Citizenship waiting times

Hi All,

Anyone had the below email from the Home Office before? I applied for citizenship back on 15/2/21 and haven’t had a reply yet. I had the below by email on 30/7/21. Getting antsy as I can see people with application dates 2 months after mine have had approvals on ImmigrationBoatds

“We aim to process all applications within 6 months from the date submitted.  However, in certain circumstances this target is not possible.  Following our assessment of your case, unfortunately it appears your application will not be processed within the 6 month target.
 
This is because it is taking longer than usual to process applications because of coronavirus (COVID-19). This will not affect the decision. We expect to make a decision on your application as soon as possible, but we will write to you again if this is not going to be possible.
 
Yours sincerely,

Home Office”


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I've not had this email, but I applied in April and I've seen people who applied several weeks after me receive theirs. Some said they never received a letter or an email, and it was only when the council invited them to the ceremony that they realised they had been approved.

One thing I've noticed on Immigration Boards is that people who are applying on the basis of being in the UK for family (ie: spouse) seem to be waiting longer than those going through the ancestral route or through education. It makes me wonder if they're prioritising applications on how they're qualifying.

Best of luck, and I hope you'll soon have your approval.

Hi alisonr,

Over on this thread a few of us applying a few months ago were keeping some track of things:

https://talk.uk-yankee.com/index.php?topic=99034.0

We applied early November and had biometrics mid-December. Our approval just came through early March, so depending on where you count from, about 4 and a half months from the application, and 3 and a half from biometrics. The others on that thread were broadly similar in terms of application date and processing time.

I'm not sure if this is helpful, but it does sound more like they are struggling with a backlog than anything else; I think all of us on the other thread expected things to take longer than they actually did.

I looked at Immigration Boards a few minutes ago and it looks like some people who applied in January are just receiving theirs (but also people from March). There doesn't seem to be a pattern and it's massively frustrating to work out how they do it.

Fingers crossed for you. The wait just isn't fun for anyone.

I looked at Immigration Boards a few minutes ago and it looks like some people who applied in January are just receiving theirs (but also people from March). There doesn't seem to be a pattern and it's massively frustrating to work out how they do it.

Fingers crossed for you. The wait just isn't fun for anyone.

Thanks all!

Yes I’ve just seen that January one as well. Maybe that’s a sign that whatever case worker has the pile of applications from late January to late February on their desk is finally moving through them!

I made myself feel better by saving a draft email to the Home Office to be sent as soon as i hit the six month mark next week


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Hi Alisonr,  if it helps ;-) I am too waiting for my citizenship approval. I had applied in March. Hate waiting games thought at least this final step would come soon. Is the email address for home office same one that we used for ILR?

Just in case anyone is looking for updates, I’ve officially passed the 6 month mark and no decision!

I sent an email to FurtherNationalityEnquiries@homeoffice.gov.uk yesterday to query it and intend to get my MP involved next week so will keep this thread updated.

I chose that email address as it seemed to be the one that people were actually managing to get replies from based on posts on immigration boards.


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Just in case anyone is looking for updates, I’ve officially passed the 6 month mark and no decision!

When I went on to Immigration Boards this morning I actually thought of you after I saw so many people who have received decisions and applied after you (and some even after me). I hope you're able to get an answer, and if your MP can get involved and help, that would be amazing. I had to get mine involved for my ILR (needed to travel urgently for a funeral earlier this year) and it was absolute shambles. Disgraceful, really. But my MP was so helpful and it was approved in the end.

I really don't understand how they prioritise them. I just hope we can all be done with this sooner rather than later. Do keep us updated, and best of luck!

For anyone looking for current timelines, I just got my approval email today!

It took 6 months + about 2 weeks to get a decision.

I did email my MP this past Monday but didn’t get a response from him yet so no idea if he intervened or not.

My ceremony will be with Cardiff council so now I wait to hear from them!


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For anyone looking for current timelines, I just got my approval email today!

It took 6 months + about 2 weeks to get a decision.

I did email my MP this past Monday but didn’t get a response from him yet so no idea if he intervened or not.

My ceremony will be with Cardiff council so now I wait to hear from them!


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Congratulations!!! That's so exciting! Just in time for the weekend and you can celebrate!

Quick update on my application status. I received the letter for citizenship approval today. Phew finally !!
Timeline for me - Applied and paid money on 24th March 2021 and received approval letter on 14th Sept 2021 (letter dated 6 Sept 2021 bit weird that took them so long to send the letter). So a little less than 6 months for the approval process.

Once again thank you all for the support I received on this forum for my journey from visa to citizenship from 2015 to 2021 … wow time just flies..quick shout to my dear friend Ksand 24 to provide that extra bit help and assurance … you know I owe you a drink at the least 😀🍻🥂

Lastly to all in waiting you will too have one soon.. keep the faith ✌️✌️

Congratulations!  I hope you have your ceremony soon!

Quick update on my application status. I received the letter for citizenship approval today. Phew finally !!
Timeline for me - Applied and paid money on 24th March 2021 and received approval letter on 14th Sept 2021 (letter dated 6 Sept 2021 bit weird that took them so long to send the letter). So a little less than 6 months for the approval process.

Once again thank you all for the support I received on this forum for my journey from visa to citizenship from 2015 to 2021 … wow time just flies..quick shout to my dear friend Ksand 24 to provide that extra bit help and assurance … you know I owe you a drink at the least 😀🍻🥂

Lastly to all in waiting you will too have one soon.. keep the faith ✌️✌️

Congratulations! 

Thanks Larrabee.

Quick update on my application status. I received the letter for citizenship approval today. Phew finally !!
Timeline for me - Applied and paid money on 24th March 2021 and received approval letter on 14th Sept 2021 (letter dated 6 Sept 2021 bit weird that took them so long to send the letter). So a little less than 6 months for the approval process.

Once again thank you all for the support I received on this forum for my journey from visa to citizenship from 2015 to 2021 … wow time just flies..quick shout to my dear friend Ksand 24 to provide that extra bit help and assurance … you know I owe you a drink at the least 😀🍻🥂

Lastly to all in waiting you will too have one soon.. keep the faith ✌️✌️

What a great feeling! Congratulations to you. I hope you plan something fun for after your ceremony.