British Citizenship - Waiting Time

I know this is OT from this thread, but if you use the NCS does it have to be from your local council or can it be any?  (I'm covered by Rotherham council, but Sheffield would probably be easier to get to...)   

You can use any council you like. Just ring around and find the one that offers the most convenient time & place. We live in the countryside, but SWMBO used one in London 'cos it was so much easier to get to.

That's what I thought, but I just wanted to reaffirm.  Thanks for that!   

04/04/08 - Applied using Nationality Checking Service
05/04/08 - Application delivered to Home Office via Royal Mail
16/05/08 - Home office acknowledged receipt of application
26/07/08 - Application approval letter/citizenship invitation received! (but it was dated 18/07/08)
14/08/08 - Attended citizenship ceremony!

Next step - apply for passport.

Good luck to everyone still waiting.  There were quite a few others at the ceremony, so I guess they're getting through the applications at last.

Congratulations Chanah!  Good luck with the passport!   

Congrats Chanah!  You got in really quick for a ceremony (in Leeds?).  I had to wait a month and a half back at the end of 2007/beginning of 2008.

The Leeds NCS lady told me the ones in Civic Hall are usually about 50 people each & I think they do those twice a week, plus they've started having smaller ceremonies (maybe like 20 people each) in a (smaller) room in Town Hall.  Mine was at one of the big ones in the room at Civic Hall.  Probably yours too?  Did you get a coffee mug?

Thanks Criostin and Mrs R.  I'm glad the waiting is finally over with.

Yes, the ceremony was in the Civic Hall in Leeds.  There were at least 50 people receiving their certificates today.  If they have the ceremonies twice a week, it certainly does seem as if there's a flood of immigrants in this country.  It's sort of mind-boggling.  And they were coming from all over - the only 'first world' countries listed among the 15 or so home countries of today's new citizens were Australia and the USA.  I definitely felt like a minority.

Yes, I got a commemorative mug.  Did you get the guy with the fancy dress uniform and the sword to give you your certificate?

I would also like to thank UK-Y for alerting me to the fact that it was possible to get British citizenship, which I never realised until I stumbled onto this site.  And everyone who took the time to answer my questions.

I definitely felt like a minority. 

It was the same for me, and humbling too - when I considered that many of the other new citizens present likely had to make a lot more personal sacrifices than I had done to get themselves to that point.

Yes, I got a commemorative mug.  Did you get the guy with the fancy dress uniform and the sword to give you your certificate? 

Yes, although it may or may not have been the same guy - I think there are several that do it.  Some kind of deputy something-or-others for the Queen...

Anyway, CONGRATS!

SWMBO's timeline so far:

24/06/08 - Applied via NCS.
04/07/08 - Got letter saying we hadn't included the fee, with a new c/c form (we think they didn't try to put it through until after the card had expired - with hindsight, should have activated & used the replacement card).
08/07/08 - Sent new form back, with updated credit card info.
16/07/08 - £655 charged to credit card by Nationality Directorate, Liverpool.

And now, a result!

18/08/08 - Date on Citizenship Invitation letter.
26/05/08 - Letter arrived at our house.

Ceremony date - TBA. That didn't take long at all! 

Congratulations, chartreuse!   

That really was quick!  Have you booked your citizenship ceremony yet?

Congratulations, chartreuse!   

That really was quick!  Have you booked your citizenship ceremony yet?

Thanks, on SWMBO's behalf.

Not yet. Called the council just now, "the person who deals with that is in a meeting". Plus the obligatory assumption that anybody whose call has anything to do with citizenship can't speak English....    Oooh, local government makes me angry!

And now, a result!

18/08/08 - Date on Citizenship Invitation letter.
26/05/08 - Letter arrived at our house.

Ceremony date - TBA. That didn't take long at all! 

Excellent news, congrats!  Pretty quick results given the waiting time is still at 7 months on the website.

I also applied in late June so hopefully this means mine wont be too far off.

Excellent news, congrats!  Pretty quick results given the waiting time is still at 7 months on the website.

I also applied in late June so hopefully this means mine wont be too far off.

Thanks. You were two days after Jen, so yours might even come this week!

Also, after my earlier rant, the council called back and were good as gold.  Ceremony booked for 11th Sept.

She said something about SWMBO having an interview beforehand. Anybody know what that's about?

Congrats! I applied nearly 3 weeks before you and still haven't heard, lucky! I didn't use NCS, though, because it would have been end of July before I could get an appointment. I'm hopeful every time I get home from work that it will be there!

Update:

29/04/2008 - Applied via Nationality Checking Service
19/05/2008 - Acknowledgement letter from Home Office
23/08/2008 - Decision received from Home Office (dated 18/08/2008)
01/10/2008 - Citizenship ceremony

Congrats girlinthisvicinity!