UKM application experience and timeline

[Ancestor]

I'm a bit worried if my valuable documents get lost in the inefficient SA postal system. Those documents are irreplaceable. Perhaps they sent it via diplomatic post to SA and I can fetch it on the day of my ceremony. Let's hope.

Lets hope you have better luck.. mines currently sitting in JHB International Mail Centre and hasn't moved since October. I have a Royal Mail tracking number at least. Let us know if you get them back after your ceremony.

Pathetic that SA Postal Service, to say the least!!! I know they were rioting, striking and burning Post Offices through July and that they are working to try catch up the backlogs, and then further strikes as below!!!

I have re-posted some crucial documents to Durban, I had to get re-signed, the first sent 4/7/2018, still not arrived/nowhere to be found! The 2nd redone sent 1/10/2018 International Signed for and Tracked and still not arrived as yet. A friend has a contact pretty high up in SAPO who has traced that the item has never arrived at JIMC, albeit Royal Mail have confirmed the flight it left Heathrow on!!! and have now had to lodge a claim/query, as only the sending service can interrogate the receiving service!!!

This is the latest updates on Royal Mail website:-

It is pathetic. Also, what I can't understand is why HO/UKVI can't courier documents back, at the applicant's expense obviously. They're more than happy to do it for British nationals already (e.g. replacing birth certificates etc). Perhaps that's the difference.

How did you get the Royal Mail to query the location of your letter? I'm not seeing any contact details on their website.. unless I'm missing something? Their Track and Trace site says it left the UK on 26 October and hasn't updated since then. JIMC say it hasn't been processed in their facility yet. I'm just concerned I won't receive my approval letter in time for the ceremony - although still waiting for High Commission in Pretoria/Embassy in Cape Town to contact me...not sure if its worth contacting them myself in the mean time

The reply and instructions I was given by a friend (SAPO) of a good friend were:-

The last scan on this item was it being dispatched out from the UK on 02/10/2018, however no incoming scan has been done at ORT airport or JIMC.

I have tracked a few other items in this dispatch and they all have the same tracking history.

Please can the sender be requested to log an enquiry with Royal Mail, UK who in turn will have to liaise with JIMC via the online enquiry system.

so I phoned Royal Mail customer service, waited half an hour, and the very helpful lady told me I had to complete a claim form (despite only documents I sent) at https://royalmail.com/claims

Apparently only the sender service has jurisdiction to interrogate JIMC or the receiving service.

[PleasantThebest]

Lets hope you have better luck.. mines currently sitting in JHB International Mail Centre and hasn't moved since October. I have a Royal Mail tracking number at least. Let us know if you get them back after your ceremony.

Pathetic that SA Postal Service, to say the least!!! I know they were rioting, striking and burning Post Offices through July and that they are working to try catch up the backlogs, and then further strikes as below!!!

I have re-posted some crucial documents to Durban, I had to get re-signed, the first sent 4/7/2018, still not arrived/nowhere to be found! The 2nd redone sent 1/10/2018 International Signed for and Tracked and still not arrived as yet. A friend has a contact pretty high up in SAPO who has traced that the item has never arrived at JIMC, albeit Royal Mail have confirmed the flight it left Heathrow on!!! and have now had to lodge a claim/query, as only the sending service can interrogate the receiving service!!!

This is the latest updates on Royal Mail website:-

It is pathetic. Also, what I can't understand is why HO/UKVI can't courier documents back, at the applicant's expense obviously. They're more than happy to do it for British nationals already (e.g. replacing birth certificates etc). Perhaps that's the difference.

How did you get the Royal Mail to query the location of your letter? I'm not seeing any contact details on their website.. unless I'm missing something? Their Track and Trace site says it left the UK on 26 October and hasn't updated since then. JIMC say it hasn't been processed in their facility yet. I'm just concerned I won't receive my approval letter in time for the ceremony - although still waiting for High Commission in Pretoria/Embassy in Cape Town to contact me...not sure if its worth contacting them myself in the mean time

The reply and instructions I was given by a friend (SAPO) of a good friend were:-

so I phoned Royal Mail customer service, waited half an hour, and the very helpful lady told me I had to complete a claim form (despite only documents I sent) at https://royalmail.com/claims

Apparently only the sender service has jurisdiction to interrogate JIMC or the receiving service.

