Character Enquiries for BC

[K2004]

Hi I have this post somewhere else , but i think it should be as separate:

Application for BC received on 10 Nov via NCS Brent, payment Debited on the 24 th of Nov.(2 weeks after receiving application)

Aknowledgament letter dated on 23/11/05
Another letter dated on 13/12/05 saying that they are doing character enquiries, and that they returning enclosed documents which they wont be needing any more, the funny things is that there was no enclosed documents, not even a Life in the UK pass certificate.......

reading other posts on this boards it seems that not everyone get a character enquiries letter???? or everyone gets it but they dont mention it??? and is that mean my application will take much longer time? or it is just a standard letter.

[flyez]

In order to give a full review, let me paste my HO letter again.

Our Ref: A123456/ CT1

Dear Mr XXX

Re: MR XXX 01-01-1977

Thank you for submitting the enclosed documents in support of your application for British citizenship. All the information has been noted and we will not need to see them again.

we are still dealing with application, and we will inform you of our decision as soon as we have received the results of our character enquiries, which are carried out on all naturalisation applications. This may take several months.

Applicants are encouraged not to call the office unless absolutely necessary. Your patience would be appreciated, as repeated telephone calls and correspondence affect our ability to process application.

Yours sincerely

Miss YYY
CT1
Managed Migration, Nationality Group

So, How did HO decide some people need to carry out character enquiries when others were not? by what criteria? age, income, single/married, ..or else? Just curious...

flyez
15-Nov, nationality application sent via NCS

[John]

I think we need to appreciate that much of the checking can be done by computer search and is basically instant. This would apply to the Police National Computer ("NCS") system, and also the tax records of HMRC (which the applicant authorised IND to search when they signed the application form).

Other checking clearly cannot be done electronically. That includes any communication with the two referees, although the referees themselves might be a subject of a search on the PNC.

Very specifically I do not wish to personalise this to anyone in particular But if any of the electronic searching produces queries ... for example, the records of HMRC showing a different employer to the one disclosed on the application form, then it is possible that some other checks will be undertaken.

Or it could be that the application has merely been selected at random for more extensive checks.

[K2004]

Thanks,
but the letter clearly says that this character enquiries is carried out for all applicants,,, so why only some of them get it?

Flyez i have a feeling that only applications which are dealt by CT1 get this letter, because mine was signed by CT1 ,, Miss YYYY as well
also did you get any documents enclosed with it?

It will be interesting to know the timelines of approved application with similar experience. anyone?

[ppron747]

Thanks,
but the letter clearly says that this character enquiries is carried out for all applicants,,, so why only some of them get it?

As John said, in many cases the checks are instantaneous, because they are done electronically.
In other cases, there may not be sufficient electronic evidence to go solely by those checks, or there might be some discrepancies which mean that further enquiries are necessary. Clearly, the people whose enquiries can be dealt with electronically aren't going to receive a letter saying that enquiries are taking place, when the enquiries had actually been completed by the time the letter came off the printer....

[John]

Yes character enquiries are indeed carried out for all applicants but suspect that for most that merely means an electronic search not involving sending out any letters or waiting for replies to those letters.

Or maybe all case that are given (by random chance) to Miss YYY are subjected to slightly more extensive checks?

[lemess]

As John said I think character checks are indeed carried out for all but in most cases they can probably get a clear result by quick electronic queries. If for any reason this doesn't give a clear result or shows some inconsistencies, I suspect a more manual check becomes necessary which probably takes a bit longer.

To take care of this I had ensured my tax records and addresses etc with credit reference agencies etc. were updated and correct before filing applications.

[flyez]

I suspect that CT1- deal with all those who application which need extensive/manual check if electronic check can not sort out all queries at the first place.

So, lets said if you received acknowledgement letter signed from CT1. Congratulation, it mean you are unlikely to get approval letter within a very short time.

I just received this letter with nothin enclosed. At least they should have returned the notification pass letter of "life in the uk test".

One of my referee is currently abroad and won't be back to UK until early January. So I think I need to accept the possible outcome that I likely cannot get approval letter before the end of 2005.

[K2004]

or CT1 deal with applicants from countries such as Middle East??

[flyez]

I am not from middle east but CT1 still pick me up.

How lucky I am.

[rogerroger]

what is CT1?

are you guys non commonwealth citizens, perhaps that might explain the police checks?

i applid on the 1st of november, i have not received anything after the acknowledgement

[K2004]

Yes, I am not a commonwealth citizen,, but there is lots of other options,,, we just wanted to see if there is anybody in this board who received similar letter, and got an approval... we would like to know about their experience.

thanks

[rogerroger]

i guess the non commonwealth/commonwealth citizen disctinction is one of the major ones.

as a non commonwealth citizen you dont have the right to vote while being a resident(am i correct?) and also need to register with the local authorities when you enter the UK

[sfgirl]

For what it's worth, I applied about a year ago and didn't get one of those letters (I come from the US).

However, because I live in Northern Ireland I had to arrange for the Police Service of Northern Ireland to send the Home Office a copy of my police report, apparently there were some data protection issues.

[John]

are you guys non commonwealth citizens, perhaps that might explain the police checks?

