Question:
Would it not be reasonable to expect quick and efficient processing of
applications, in accordance with reasonable service standards comparable with
hose in the private sector?
Answer:
An enquiry into the operation of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate
(made several years ago) found that the processing of applications for
British Citizenship was unnecessarily slow.
Apparently, this is still the case, as it is hard to believe that any process
of government (particularly routine processing of nationality applications)
should take so long. The Directoratecurrently advises that it usually takes
between 12 to 18 months to process an application.
However, it is not clear why this administrative task should take so long to
complete.
Does anyone know of any reason why applications (in general) for British
Citizenship take so long to process?
By comparison, it would be reasonable for a straightforward commercial
transaction, such as applying for a loan for the purchase of a domestic
dwelling, to take not more than 3 weeks.
At present, applicants do not have any grounds to complain about the length
of time it takes the Directorate to process applications, which is not bound
by any service standards.
This unsatisfactory state of affairs that has developed at the Directorate
seems to have arisen because applicants themselves would be unlikely to
complain, even though the application fee is £120 (similar to that paid to a
mortgage provider, incidentally).
Would it not be reasonable to expect quick and efficient processing of
applications, in accordance with reasonable service standards comparable with
those in the private sector?
Simple: It's the UK.
Look at driving tests... need to be ordered months in advance and so on.
It was reasonably organised people woule be able to just walk in off the
street and take both the written and practical tests in a couple of
hours. But that would just make things too easy for the public.
Tell me about it. It took me six+ years just to get indefinite leave to
remain in the UK and will take another year before I can apply for
citizenship.
Very true. Especially considering how many people are leaving this
country in the so-called brain drain, you'd think any government worth
it's weight in little brown envelopes full of cash would want to do all
it could to help those people like myself who, in all modesty, wish to
do something to reverse the brain drain.
Probably because you're dealing with a bunch of overpaid bureaucrats and
underpaid flunkies.
Its the same the world over. The problem is you dont have a vote - so the
politicians dont care.
WHERE have you been?? Your statement is no longer true
AFAIK, this is not true. As I recall, I was able to take my test about a
week or so after booking it, and my driving instructor told me this was
usual. That said, I live in quite a rural area, and it might be different
in an urban area, where the demand for tests is higher.
I can't see that working, at least for the practical test. For example,
in my area, we have 3 driving examiner for a population of about 60
thousand. When I rung to book my tests, there were only a couple of slots
available throughout the whole week in which I wanted to take it. If
things operated on a 'first come, first serve' basis, there would probably
be massive queues on some days, and practically no-one turning up at other
times.
That said, there were spects of the test I found un-necessarily
beaurocratic. The way, for example, that one canidate can have a sheet
full of minor mistakes, whereas the next canidate might be struck out for
repeating the same minor, perhaps even trivial, mistake three times.
It also seems unfair to fail canidates for messing up their manoeuvres.
The issues should clearly be whether the canidate can drive safely and
competently under normal driving conditions; the manoeuvres are plainly
not relevant to this, and take up time which could be used to assess
driving on a variety of roads.
I took my test before the introduction of the written exam; just out of
interest what sort of questions are on it?
I agree. When I took my test, the most contrived requirement was the
emergency stop. I like the idea of the paper slammed against the
dashboard, especially if the examiner also shouts "STOP!!!!" with
suitable enthusiasm, but he'd already given the game away be carefully
checking his mirror, and then deliberately and openly looking over his
(right) shoulder.... I knew long before he went wild that he was going
to call the shot. I passed, but I may not have done if he had gone out of
his way to surprise me, and it occurs to me that most emergency stops will
be done under circumstances that were surprising to the driver at the time!
Still, at least I didn't have to parallel-park! I still can't do that
perfectly every time...!