Thanks. I've gotten in touch with RM via Twitter and they are looking into it. Not holding my breath though. Trying to get UKVI to send my approval letter via an email.. but haven't had a response yet

[balles]

Pathetic that SA Postal Service, to say the least!!! I know they were rioting, striking and burning Post Offices through July and that they are working to try catch up the backlogs, and then further strikes as below!!!

I have re-posted some crucial documents to Durban, I had to get re-signed, the first sent 4/7/2018, still not arrived/nowhere to be found! The 2nd redone sent 1/10/2018 International Signed for and Tracked and still not arrived as yet. A friend has a contact pretty high up in SAPO who has traced that the item has never arrived at JIMC, albeit Royal Mail have confirmed the flight it left Heathrow on!!! and have now had to lodge a claim/query, as only the sending service can interrogate the receiving service!!!

This is the latest updates on Royal Mail website:-

It is pathetic. Also, what I can't understand is why HO/UKVI can't courier documents back, at the applicant's expense obviously. They're more than happy to do it for British nationals already (e.g. replacing birth certificates etc). Perhaps that's the difference.

How did you get the Royal Mail to query the location of your letter? I'm not seeing any contact details on their website.. unless I'm missing something? Their Track and Trace site says it left the UK on 26 October and hasn't updated since then. JIMC say it hasn't been processed in their facility yet. I'm just concerned I won't receive my approval letter in time for the ceremony - although still waiting for High Commission in Pretoria/Embassy in Cape Town to contact me...not sure if its worth contacting them myself in the mean time

The reply and instructions I was given by a friend (SAPO) of a good friend were:-

so I phoned Royal Mail customer service, waited half an hour, and the very helpful lady told me I had to complete a claim form (despite only documents I sent) at https://royalmail.com/claims

Apparently only the sender service has jurisdiction to interrogate JIMC or the receiving service.

Thanks. I've gotten in touch with RM via Twitter and they are looking into it. Not holding my breath though. Trying to get UKVI to send my approval letter via an email.. but haven't had a response yet

I don't see any harm in contacting the consular section of the High Commission and enquire whether they have any info/update for you. The email/letter I received came from the consular offices in Cape Town. By the way what answer did you give on your application regarding where you would like to have your citizenship ceremony?

[PleasantThebest]

I don't see any harm in contacting the consular section of the High Commission and enquire whether they have any info/update for you. The email/letter I received came from the consular offices in Cape Town. By the way what answer did you give on your application regarding where you would like to have your citizenship ceremony?

I put Cape Town as well. Its the most convenient for me. That's actually a good idea. I try give them a call on Monday - it will then be around a month since my application was approved

[PleasantThebest]

Contacting the Cape Town embassy was a complete waste of time.. they just gave me the phone number for HMPO even after I re-iterated three times that its not a passport application.. I guess I just have to wait

[Shaun45]

Regarding the return of original documents...

After my citizenship ceremony I will receive my citizenship certificate, however if I have not received my original documents from UKVI then I will be unable to apply for my British passport as all the documents I need for my British passport application was sent with my application.

I do however have scanned colour copies of all my important documents and certificates that I sent with my application. Will scanned copies be acceptable for my British passport application?

[balles]

Regarding the return of original documents...

After my citizenship ceremony I will receive my citizenship certificate, however if I have not received my original documents from UKVI then I will be unable to apply for my British passport as all the documents I need for my British passport application was sent with my application.

I do however have scanned colour copies of all my important documents and certificates that I sent with my application. Will scanned copies be acceptable for my British passport application?

No. You will only require to submit the original registration certificate you received at the citizenship ceremony, your valid SA passport, two colour photographs of which one needs to be countersigned to confirm true likeness and proof of address. I’ll post the link from HMPO to confirm.

[balles]

Regarding the return of original documents...

After my citizenship ceremony I will receive my citizenship certificate, however if I have not received my original documents from UKVI then I will be unable to apply for my British passport as all the documents I need for my British passport application was sent with my application.

