London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham Nationality Checking Service
Nationality Checking Service
Welcome to the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham’s Nationality Checking Service webpages. At the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham we work in partnership with the Home Office to provide a service for any person who wishes to apply for British citizenship.
Our Nationality Checking Service (NCS) will help ensure that your citizenship application is properly completed and submitted to the UK Border Agency with certified copies of all the relevant supporting documents.
www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk/britishcitizenship/applying/cost/
Booking information
The Nationality Checking Service is available by appointment only. On these pages you will be able to book an appointment with a member of our team online, find general information about our service, our location, fees and what we can and cannot do. You will also find links to the UK Border Agency website – It is your responsibility to check that you are eligible for naturalisation before making your application. Please consult the UK Border Agency’s own guidance at all times when completing your application.
You are now able to book an appointment online through the link below – provided your application is straightforward the you should find this the quickest and most convenient way of booking your appointment. If you have any questions about the process, please call our team on 020 8753 5523.
Our fees are payable in advance and are not refundable in the event that your application is either refused by the Border Agency is withdrawn by you, subject to our cancellations policy.
Fees are currently £40 for a single adult and for single or first children (under 18) application, £65 for a married couple/ civil partners and £20 for each additional child under 18. It is better to pay by debit card, as you will have to pay an additional 1.25% surcharge to use a credit card.
Examples:
- Our fee for a husband and wife applying with two children will be £105 (£65 for the couple and £20 for each additional child)
- Our fee for two children will be £60 (£40 for the first child and £20 for the additional child)
If you need to cancel an appointment, you must give us notice no later than 48 working hours before your appointment time – beyond this point, our fees are non-refundable, regardless of the outcome. You may only cancel or postpone your appointment by ringing us on 020 8753 5523.
What are the eligibility criteria, and what documents should I bring?
Before booking you should consult the UK Border Agency’s own guidance and download the requisite application forms and guidance documents at: http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/britishcitizenship/
Please also see information contained in the following downloadable PDF files:
Before you book – document checklists for adult EEA nationals
Before you book – document checklists for adult non-EEA nationals
Before you book – document checklists for children
Book an appointment online
The online booking facility must not be read as offering guidance or indicating the success of your application. You must read the UK Border Agency guidance before booking, and should read our document checklist page before attending your appointment.
You will need to pay for your appointment in advance, and will need to have your credit or debit card to hand.
Please note that credit card payments are subject to a 1.25% surcharge, whereas debit card payments are not.
Book an appointment by telephone
It is usually quicker to book your appointment online. If you have any questions about the process, or wish to speak to a member of our team before booking, please call 020 8753 5523 between 09.30 and 16.30 Monday to Friday, or by emailing: ncs@lbhf.gov.uk
Where to find us
If you have booked an appointment for between 9.30 and 15.45 please come to:
Hammersmith & Fulham Register Office
Fulham Town Hall
Harwood Road
London SW6 1ET
(Opposite Fulham Broadway tube station)
If we have arranged an appointment outside of these hours Monday to Friday, you should come to:
Main Entrance
Fulham Town Hall
Fulham Road
Fulham SW6 1ET
Tube: Fulham Broadway
Bus: 14, 28, 211, 295, 414, 424
About the service
Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC)
Our advisers are registered with the OISC, an independent body established by parliament, which regulates organisations offering services of this kind.
Nationality Checking Service staff have been provided with a set of desk instructions which set out the precise extent of their duties.
If a client requires advice or services which are outside our remit, the adviser will refer that person to the Home Office and record the fact.
What we can do
At the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham our staff are trained and licensed to check and forward your application to the UK Border Agency. They will photocopy and certify your passport and other necessary documents, allowing you to retain these items. Your application and payment details will then be forwarded by our staff to the UK Border Agency by special delivery.
Please note the following:
- Using the Nationality Checking Service does not mean that the outcome of your application is guaranteed. The UK Border Agency may request original documents, even though we will have sent them certified copies.
- All applicants aged 18 and over must attend the appointment. Children under the age of 18 are not required to attend.
- Application forms must be completed in full prior to the appointment.
- You must bring your documents to the appointment. Please consult the UK Border Agency website for guidance on which documents are necessary.
- We may suggest that you revisit our office to supply further documentation if necessary.
What we can’t do
Applicants should note that the Nationality Checking Service does NOT offer:
- Priority service for processing your application by the Border Agency (however, complete and accurate forms are processed, on average, more quickly than those that are incomplete or which need further enquires).
- Any advice on nationality other than in relation to the completed application.
- Any advice on other matters such as visas, immigration or asylum.
Please also note that we are unable to act as the agents or representatives of applicants. If you require further advice, you should contact the Home Office via their website. The final decision on whether your application is successful rests exclusively with the UK Border Agency. Original documents may still be requested by the UK Border Agency in some cases.
Requirements for naturalisation
Applications for naturalisation as a British citizen may be complex, and different criteria may apply depending on the nature of your application. Before attending your appointment you should consult the UK Border Agency’s guidance. This may be found under the ‘British citizenship’ section of the Border Agency’s website:
Please note that using the NCS is optional, which allows applicants to exercise freedom of choice in selecting providers. You are able to apply directly to the Home Office yourself or to use a solicitor or other agent.
Cost of the service
All fees are inclusive of VAT
Single adult or an application for a single child: £40
Married couples or couples in a legal civil partnership: £65
Each additional child: £20
Comments, compliments and complaints
The Nationality Checking Service is provided by the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham’s Register Office. If you wish to make any comments or complaints, please contact the Nationality & Citizenship Officer. All complaints are handled according to our complaints procedures. You may also contact the OISC in writing at the following address:
The Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner
Complaints Section
5th Floor, Counting House
53 Tooley Street
London SE1 2QN
Contact us
Tel: 020 8753 5523
Email: ncs@lbhf.gov.uk
Page last updated: 16/04/2012
