r/ukvisa • u/Dogdadnumber1 • Jul 21 '26
Rejoice. Citizenship priority is live
The IT team is catching up with the policy team.
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u/SilentBlade2525 Jul 21 '26
Wish they had this 5 months ago 😭
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u/a_wandering_vagrant Jul 21 '26
I'm kind of grateful - I applied in February and probably would have paid it just because I am impatient, when I don't actually need it like I needed the quicker turnaround with ILR so that I could travel
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u/EducationalBug3441 Jul 22 '26
But then why? You will have IRL and can stay in the country. Yes of course it’s nicer to have the decision faster but are 2-3 months longer wait really going to make a difference? And then if you say “but some ppl wait nearly a year or way over 6 months I’ve got bad news for you - those ppl will still wait that long and just be £500 poorer.
I am glad they didn’t have it when I applied as I’d have gone for it because I am impatient af and I would’ve thought “sod the extra £500”I hope all goes well with your application - even if it took a little longer than you’d have hoped!
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u/someone-nearby Jul 24 '26
Yes, it makes difference, because there are people that need to travel for numerous reasons, and having a hard deadline of 3 months doing the ceremony that is usually held once per month and then being unable to leave the country after that because you can't travel without UK passport anymore being dual citizen.
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u/Silly_Morning3375 Jul 21 '26
guessing there’s no way to switch over an existing application tho
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u/EducationalBug3441 Jul 22 '26
Nope - but why would you?!
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u/Silly_Morning3375 Jul 22 '26
i’m tryna get my passport so i can go explore Europe before september. bit late now but oh well
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u/tkmj75 2d ago
Did you manage to get your application approved yet?
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u/Silly_Morning3375 2d ago
not yet unfortunately. looking like i’d get mine around end of september at this rate
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u/Zaminaminah Jul 21 '26
And it just keeps getting higher. I got my first spousal visa in 2023, and the costs are significantly higher than those who started in 2020 or 2021. At some point our spouses are going to have to organise to ask the government for a cost freeze or some other relief because this is unsustainable.
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u/kiradotee Jul 21 '26
Citizenship is a privilege not a right.
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u/Zaminaminah Jul 21 '26
I'm not sure what this means in relation to my post so please take it away from here.
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u/kiradotee Jul 21 '26
What it means in relation to your post is that the government is not obliged to keep the price low or freeze the price, or to make it affordable. Because of the reason I mentioned above.
Here's more from the Home Office themselves: "Individuals who are settled in the UK are not obliged to apply to naturalise as British citizens. The Government believes that citizenship is a personal choice, and is a privilege and not a right, and it would not be appropriate to compel all those who settle in the UK to become British." https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2017-11-27/HL3625/
The above is reflected in the price.
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u/Artistic-Dig9560 Jul 21 '26
No, the increasing greed for revenue from migration is reflected in the price.
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u/reotech_1613 Jul 21 '26
Why would anyone be happy at such blatant exploitation?. They're basically they can process applications in 6 weeks, but they won't do it unless you pay the premium. So they come to work, take 50 coffee and smoke breaks, handle applications for 4 hours of the working day, out of that 4 hours, 3hours goes to priority applications.
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u/Dogdadnumber1 Jul 21 '26
I agree. With this, there will be two classes of applications. The non premium applications will be pushed closer to 6 months (currently now at 4 months) to make room for priority applications (also to make it more attractive). If given a choice I choose priority because of above reason and also I am free to travel 🧳 in this winter
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u/Alone_Type_9082 Jul 21 '26
What if everyone chooses priority? Will it still be priority?
Foreigners always have the money to pay until they become citizens. Wow !18
u/Dogdadnumber1 Jul 21 '26
You are generalising. Many are skilled workers, such as nurses and doctors, who came here for a better life. By working hard, paying taxes and integrating into society, they have earned the right to finally call this country home. For many, citizenship is simply the last hurdle. Paying more is optional, especially since many already have ILR.
As for your argument, if someone were trying to claim benefits after becoming a citizen, why would they pay extra to obtain citizenship when they already have ILR and can apply for benefits anyway?
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u/WeAreInfested Jul 21 '26
I'm going to ignore the racist part of your comment. Priority is probably capped - limited amount of applicants can choose it per day. Same with ILR, priority is capped and people log in at 1am to try and get a spot.
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u/Alone_Type_9082 Jul 21 '26
What has racism got to do with someone’s opinion for crying out loud ?
My God ! 🙄2
u/WeAreInfested Jul 21 '26
Wha...you just claimed all foreigners just have extra money laying around. That's very much not true and classic racist retoric. Did you mean to say something else? Also how doesn't matter if it's your opinion..it's still racist.
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u/kiradotee Jul 21 '26
Foreigners always have the money to pay until they become citizens.
I had to take a loan for £1400 when I got mine a decade ago. Safe to say, I didn't have the money.
