Hello my name is Mo,
This is my first post so please be gentle. I completed my wifes naturalisation application using the IDV app on october the 5th 2023. I was aware of the 6 month waiting times when i completed it.
On the 6 month anniversary I received a rather worrying email response.

(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, unfortunatelyit appears your application will not be processed within the 6 month target. This is because your application raises exceptionally complex issues and we require further time to consider your case thoroughly and reach a decision.)
You automatically assume you have done something wrong emailed for clarification. I also got my MP involved who emailed them as well. He got a response back quicker then me. Took him a week to get a response and me 6 weeks. Safe to say there was no clarity in the response. After stressing 95% were on time and blaming ukraine & corona. They just told me to sit and wait it out. Its around 8 months and i am wondering if i should complain, and if so how.
Can anyone advise me?. Someone who has experienced similar problems.

Anecdotally naturalisation applications have been taking around six weeks. Is there anything about your wife’s circumstances which you think might delay a decision?

No issues whatsoever. No character issues, not been out of the country over the allowed number of days, passed all the language tests, provided all the evidence and referee attestants. So we are at s loss as to why we are still waiting. During the previous applications we have had no issues at all.

Friends of mine submitted there 7 months ago, biometrics taken a month later, and still no response. Not even the generic email to all of them, bar one. Very frustrating but unfortunately not much they’re able to do but wait. Hopefully they start making headway with the backlog soon.

After 8 months and 4 days and my second complaint. I was finally told that my naturalisation application was approved on the 26th of may. Now this being UKVI nothing comes easy. They did not Email me to tell me i had been successful. You would have thought the complaint handler would have attached it to her response. I had to request it again.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone that has helped me/ us on our long journey.
I would urge anyone who is experiencing delays with decisions to initially get their MP involved. I did so. I did not get a positive response but they did respond to him promptly. They took 4+ weeks to respond to me. I complained again. This time stressing how the delays were affecting my mental well being whilst emphasising the need for a decision as it was affecting my day-to- day activities. It did the trick!.

So be pro-active people. Keep at them!.

Hi,

I had to create this account just to say "thank you " for very useful information. 👍.