Current naturalisation/citizenship waiting times

Thank you!  I have my new leather passport holder all ready and waiting.

I found out I may not be going to Leeds for the ceremony after all. I met a woman from Russia at the library on Friday who said hers was in Wakefield. That would be great as it is closer. I guess I'll find out soon enough.

Is that the nearest city council to you? If so that's most likely where it will be. Do you have to wait for a letter to invite you to a ceremony?

Yes, that is the nearest city council to me. I just assumed I was going to Leeds because I was sent there for various other things. I found out they definitely do citizenship ceremonies in Wakefield.  Yes, I still have to wait for my letter.

Yes, that is the nearest city council to me. I just assumed I was going to Leeds because I was sent there for various other things. I found out they definitely do citizenship ceremonies in Wakefield.  Yes, I still have to wait for my letter.

Well that's good that you don't have to go far at least, Now for more waiting!

It must be different for each council, my husband's approval had the details of who to call to book his ceremony in the envelope. How complicated of them!

I received my ceremony invite today. I called, but the council doesn't yet have my paperwork, so the woman said to call back on Tuesday. 

Almost there Fallgal!

As for me, I'm finished, so I think I've won the race that started back in March!  Had my ceremony this morning. 

Before I enter my timeline, has anybody successfully used the same passport pictures they used on their Form AN for their passport application.  I've got 5 from form AN leftover, and it seems such a waste to pay another £5. 

Anyway, the timeline:

Basis: Unmarried Partner visa, 5 years residency
Applied via post: 12 March 2016
Application received by Home Office: 14 March 2016
Fee charged by Home Office: 31/03/2016 - This was the date the cheque cleared my account, they said they had received full payment in their letter dateed 23/3/2016
Email acknowledgement: none
Letter of acknowledgement: Dated 23/3/2016 - Received between 29/3 and 1/4/2016
Letter requesting biometrics: Dated 23/3/2016 - Received between 29/3 and 1/4/2016
Biometrics enrollment: 07/04/2016
Approval received: Dated 08/05/2016 (they were working on Sunday, seems unlikely) - Received 10/05/2016
Invite from Council - Received 18/05/2016 (dated 10/05/2016). 
Ceremony booked for and now completed: 27/05/2016

I'm now eating chocolate bourbons, ginger nuts, and chocolate digestives back in the office.  A rather anti-climatic end to years of paperwork and thousands of pounds spent.  Oh well, at least I can vote now.  Good luck to everyone else!

Congrats, sbj!!  So glad it is over for you!   Hope you are enjoying your little feast at the office.

I know what you mean about anti-climatic. We were out to dinner with friends last night and I mentioned getting my approval letter and they were all, 'hey, great' -   Nobody really understands the *struggggggle* unless they've done it themselves.

I wondered the same thing about the photo. I think mine were about £8! Although, I have lost 27lbs since my last photo, so I may want a new one, especially as my last one looks like a mugshot! 

Although, I have lost 27lbs since my last photo...

Oh, well done you!

I'm now eating chocolate bourbons, ginger nuts, and chocolate digestives back in the office.  A rather anti-climatic end to years of paperwork and thousands of pounds spent.  Oh well, at least I can vote now.  Good luck to everyone else!

Congratulations!! I felt like that when I got my US citizenship, it felt a bit more real when I had my passport.

Did you get a gift at your ceremony?

Approved at last! I can stop worrying that my letter was lost in the mail 

Basis: Marriage to UKC and 3+ years residency
Applied via NCS: 14 March 2016
Application received by Home Office: 15 March 2016
Payment deducted: 24 March 2016
Email acknowledgement: 25 March 2016
Letter of acknowledgement and Biometrics request: 31 March 2016 (dated 24 March 2016)
Biometrics enrolled: 31 March 2016
Approval letter/Council invite: 27 May 2016 (dated 16 May 2016)
Ceremony booked for: 15 June 2016

So that was just over 10 weeks from applying to receiving the approval letter. Good luck to those still waiting!

Congrats, sbj!!  So glad it is over for you!   Hope you are enjoying your little feast at the office.

I know what you mean about anti-climatic. We were out to dinner with friends last night and I mentioned getting my approval letter and they were all, 'hey, great' -   Nobody really understands the *struggggggle* unless they've done it themselves.

I wondered the same thing about the photo. I think mine were about £8! Although, I have lost 27lbs since my last photo, so I may want a new one, especially as my last one looks like a mugshot! 

Well done on the loss! Definitely worth getting new pictures for imo

Approved at last! I can stop worrying that my letter was lost in the mail 

Basis: Marriage to UKC and 3+ years residency
Applied via NCS: 14 March 2016
Application received by Home Office: 15 March 2016
Payment deducted: 24 March 2016
Email acknowledgement: 25 March 2016
Letter of acknowledgement and Biometrics request: 31 March 2016 (dated 24 March 2016)
Biometrics enrolled: 31 March 2016
Approval letter/Council invite: 27 May 2016 (dated 16 May 2016)
Ceremony booked for: 15 June 2016

So that was just over 10 weeks from applying to receiving the approval letter. Good luck to those still waiting!

Congrats may_flowers! 

Congrats may_flowers! 

Thanks, TravelingFrog!

Yea May_flowers!!  Congrats!!!

I really thought you were going to get it yesterday and I kept checking the forum.   I see you've already got your ceremony booked. Fantastic!

Oh, well done you!

Thanks, Larrabee!

Yea May_flowers!!  Congrats!!!

I really thought you were going to get it yesterday and I kept checking the forum.   I see you've already got your ceremony booked. Fantastic!

Thanks, Fallgal!  I was hoping so. At least it came before the bank holiday weekend. Hope you get to book yours Tuesday!