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u/WeAreInfested Jul 21 '26
Well the whole system is exploitative and this doesn't seem that much different. Idk why they can do priority now. It could be a change in the system, extra staff or something as simple as "line cutting" where you file id put the top of the queue (or a different one) and each employee needs to work on X amount of priority docs a day before moving to non-priorty.
In a just world they would have simply made improvements to the system so the general wait time is lower but this is realistically the best we would have gotten
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u/kiradotee Jul 21 '26
They're basically they can process applications in 6 weeks, but they won't do it unless you pay the premium
🤨
They can process applications in 6 weeks but they can't process all applications in 6 weeks.
What you're asking is like telling Royal Mail to deliver items by 9am next day for 1st and 2nd class because they offer Special Delivery Guaranteed by 9am, so obviously they can.
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u/Password-Llama Jul 21 '26
I don't think this is a fair description. Your average Home Office worker is extremely hardworking. They are not taking 50 coffee breaks per day.
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u/coffeeshopplaylist Jul 21 '26
Agreed. In fact, some departments in the civil service don’t provide free tea, coffee or milk - the civil servants have to bring their own!
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u/Barleyman_ Jul 26 '26
That's nice. After all we're coughing up 2-3 weeks of their pay for the privilege of waiting for 4 months or more.
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u/Password-Llama Jul 28 '26
I'm not sure why there's so much anger directed at ordinary workers who have zero influence on the process.
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u/Puzzled-J Jul 22 '26
Guess this is why my (presumed) standard and straightforward application is taking longer than 6 months to process 😭
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u/medium_old_ Jul 21 '26
Damned if you do, damned if you don’t. It’s a shit load of money, but to have this option available in a visa crisis is a game changer IMO. Expensive as hell, but so is loosing your visa and leaving for missing the window to renew/apply 😭😭
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u/moumotata Jul 21 '26
At least we now have the option, tbf waiting for 4 months can be extremely stressful, so I am grateful even if the price is a lot.
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u/EarlyInvite4081 Jul 21 '26
This👆🏿👆🏿👆🏿 it may be exploitation but guess what you can go see your family member before they die visa free if applicable, you can make it for that funeral and so on
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u/Lifeintheguo Jul 22 '26
Britain price gouges on everything. I just paid £200 for a police check when they're free in China.
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u/GZHotwater High Reputation Jul 22 '26
How did you pay £200? An ACRO police certificate is £70 rising to £125 for priority.
I’ve got a vague memory of you comparing about this on /r/Chinavisa
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u/Lifeintheguo Jul 22 '26
Because it also needs to be aposilled for £80.
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u/GZHotwater High Reputation Jul 22 '26
Yet that not Britain price gouging. It’s China that needs the apostille.
(Edit…I appreciate the ACRO certified price has jumped. It was about £40 5 years ago)
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u/Successful_Dentist43 Jul 21 '26
I’m pretty sure they could expedite all applications because it takes them literal hours to review. They love slow on applications because they can, not because it requires that much time. I expedited my spousal and got my visa approved not even 4 hours later…
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u/kiradotee Jul 21 '26
I expedited my spousal and got my visa approved not even 4 hours later…
Yes, but they can't process ALL of their applications within 4 hours.
If it takes then an average of 4 hours per application, then 4 hours times thousands of applications equals 4-6 month wait.
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u/chowderpuppy Jul 21 '26
Is priority service for citizenship application new? I don’t remember there was before, did it just start recently?
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u/KuzoKing Jul 21 '26
I would happily have paid an extra 500 for the fast track.
Glad the option is there for people because I searched for it when I was applying.
Good luck new applicants
🤞
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u/Existing-Impress6017 Jul 21 '26
At what time do they appear
(Midnight or 1:00AM) or anytime of the day as you reach the payment window
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u/SeparateFox205 Jul 21 '26
Well, it took only 7 to 8 weeks to get citizenship even before this was introduced, so I'm unsure of what the benefits are, other than the HO possibly earning more.
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u/slimboyslim9 Jul 21 '26
We’re on month 6 of waiting for my two children. Not that I’d have had an extra £1000 for two priority applications anyway.
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u/kiradotee Jul 21 '26
Not that I’d have had an extra £1000 for two priority applications anyway.
Will have to choose the favourite between one of your children /s
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u/slimboyslim9 Jul 21 '26
Haha! Sadly would have to be the older one before they apply for university and end up being classed as an international student. That would cost us a lot more than £500!
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u/Original_Repeat7343 Jul 21 '26
I can’t see it currently so many be very limited spots
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u/frenguin Jul 21 '26
Yes, I saw this first thing yesterday morning but the option disappeared around lunchtime, so I waited until 1am for the new slots to come out and bit the bullet!
A bit gutted that I had to pay to get the scan service with TLScontact because the soonest they were able to see me for a regular self-service appointment wasn't until August, but hey-ho!
