eggtimer

I read somewhere that wait times for US citizen UKM application response can be 8-10 months. Can anyone share their recent experience?

not2old

expect 6 - 8 months according to them at the Home Office

https://www.gov.uk/becoming-a-britis...-youve-applied

BritInParis

Around six months seems to be the going rate at the moment.

eggtimer

ok thank you.

marmaduke

I sent the UKM application in April 2015.

Biometrics enrolment letter was received mid July, biometrics enrolled late July (I'm 300km from the nearest enrolment centre).

Letter apologising for a delay in processing was sent late September, stating a decision should be made by the end of 2015.

They lost my biometrics in November, and about a week after I sent some panicked emails decided that they'd found them again.

Still waiting for a response - they sent me an online survey link regarding my experience mid February, but stated it should only be completed when I receive official notification of my application's success or failure, which apparently is in a plastic bag taped to a sea turtle somewhere in the Atlantic.

At this rate I'm wondering why I didn't just fly to France and come in through the Calais tunnels like everyone else.

marmaduke

Well, now I'm paranoid that UK Immigration is monitoring this thread, because not two hours after I typed the previous post, I received an email to attend a citizenship ceremony in April.

So, I guess my answer for eggtimer is, up to 10 months from the initial application.

Smoke me a kipper, boys, I'll be with you soon.

eggtimer

Thanks Marmaduke and lol.

arhp

Marmaduke - congratulations on your good news. For the rest of us still waiting, perhaps you could tell us where you did your biometrics, i.e. US, Canada...? I have been told there are no UK biometric facilities in the US and hence the delay in processing UKMs from the US. In fact, I know of one UKM who actually went to the UK to do his biometrics in order to expedite his application. I am heading to the UK in May so I am wondering if I should try to notify the Home Office or just hold out like you did. I sent my application in late December and to date have had no acknowledgement of receipt.

Any advice is helpful.
Thanks

eggtimer

There are MANY 'application support centers" for biometric enrollment in the US. Once you get the biometric letter you will receive a link with a list.

Lucy@deal

I hope someone can answer my question regarding applying for citizenship by the UKM form. I am currently gathering all my papers together with the application. I have my Mum's British passport, birth certificate, and my documents. They require my passport as well, which is US. I have read somewhere, can't remember of course, that they will accept a certified copy of my US passport. I am worried about not having a passport for the length of time it may take for this application. So, I am wondering whether to send my passport and hope for the best or try the certified copy. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

matkirk

A certified copy of your passport is perfectly acceptable. Just make sure you copy every page, including all blank pages. 🙂

BritInParis

You can certainly try to send just a certified copy with a note saying you need it for travel but you should be prepared to send the original if requested.

Lucy@deal

Thanks matkirk and BritInParis for your replies. I'm becoming a nervous wreck trying to get all this together. I have another problem about sending the application or rather the return of my documents. I have been trying to sort out a courier, however, I am almost to the point I'm thinking about just letting everything come back by 2nd class post. Is it safe or should I just try FedEx or UPS to return my documents. Would the return envelope from US be acceptable to return documents from UK.

BritInParis

It's up to you but I certainly wouldn't be allowing any documents to be sent by ordinary post.

Lucy@deal

Thanks BIP. Took your advise and calmed down. I went to the FedEx office personally and talked to someone there. He advised me to open an account for personal use online, get an account number and come back to him the next day which I did. I brought all my documents and passports. We completed the way bills - one going and one for return. He put the return envelope inside along with the documents and off it went. This was last Friday. Today I looked at my credit card and it is charged for both the Fedex cost as well as the 80 pounds for the citizenship ceremony. I was surprised it happened that quickly. So now I sit and wait for the rest of it to happen. Thanks again.