on 9/4.

I assumed they would only take the payment for the passport at the very end, after approving my citizenship application. However I have not received any letter yet so clearly they are still assessing my application.

Does anyone know at what point of the process they take the payment due for the passport?

Judging from the post on the timelines I have seen on this forum and from what I have heard from a few people who have recently been through this, people are getting an answer within 4-6 weeks from when the application was initially received by the HO.

In my case it has been ~7.5 weeks. Anything to be worried about?

Rents!!! refer to the post just above yours. It took over 5 months so its normal. Most have recently been decided within 6 weeks but many take 3-4 months. So just relax. Worry only after you cross 5 months.

[Twine]

I applied online and then used the JCAP service to provide all documents. The citizenship fee payment was made online when I applied on 12/3.
The passport fee was charged on my card on 9/4.

I assumed they would only take the payment for the passport at the very end, after approving my citizenship application. However I have not received any letter yet so clearly they are still assessing my application.

Does anyone know at what point of the process they take the payment due for the passport?

Judging from the post on the timelines I have seen on this forum and from what I have heard from a few people who have recently been through this, people are getting an answer within 4-6 weeks from when the application was initially received by the HO.

In my case it has been ~7.5 weeks. Anything to be worried about?

Hi rents_78! I (along with my spouse) applied one week after you did and we went via the same method of online and JCAP. My passport fee came out almost a week after yours as well so it seems like our experiences are normal / matching.

If you take a look at the March applicants who used the online and JCAP route we did that have already received their approval letters, the time between online submission and receipt of approval letter is about eight (8) weeks:

Example 1 - 44 days
Example 2 - 50 days
Example 3 - 51 days
Example 4 - 51 days
Example 5 - 52 days
Example 6 - 53 days
Example 7 - 54 days
Example 8 - 57 days
Example 9 - 58 days

So no worries. You should get that brown envelope within the next week or so ...and hopefully me too!

[Mfnkhan]

Hi everyone I applied through NCS paper form on 11 april HO received it next day. It is more then 3 weeks still HO didn’t took application fee. Is it normal or shall I be worried ?

[rents_78]

Ok thanks / given the money involved and the time spent organising it, I find it easy to stress out!

The other day I called the HO only to ask if a letter had been sent (as I might have not received it - sharing my entrance hall with others and not having a private mailbox).
The person was so impolite and not willing to help..said the could not verify if the letter had been sent.

[rents_78]

[/b]

Hi rents_78! I (along with my spouse) applied one week after you did and we went via the same method of online and JCAP. My passport fee came out almost a week after yours as well so it seems like our experiences are normal / matching.

If you take a look at the March applicants who used the online and JCAP route we did that have already received their approval letters, the time between online submission and receipt of approval letter is about eight (8) weeks:

Example 1 - 44 days
Example 2 - 50 days
Example 3 - 51 days
Example 4 - 51 days
Example 5 - 52 days
Example 6 - 53 days
Example 7 - 54 days
Example 8 - 57 days
Example 9 - 58 days

So no worries. You should get that brown envelope within the next week or so ...and hopefully me too!

Thanks a lot, this does reassure me a bit.

Is your understanding that they take out the money for the passport application regardless, without having any idea if one will be approved or rejected?

All the best and good luck to you!
Renzo

[ksadoc]

Hi, All

I have applied through solicitor just becuase i had no time to do paper work etc, straight forward application.
Me: Indian Passport Tier-2 5 yrs + ILR, solicitor posted on 23rd March 2018
Kid born in UK, Indian Passport, Tier-2

Question is, has applied through a solicitor?
Thanks

[Twine]

Renzo,

Yes the passport fee just comes out as part of the process. Doesn't indicate success/failure. But you will get it refunded if your naturalisation application is not successful.

Good luck to you too!

Twine

[mhsadique]

Advice require please

I was forgot to mention police caution was in 2009.
I ask immigration barrister about this caution he told me after 2 years it's delete from system. Police also inform on 2009 we keep this in our records for Next 2 years. If you do same mistake again then have a problem. Other way you don't need to worry.

Caution was: Car insurance was fully paid for the year but one silly information was not change.

I apply on March 2018. Do you think I've to mention asap. I know this caution not stop my approval but if they find I'm not mention will be a big issue? 10 years band as well?


Thanks

[venomby]

Renzo,

Yes the passport fee just comes out as part of the process. Doesn't indicate success/failure. But you will get it refunded if your naturalisation application is not successful.

Good luck to you too!

Twine

Fee is not refundable if naturalization application is rejected. You only get £80 ceremony fee back not the application fee or passport application fee. You should wait for naturalization to be approved before applying for passport then. Why people are in such a big hurry of 2 weeks I fail to understand. But its their money their choice.

[venomby]

Advice require please

I was forgot to mention police caution was in 2009.
I ask immigration barrister about this caution he told me after 2 years it's delete from system. Police also inform on 2009 we keep this in our records for Next 2 years. If you do same mistake again then have a problem. Other way you don't need to worry.

Caution was: Car insurance was fully paid for the year but one silly information was not change.

I apply on March 2018. Do you think I've to mention asap. I know this caution not stop my approval but if they find I'm not mention will be a big issue? 10 years band as well?


