BritInParis

The Philippines is pretty much the highest risk country in the world for this type of application so a DNA test may well be required however you shouldn’t go ahead with me until instructed to by your nationality officer as they will provide you with the exact requirements.

lemonblaat

Hhhmmm.. I'm expecting this application to be a long waiting game and yes, PH has pretty much lost its trust value in the international community with the rampant availability of falsified records.

BritInParis

Other countries have the same problem but the Philippines has the added complication of divorce not being permitted which creates additional legal issues. Being prepared for a long wait is the right approach.

lemonblaat

Its been 7 months since my UKF application, so far:

applied: Aug 25, 2021
biometrics: sept 17, 2021
email endorsed to case officer: nov 2021
—————

any idea if this could take a year? (Website mentioned 6months processing) Or if there is a way to follow up? I have emailed a bunch of address i found on fb groups but no response from ukvi.

they havent refunded me the ceremony fee so staying positive on this still

SanDiegogirl

Yes it could take up to a year....

BritInParis

Easily a year I’m afraid.

lemonblaat

Ok so, i received an email from UKVI complaint team and this is what is said:

“ Thank you for email correspondence of 5 March to the UK Visas and Immigration Complaints Team where you have raised a complaint about a delay in a decision being made on your application for naturalisation as a British citizen.

In some instances, the business area concerned has already taken steps to rectify the issue whilst a complaint is pending.

As such, whilst considering your complaint, I can confirm that action has already been taken to resolve the matter you have complained about. Our records show that your application was concluded on 16 March and that your ceremony was approved, and a decision letter was issued to you on 23 March.

I can also confirm that your passport was returned to you on 17 March, via International Tracking, Number:

In view of the above, your complaint has been closed.”

When it said ceremony was approved, does this mean I got the citizenship?

BritInParis

It does indeed, congratulations! That was far quicker than I expected.

lemonblaat

thank you BritInParis! everyones response here gave me confidence in my application and im very grateful.

while waiting for the decision letter, i was wondering which would be quicker, getting a british passport or coe for right of abode? Considering im overseas in the philippines, it might take longer if i go passport here. Would it be faster if i got right of abode first so i can join my family in the uk and apply for passport there?

BritInParis

I would just apply directly for your British passport once you have had your ceremony.

lemonblaat

i have read on different forum how timelines for british passport is taking longer than expected and that there are additional checks for internationally issued that might make an application from Philippines like mine to be even longer.
Do you think processing times for passport and right of abode could be same as of late? I know there is a difference in cost but we are more concerned of the time as my parents are not getting any younger.

thanks again for your attention and sorry if this question seems redundant

SanDiegogirl

You are only 31 so how old can your parents be? Patience, patience ......... getting your passport will be weeks/ a few months so your parents won't age that much.....

lemonblaat

im sorry to seem impatient to you, pls understand everyone’s circumstance is different. I have my personal reasons, (both parents are in their 70s and in poor health) a few months to you means everything to my family. Anyway, i shouldnt even need to be explaining this too much.

My concern was to get insight which way would be faster, passport or roa. I appreciate britinparis opinion of going for the passport, my reservations lie in the added documents/checking for applicants with ties to the Philippines that with the existing backlog might take me longer than most applicats, hence considering the ROA which the website says 3weeks, of course in anticipation of delays could be upwards 3months but still considerably earlier than the estimated 23weeks minimum timescale for overseas passport from the uk gov website.

https://www.gov.uk/government/public...outside-the-uk

Shoaib28

Hey i was looking to use form UKF for my half brother, who was born in Bangladesh, the parents did get married in Bangladesh, but home office refused to recognise 2nd marriage, but at the time of his birth, the father was a British citizen, our father is deceased now.As HO don't recognise or accept the 2nd marriage, would it be ok to do a DNA test with my half brother, and use form UKF? any information would be appreciated.

BritInParis

You should only provide a DNA test when requested to do so by the Home Office. Any non-approved test cannot be accepted.