1st 4Immigration - UK Visa Experts

04/07/2026

As an Immigration Consultant, I thought I’d offer my insights on chasing the HO for updates on Citizenship. I see many people here stressing out even though the portal clearly said during submission that it could take 6 months (and that you can travel while waiting ).

The HO does make automatics checks with HMRC, police etc, but I don’t believe they do them in steps. More likely all at once. It doesn’t take 6 months for a caseworker to stare at one case. It takes long because of the queue of cases before yours. It may come as a surprise, but 1000s of others applicants had the same idea.

The HO may not even open your case for 5.5 months and then quickly approve it.

For those wishing for a tracking system, like Check 1 done. Check 2 pending etc. “Your” tracking system would probably look like this:
Month 1 - Not even looked yet.
Month 2 - Nothing done.
Month 3 - Not your turn yet.
Month 4 - Be patient, you aren’t the only one.
Month 5 and 30 days - all checks run together and approved.

So, the end result would be the same : worrying for 6 months and then getting an approval. Or a refusal in some cases.

Another check they do is with the authorities of your home country. When my own citizenship took more than 6 months 20 years ago, I contacted for an update. Their reply was that the authorities in some countries do not respond quickly to checks. The HO doesn’t say this nowadays, but they still check and that can take time. You know your country’s system better than others , not many Government systems are known for efficiency.

For those who’s tempted to submit a complaint. You can surely do that. Many of our clients insisted (some are actually still waiting after 2-3 years but that’s likely to be an IT glitch that no one can correct , rather than an eligibility problem). So, the HO response was generic , saying “British citizenship is not a right, but a privilege”. Basically, if you don’t like our system, you don’t have to have a fantastic benefit of a British passport.

A final word: have a breather and keep waiting. It will happen. Just think of all the countries where you couldn’t get such a fantastic citizenship as easily (relatively) as in the UK.

03/07/2026

03/07/2026

We created a FAQs page for ILR Long Residence 10 years, SET(LR) form, based on our 20 years of experience. And the short summary is the Home Office will refuse if you have too many absences, all “trying” so far ended in refusals. Unless you had very, very compassionate circumstances, genuinely very compassionate (not being abroad during Covid and online studying):

https://www.1st4immigration.com/ilr-long-residence-10-years-faqs/

Natalia
IAA-authorised Immigration Adviser, highest level 3

Answers to common questions on Indefinite Leave based on 10 years Long Residence. UK visa types that count and don't, what breaks residence, analysing absences.

03/07/2026

Can I use a mortgaged property to secure a Golden visa in Dubai?

Yes, you can. A mortgaged property is allowed to a Golden visa if the property value is minimum AED 2 million. Can be several properties.

Can also be used for a 2-year Property Investor visa where no minimum value is set (in Dubai, other emirates still have minimum AED 375,000).

And can use for a 5-year Retirement visa for 55 year olds +.

21/05/2026

Fast Schengen visa and sooner appointments!

We have agency appointments for Spain, Netherlands, Portugal, Germany, some for France and others: multitravelvisas.co.uk

https://1st4immigration.wordpress.com/2026/05/21/fast-schengen-visa-and-sooner-appointments/

We have agency appointments for Spain, Netherlands, Portugal, Germany, some for France and others: multitravelvisas.co.uk

04/05/2026

Common question: can I travel while waiting for a UK visa?

f you applied inside the U.K., you cannot travel abroad , even though you’ll have your passport. Just how the law works : if you leave, any pending application gets cancelled. Exceptions are only for very compassionate circumstances like a family hospital emergency (not for a holiday , as we are asked 99% of the time 😀). If you applied outside the U.K., it’s all evisa now and you’ll have your passport....

f you applied inside the U.K., you cannot travel abroad , even though you’ll have your passport. Just how the law works : if you leave, any pending application gets cancelled. Exceptions are only f…

08/04/2026

what to do if main worker qualifies for ILR in UK, but dependants don’t?

Do Not submit FLR(M) form! If you need more time, submit PBS extension form in the same category, even if the main migrant now has ILR or UK passport. Do Not use old COS details, it is no longer relevant. Put dates for 3 years. Such extensions are always for 3 years, even if you need only a few months....

Do Not submit FLR(M) form! If you need more time, submit PBS extension form in the same category, even if the main migrant now has ILR or UK passport.  Do Not use old COS details, it is no lon…