I do however have scanned colour copies of all my important documents and certificates that I sent with my application. Will scanned copies be acceptable for my British passport application?

No. You will only require to submit the original registration certificate you received at the citizenship ceremony, your valid SA passport, two colour photographs of which one needs to be countersigned to confirm true likeness and proof of address. I’ll post the link from HMPO to confirm.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... ts-group-3

[Shaun45]

Thanks for the information. I actually did a bit of investigation shortly after my post and answered my own question.

Can my city rates and taxes utility bill be used as proof of address for my passport application as it has my full name and address?

[PleasantThebest]

Thanks for the information. I actually did a bit of investigation shortly after my post and answered my own question.

Can my city rates and taxes utility bill be used as proof of address for my passport application as it has my full name and address?

https://www.passport.service.gov.uk/ove ... uth-africa

I assume you are applying from SA.. in that case it says in the link above:
"You must include your Vault birth certificate with your application – a photocopy won’t be accepted."

Which you would've needed for your UKM application. Maybe just find out about this.. seems to be conflicting info

[Shaun45]

Correct, I'm applying from SA. According to the pdf guide and if you are applying from outside the UK all you need is your British citizen registration certificate, copy of your SA passport and proof of address. This is if you have been naturalised or registered as a British citizen as in the UKM application. I don't see anything about providing an original vault copy of your birth certificate. I only see you need to provide a birth certificate for a first child passport. As mentioned the vault copy of your birth certificate was already covered in the UKM application.

[PleasantThebest]

Correct, I'm applying from SA. According to the pdf guide and if you are applying from outside the UK all you need is your British citizen registration certificate, copy of your SA passport and proof of address. This is if you have been naturalised or registered as a British citizen as in the UKM application. I don't see anything about providing an original vault copy of your birth certificate. I only see you need to provide a birth certificate for a first child passport. As mentioned the vault copy of your birth certificate was already covered in the UKM application.

You might need the vault copy since it will be your first adult passport.. that what that link I posted seemed to indicate, albeit I haven't read the guide yet - I haven't gotten as far as you in terms of the whole process.. one bridge at a time here maybe ask on one of the general passport threads.. someone will know more

[Shaun45]

I can't find any indication of a vault copy of birth certificate requirement. As mentioned it would be pointless as it was already covered in the UKM application. In any event I most probably won't even have my original documents returned to me by then due to the bad postal service. I waited more than a year for a vault copy of my birth certificate from Home Affairs. The wheels turn frustrating slow in SA.

[PleasantThebest]

I can't find any indication of a vault copy of birth certificate requirement. As mentioned it would be pointless as it was already covered in the UKM application. In any event I most probably won't even have my original documents returned to me by then due to the bad postal service. I waited more than a year for a vault copy of my birth certificate from Home Affairs. The wheels turn frustrating slow in SA.

Its clearly indicated on the government link I posted which is in contradiction to what you have read elsewhere. As I said, I would find out from HMPO if I were you before assuming its not needed. Better to be on the safe side

[Shaun45]

I will definitely find out. I hope I didn't miss something. I did have a look at the link you sent but I still can't find the vault birth certificate requirement. I will be applying under column 2 "First British passport", under the section "When you have been naturalised or registered as British". Under this section table A, D and E will apply.

[CR001]

I will definitely find out. I hope I didn't miss something. I did have a look at the link you sent but I still can't find the vault birth certificate requirement. I will be applying under column 2 "First British passport", under the section "When you have been naturalised or registered as British". Under this section table A, D and E will apply.

You do not need the vault copy of your birth cert for your first passport after naturalisation or registration as British.

[Shaun45]

Thank you CR001 for the confirmation.

[balles]

Correct, I'm applying from SA. According to the pdf guide and if you are applying from outside the UK all you need is your British citizen registration certificate, copy of your SA passport and proof of address. This is if you have been naturalised or registered as a British citizen as in the UKM application. I don't see anything about providing an original vault copy of your birth certificate. I only see you need to provide a birth certificate for a first child passport. As mentioned the vault copy of your birth certificate was already covered in the UKM application.