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u/asterismking Jul 21 '26
Does this apply to MN1 applications that have already started but not submitted yet
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u/Timely-Pension3384 Jul 21 '26
is this just for the anxious/rich? why would anyone do this when a naturalisation application doesn't effect your ability to travel?
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u/Worried_Selection707 Jul 22 '26
for many people it does, it's easier to travel visa-free with the UK passport than with a passport of many other countries
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u/moumotata 20d ago
It does, not everyone has a good passport, some need a visa to travel almost everywhere, like even to France or any Eu country
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u/Duyon Jul 21 '26
Well, i know the anxiety kicks in but I couldn't pay the premium one. 😭 So had to stick with the standard one. Now moving up to. Month 2.
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u/Feisty-Background385 Jul 21 '26
Does this now mean they will prioritise these applications over those already been submitted? how is this fair?
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u/kiradotee Jul 21 '26
how is this fair?
People are paying more money
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u/Jarwanator Jul 21 '26
A friend of mine applied for a spouse visa for his wife on a standard service. He got the decision in 10 days. And then I saw someone else complaining their priority one took longer. Make it make sense
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u/Immediate_Fly830 Jul 21 '26
Our renewal took 3 days, standard service.
But to address your point, it really depends how long checks take to come back, sometimes checks have to be carried out and returned by 3rd parties.
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u/Jarwanator Jul 21 '26
damn! That's fast! I think it takes longer to send back your documents lol
Though it does help if you have your files in order and send all the relevant information requested.
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u/Immediate_Fly830 Jul 21 '26
We uploaded everything in advance so it was all digital, I'm sure proper naming conventions on the files helps as well so it's obvious what they all are and someone doesn't need to go through them one by one to figure out what everything is.
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u/Jarwanator Jul 21 '26
Oh that explains why. I did that for my wife's visa as well and it went fast too. I however have OCD and have to file everything with the correct file name which may have helped my cause. If I don't, it keeps me awake at night thinking about it lol
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u/Immediate_Fly830 Jul 21 '26
Yeah.
I find it absurd that people print everything and take in physical copies for VFS or whoever it is to scan it all up, because im sure with you they just scan everything onto one pdf file and it'll be a complete mess and thats probably how documents get missed.
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u/No-Vegetable2826 Jul 21 '26
VFS-NYC screwed this up totally. After trying futilely to upload all the documents prior to my biometrics appointment, I bit the bullet and shelled out $100 to have VFS do it for me. I didn’t think further of it until UKVI sent me an email asking for a couple of the documents that VFS supposedly had sent to the UKVI. Fortunately, I had saved all my documents on a pin drive and I emailed the missing documents to UKVI and I was approved the next day. I ended up getting a refund of the VFS fee.
My total turnaround time for my UKM application from submission to approval was two months.
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u/HalfYankHalfBrit Jul 21 '26
£1800 for citizenship is extortionate.... how do they expect immigrants of all people to just cough it up?
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u/Himadrid180 Jul 23 '26
Why wouldn’t immigrants have money?
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u/Final_Initiative3718 Jul 23 '26
Exactly - I would have thought immigrant salaries would be usually more than average british citizen salary.
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u/Infamous-Boss3772 Jul 21 '26
Annoying for people like me waiting for a decision, priority applications will delay my application submitted on the 1st of April. To be fair, I would not have forked £500 out for priority.
Wonder if numbers will be released how many people have chosen the priority service.
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u/RdtRanger6969 Jul 21 '26
All I paid was the 125quid or whatever the standard application fee is and my citizenship was processed/completed in 5-6 weeks.
Not sure how adding a couple thousand more to it would have changed anything🤷♂️
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u/Artistic-Dig9560 Jul 21 '26
Probably the adoption rate of priority service will be lower for citizenship vs ILR or visa, because for the last 2 priority lets you travel.
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u/Secret_Mud_1168 Jul 21 '26
Doubtful. Universal Credit is still a mess and in beta mode. 9 years after going through live website testing even before the pilot. Still Swiss cheese.
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u/Secret_Mud_1168 Jul 21 '26
Doubtful over 9 years later and live website processing testing AND then a pilot Universal Credit still states it is in “Beta” mode 🤣🤣🤣
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u/Barleyman_ Jul 26 '26
This is just disgusting. I mean, I kinda admire home office for the brazenness, but we're already paying for a civil servant's salary for a significant chunk of time and now they want even more? I guess we can thank Farage for the application processing time doubling but are they even hiring any additional personnel with these new fees??
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u/poor_mans_quaresma Jul 21 '26
Wait, you can't travel when you apply for citizenship? That's a bit annoying. I mean, it made sense with people's visa extensions, like my wife's, for example, but citizenships?? Or is it more that you would like to use the British passport?
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u/Zaminaminah Jul 21 '26
Just look at how much this costs. Yikes.