Thanks

The notes on cautions say any non custodial sentence the time should be 3 years (not 2).
Also nothing is ever deleted from your records its only you are no longer under probation. They will see you have not mentioned the caution. I dont know how they will treat it. Will it be overlooked or will u be accused of lying?

[mhsadique]

Shall I do apologise and accept my mistake
And write a letter or print that page from AN and mention on details?
Send in first class delivery?

Advice require please

I was forgot to mention police caution was in 2009.
I ask immigration barrister about this caution he told me after 2 years it's delete from system. Police also inform on 2009 we keep this in our records for Next 2 years. If you do same mistake again then have a problem. Other way you don't need to worry.

Caution was: Car insurance was fully paid for the year but one silly information was not change.

I apply on March 2018. Do you think I've to mention asap. I know this caution not stop my approval but if they find I'm not mention will be a big issue? 10 years band as well?


Thanks

The notes on cautions say any non custodial sentence the time should be 3 years (not 2).
Also nothing is ever deleted from your records its only you are no longer under probation. They will see you have not mentioned the caution. I dont know how they will treat it. Will it be overlooked or will u be accused of lying?

[mhsadique]

Can you please guide me
If declare and apologise
Is that in issue? Still they thought I'm trying to hide.
How I can deal with this seatuation?
Any body have previous experience?
Caution was just a letter no penalty or fine

Advice require please

I was forgot to mention police caution was in 2009.
I ask immigration barrister about this caution he told me after 2 years it's delete from system. Police also inform on 2009 we keep this in our records for Next 2 years. If you do same mistake again then have a problem. Other way you don't need to worry.

Caution was: Car insurance was fully paid for the year but one silly information was not change.

I apply on March 2018. Do you think I've to mention asap. I know this caution not stop my approval but if they find I'm not mention will be a big issue? 10 years band as well?


Thanks

The notes on cautions say any non custodial sentence the time should be 3 years (not 2).
Also nothing is ever deleted from your records its only you are no longer under probation. They will see you have not mentioned the caution. I dont know how they will treat it. Will it be overlooked or will u be accused of lying?

[venomby]

Can you please guide me
If declare and apologise
Is that in issue? Still they thought I'm trying to hide.
How I can deal with this seatuation?
Any body have previous experience?
Caution was just a letter no penalty or fine

Advice require please

I was forgot to mention police caution was in 2009.
I ask immigration barrister about this caution he told me after 2 years it's delete from system. Police also inform on 2009 we keep this in our records for Next 2 years. If you do same mistake again then have a problem. Other way you don't need to worry.

Caution was: Car insurance was fully paid for the year but one silly information was not change.

I apply on March 2018. Do you think I've to mention asap. I know this caution not stop my approval but if they find I'm not mention will be a big issue? 10 years band as well?


Thanks

The notes on cautions say any non custodial sentence the time should be 3 years (not 2).
Also nothing is ever deleted from your records its only you are no longer under probation. They will see you have not mentioned the caution. I dont know how they will treat it. Will it be overlooked or will u be accused of lying?

My personal opinion is that you write a letter, mentioning the caution. Explain that you forgot the caution as it was a long way back and you had no intention of hiding any fact.
You could fill out the AN page and in your letter request the blank page be replaced by the one you are sending. Everyone knows that in almost all cases they are not flexible on any transgressions of the law. One person has been refused because the TV licence fee was not paid. The inspector visited and fined her which was immediately paid but it was used to deny her citizenship.

[Khurram545]

Hi , I applied application using online without using NDRS (without Passport) . I received email with application number after 5 of submitting the application. do you guys think , not using of NDRS / NCS services would delay the process ?

[rents_78]

Hi rents_78! I (along with my spouse) applied one week after you did and we went via the same method of online and JCAP. My passport fee came out almost a week after yours as well so it seems like our experiences are normal / matching.

If you take a look at the March applicants who used the online and JCAP route we did that have already received their approval letters, the time between online submission and receipt of approval letter is about eight (8) weeks:

Example 1 - 44 days
Example 2 - 50 days
Example 3 - 51 days
Example 4 - 51 days
Example 5 - 52 days
Example 6 - 53 days
Example 7 - 54 days
Example 8 - 57 days
Example 9 - 58 days

So no worries. You should get that brown envelope within the next week or so ...and hopefully me too!

I have received it today ... interesting that the letter is dated 26/4!
More than 2 weeks to get here!

[CdeT]

Hi rents_78! I (along with my spouse) applied one week after you did and we went via the same method of online and JCAP. My passport fee came out almost a week after yours as well so it seems like our experiences are normal / matching.

If you take a look at the March applicants who used the online and JCAP route we did that have already received their approval letters, the time between online submission and receipt of approval letter is about eight (8) weeks:

Example 1 - 44 days
Example 2 - 50 days
Example 3 - 51 days
Example 4 - 51 days
Example 5 - 52 days
Example 6 - 53 days
Example 7 - 54 days
Example 8 - 57 days
Example 9 - 58 days

So no worries. You should get that brown envelope within the next week or so ...and hopefully me too!

I have received it today ... interesting that the letter is dated 26/4!
More than 2 weeks to get here!

Congratulations for you people. some of us applied in December. Its now 5 months waiting. Wrote 2 emails to check progress in Month 3 and 4 ..same usual standard response. I am wondering if I am the only one waiting this long?