You might need the vault copy since it will be your first adult passport.. that what that link I posted seemed to indicate, albeit I haven't read the guide yet - I haven't gotten as far as you in terms of the whole process.. one bridge at a time here maybe ask on one of the general passport threads.. someone will know more

No need for vault copy as the applicant is a British Citizen by registration. the PDF guide from HMPO is clear on what documents are required. I'd agree however if the applicant as a minor which he is not.

[PleasantThebest]

Correct, I'm applying from SA. According to the pdf guide and if you are applying from outside the UK all you need is your British citizen registration certificate, copy of your SA passport and proof of address. This is if you have been naturalised or registered as a British citizen as in the UKM application. I don't see anything about providing an original vault copy of your birth certificate. I only see you need to provide a birth certificate for a first child passport. As mentioned the vault copy of your birth certificate was already covered in the UKM application.

You might need the vault copy since it will be your first adult passport.. that what that link I posted seemed to indicate, albeit I haven't read the guide yet - I haven't gotten as far as you in terms of the whole process.. one bridge at a time here maybe ask on one of the general passport threads.. someone will know more

No need for vault copy as the applicant is a British Citizen by registration. the PDF guide from HMPO is clear on what documents are required. I'd agree however if the applicant as a minor which he is not.

I just wonder why this says you do.. maybe outdated

[CR001]

Correct, I'm applying from SA. According to the pdf guide and if you are applying from outside the UK all you need is your British citizen registration certificate, copy of your SA passport and proof of address. This is if you have been naturalised or registered as a British citizen as in the UKM application. I don't see anything about providing an original vault copy of your birth certificate. I only see you need to provide a birth certificate for a first child passport. As mentioned the vault copy of your birth certificate was already covered in the UKM application.

You might need the vault copy since it will be your first adult passport.. that what that link I posted seemed to indicate, albeit I haven't read the guide yet - I haven't gotten as far as you in terms of the whole process.. one bridge at a time here maybe ask on one of the general passport threads.. someone will know more

No need for vault copy as the applicant is a British Citizen by registration. the PDF guide from HMPO is clear on what documents are required. I'd agree however if the applicant as a minor which he is not.

I just wonder why this says you do.. maybe outdated

Likely for those automatically British by descent. My ex husband had to submit his for his first passport but he was born in SA to a British born father so was automatically British by descent.

[Shaun45]

Correct, I'm applying from SA. According to the pdf guide and if you are applying from outside the UK all you need is your British citizen registration certificate, copy of your SA passport and proof of address. This is if you have been naturalised or registered as a British citizen as in the UKM application. I don't see anything about providing an original vault copy of your birth certificate. I only see you need to provide a birth certificate for a first child passport. As mentioned the vault copy of your birth certificate was already covered in the UKM application.

You might need the vault copy since it will be your first adult passport.. that what that link I posted seemed to indicate, albeit I haven't read the guide yet - I haven't gotten as far as you in terms of the whole process.. one bridge at a time here maybe ask on one of the general passport threads.. someone will know more

No need for vault copy as the applicant is a British Citizen by registration. the PDF guide from HMPO is clear on what documents are required. I'd agree however if the applicant as a minor which he is not.

I just wonder why this says you do.. maybe outdated

Ok I see what you mean. I was only going by the pdf guide. It does seem strange though.

[sunburn]

Applicants from US, how long did you take to hear back from the email address to which you request your biometrics preferred dates and times ?

[luthersnowak]

Applicants from US, how long did you take to hear back from the email address to which you request your biometrics preferred dates and times ?

I heard back about 2 months after I submitted my application. Case created June 25th, biometrics confirmation email August 28th.

[sunburn]

Applicants from US, how long did you take to hear back from the email address to which you request your biometrics preferred dates and times ?

I heard back about 2 months after I submitted my application. Case created June 25th, biometrics confirmation email August 28th.

Thanks, I believe you’re referring to the time from application date to biometrics request email. That took me two months too, but I’m asking how long it takes for the UKVI email address to get back to the applicant with the confirmed dates for the biometrics once you respond to their request to schedule biometrics.

[rhino57]

I sent in my preferences on July 26 and had confirmation back from UKVI on August 2nd. The appointment was for August 10th. I'm in California. Hope that helps.