I really don't think it comes down to commonwealth or non-commonwealth. My wife was non-commonwealth and certainly did not get one of those letters ... and was approved in exactly five weeks .... this was before NCS started .... so we were very pleased by that fast result ... especially as IND were indicating an average time of about eight months when she applied.

[Rogerio]

My situation too... I'm Brazilian, and never got the letter when I applied, pre NCS. And it was approved in 4 weeks. HO site quoted average of 8.07 months if I remember correctly. R.

[UK_yankees]

Hi Merry Chirstmas to all ya.

Any last suggestion advices you may have for me that will make my Naturalisation application a little smoother

My status at present:
21/12/2002 I arrived in the UK
Got my ILR in 2003.

Now I am going to apply for Naturalisation. The document I will be submitting:

- Passports. One expired which has ILR in it and the new one attached together.
- Also I have a homeoffice letter confirming my ILR.
- I have not been outside the UK for the last 3 years.
- Marriage certificate
- Fees for Naturalisation.
- Application form with references
- Pass notification letter confirming I have taken the test of life in the UK.

Do I have to submit my spouse's british passport OR My payslips, tax documents or anything esle. The reason I am asking is I have not been outside the UK at all and I have one expired passport which has ILR attached with the new passport. I applied just incase any family emergency.


Since I arrived in the UK 21/12/2002, I will be submitting and applying on 22/12/2005.

Please do let me know what esle to submit or anythign if I have missed out kindly let me know.

Merry chirstmas once again and Happy new year to all of you.

[John]

Hi, as you will be applying under the three-year rule as a spouse of a British Citizen, yes, it is necessary for your wife's British Passport to be supplied when the application is made.

The supporting evidence to be supplied is as detailed on the form. So with the addition of your wife's British Passport your list is complete. There is no need to supply things like P60, but do appreciate that your NINO and tax reference are entered on to the AN(NEW) form, and when you sign the declaration on the form you are specifically authorising IND to get details from HMRC. So expect a check to happen in the background after the application is received in Liverpool.

How are you going to make the application? OK, you could post it (by Special Delivery) but NCS is highly recommended. Using NCS will ensure that the passports are handed straight back to you, after the NCS office has photocopied the relevant pages. Also IND in Liverpool take noticeably less time dealing with applications via NCS than those submitted using the postal route.

[UK_yankees]

Thanks John.

I am of commonwealth citizen and was born and brought up Gulf countries like dubai.

Now that I have sent my application, do you think I will fall in catergory of CT1 (non commonwealth citizen) which all has been discussed here in this section. I dont have anything to hide but I dont want the checks to be lenghty. I appreciate what they are doing or will be doing. But I am curious to know.

Secondly, I am working for a local council. My contract was signed up from 1 september 2005 till 31 decmeber 2005. During my application I made in 22/12/2005, I included my employers local council as my present employer. Do you think that would be a problem when Nationality group finds it in Jan that I am not an employee of a local council (employer) anymore.

Other than this I am fine. I asked the same question to NCS and she said it shouldn't be a problem.

Please enlighten me with your experience.

[aix]

I've received an identical "CT1" letter yesterday. I wonder if anyone here who has received one of those in the past has subsequently had any progress with their application?

[voipuk]

I've received an identical "CT1" letter yesterday. I wonder if anyone here who has received one of those in the past has subsequently had any progress with their application?

Here is my case.

Applied on 1st Sept. 05
Received CT1 letter dated 19th Sept 05
Case approved on 1st Nov. 05

[aix]

Thanks for posting the timeline. This is encouraging.

[JAJ]

Hi, as you will be applying under the three-year rule as a spouse of a British Citizen, yes, it is necessary for your wife's British Passport to be supplied when the application is made.

Wouldn't they accept a certified copy of the identity page of the passport?

And a passport is not the only evidence of British citizenship - a UK birth certificate (if born before 1983) should normally do, as will a naturalisation or registration certificate.

I agree with you though, that using NCS is a better option instead.

[ppron747]

Hi, as you will be applying under the three-year rule as a spouse of a British Citizen, yes, it is necessary for your wife's British Passport to be supplied when the application is made.

Wouldn't they accept a certified copy of the identity page of the passport?

And a passport is not the only evidence of British citizenship - a UK birth certificate (if born before 1983) should normally do, as will a naturalisation or registration certificate.

I agree with you though, that using NCS is a better option instead.

Guide AN(NEW), under the heading "DOCUMENTS TO BE SENT IN SUPPORT OF AN APPLICATION", says
"APPLICATIONS MADE ON THE BASIS OF MARRIAGE TO A BRITISH CITIZEN
The applicant’s husband’s or wife’s passport or birth certificate AND
The marriage certificate"

[JAJ]

Guide AN(NEW), under the heading "DOCUMENTS TO BE SENT IN SUPPORT OF AN APPLICATION", says
"APPLICATIONS MADE ON THE BASIS OF MARRIAGE TO A BRITISH CITIZEN
The applicant’s husband’s or wife’s passport or birth certificate AND
The marriage certificate"

That's what the guides have always said but I understand the Home Office have - or at least used to have - an 'unofficial' policy to the effect they normally would accept certified copies in lieu of the original.

If husband or wife is naturalised British they must be prepared to accept the naturalisation certificate - not all naturalised British citizens have passports.