Lengthy wait for migrants

MORE than 220,000 people are waiting to have their citizenship applications processed, new figures reveal.

Despite a 100,000 drop in the number of applications, migrants are still waiting about 410 days, more than 13 months, for their citizenship to be approved. The wait time is down from 493 days last year, but still streaks above the 167-day wait time seven years ago.

There are almost 30,000 Indians, 27,000 Britons and nearly 18,000 Chinese nationals waiting to become citizens. In total, 221,415 are waiting to have applications processed.