Citizenship Ceremony cancelled due to Covid-19

[dragon098]

Hi dragon098.
I had my virtual ceremony today with the registrar from Wandsworth Council. They didn't ask for any payment thankfully.

However, they had my old address in their log and they said they cannot post my certificate to my new address so I have to go to the town hall and pick it up tomorrow.

I'll be moving in a month so thanks for heads up, I will ask them if I can come to pick it up in Townhall. It looks like printing and posting or emailing invite has slowed down. All we can do now is wait and due to non-stop lockdown it doesn't really help us.
Anyways, Congrats, you're British now. Hopefully, applying for passport shouldn't be as stressful as this.

[awilkes]

Hey Everyone,

It's been longer than a month now since I received my invitation mail, My council (H&F) keeps telling me they haven't received my certificate yet. I tried to email home office but no luck. Could anyone give me some advice what to do next?

The mail says I have 21 days, so I passed that deadline.

Thanks

[mrmo93]

Hey Everyone,

It's been longer than a month now since I received my invitation mail, My council (H&F) keeps telling me they haven't received my certificate yet. I tried to email home office but no luck. Could anyone give me some advice what to do next?

The mail says I have 21 days, so I passed that deadline.

Thanks

Its actually six months now

[London249]

Hi anyone from November approved have received cermony letter I got approved 9th of November via email or any idea still waiting for invitation please advice.

[Abxnair]

I enquired about my certificate last day at NationalitySupportTeamFMT@homeoffice.gov.uk and got a replay as below.

It didn't help at all and added more confusion Did they ask to wait for another 8 to 12 weeks? or is it a generic email? Confused now! I am approved on 7th October.

Thank you for your enquiry about your citizenship ceremony.

We are currently working with Local Authorities throughout the UK and with overseas diplomatic posts as they begin to resume Citizenship Ceremonies. Service has not yet returned to normal due to continuing adherence to Government advice on social distancing ¿ which is subject to some local and International variance.

Due to the strict social distancing measures currently in place and to ensure the safety of our staff, regrettably, resources in our Ceremonies and Citizenship Support department are extremely limited, at present.

With regards to individual/private/virtual ceremonies, we are aware that some local authorities have already started to offer this service however it is up to each council as to whether or not they can carry out these with social distancing measures in place. Further to this, unless you have exceptional circumstances, we are unable to accommodate requests to expedite ceremony invites/despatch of certificates at present for the reasons given above.

Please be assured that our ceremonies and citizenship support team will issue your ceremony invite letter by post within the next 8 to 12 weeks. You are required to attend a citizenship ceremony within 6 months of the date printed on your ceremony invitation. Upon receipt of the invitation letter, you can make the necessary arrangements with your local authority.

We will keep ceremony deadlines under constant review. Please be assured that no adverse decisions will be made on your application because of delays caused by Coronavirus (unless there is a material change in your circumstances, for example, you are convicted of a criminal offence).

Please do not contact your Local Authority until you have received your invitation as they will not have your certificate to conduct your ceremony before this.

I fully appreciate that you attending your citizenship ceremony is the final part of the process and please be assured that we aim to resolve this situation as quickly as possible.

During this time UKVI are receiving a high volume of enquires that may take longer than usual for a reply. Please do not contact the Visas and Citizenship department to request your ceremony be held in another location based on ceremony date availability as such requests cannot be accommodated and will be declined.

Yours sincerely

FMT Admin Support Nationality Group

[successorxx]

I enquired about my certificate last day at NationalitySupportTeamFMT@homeoffice.gov.uk and got a replay as below.

It didn't help at all and added more confusion Did they ask to wait for another 8 to 12 weeks? or is it a generic email? Confused now! I am approved on 7th October.

Thank you for your enquiry about your citizenship ceremony.

We are currently working with Local Authorities throughout the UK and with overseas diplomatic posts as they begin to resume Citizenship Ceremonies. Service has not yet returned to normal due to continuing adherence to Government advice on social distancing ¿ which is subject to some local and International variance.

Due to the strict social distancing measures currently in place and to ensure the safety of our staff, regrettably, resources in our Ceremonies and Citizenship Support department are extremely limited, at present.

With regards to individual/private/virtual ceremonies, we are aware that some local authorities have already started to offer this service however it is up to each council as to whether or not they can carry out these with social distancing measures in place. Further to this, unless you have exceptional circumstances, we are unable to accommodate requests to expedite ceremony invites/despatch of certificates at present for the reasons given above.

Please be assured that our ceremonies and citizenship support team will issue your ceremony invite letter by post within the next 8 to 12 weeks. You are required to attend a citizenship ceremony within 6 months of the date printed on your ceremony invitation. Upon receipt of the invitation letter, you can make the necessary arrangements with your local authority.

We will keep ceremony deadlines under constant review. Please be assured that no adverse decisions will be made on your application because of delays caused by Coronavirus (unless there is a material change in your circumstances, for example, you are convicted of a criminal offence).

Please do not contact your Local Authority until you have received your invitation as they will not have your certificate to conduct your ceremony before this.

I fully appreciate that you attending your citizenship ceremony is the final part of the process and please be assured that we aim to resolve this situation as quickly as possible.

During this time UKVI are receiving a high volume of enquires that may take longer than usual for a reply. Please do not contact the Visas and Citizenship department to request your ceremony be held in another location based on ceremony date availability as such requests cannot be accommodated and will be declined.

Yours sincerely

FMT Admin Support Nationality Group

I can 100% tell you this is a generic email...Copy and Paste...I got exactly the same type of message a week ago......So bother no more after this email I can categorically tell you they wont reply you anymore Just wait......Talking from experience..

[mrmo93]

So guys how far do you think Baybars model has been taken off?

[askmeplz82]

Hi anyone from November approved have received cermony letter I got approved 9th of November via email or any idea still waiting for invitation please advice.

Too early for November. ... you will hopefully get it by end of January

[Rabs]

So guys how far do you think Baybars model has been taken off?

It seems it isn't applicable any longer. Invitations are not being released in the numbers required to develop another model unfortunately!

[mrmo93]

So guys how far do you think Baybars model has been taken off?

It seems it isn't applicable any longer. Invitations are not being released in the numbers required to develop another model unfortunately!

Yes , Its frustrating because my turn is literally NEXT . Like I got approved 12 of October

[CULLINAN]

Hi anyone from November approved have received cermony letter I got approved 9th of November via email or any idea still waiting for invitation please advice.

Too early for November. ... you will hopefully get it by end of January

Someone already reported a couple days back to have received a ceremony invitation - approval on 4th Nov. I am 10th Nov approval and I am speculating receiving one by end Dec but lets see.

[Rabs]

Hi anyone from November approved have received cermony letter I got approved 9th of November via email or any idea still waiting for invitation please advice.

Too early for November. ... you will hopefully get it by end of January

Someone already reported a couple days back to have received a ceremony invitation - approval on 4th Nov. I am 10th Nov approval and I am speculating receiving one by end Dec but lets see.

It seems all those people with the November approvals that got their Invitations were supposed to get the approvals earlier bcos they submitted their applications since June but didn't for some reason. H.O. therefore decided to send the approvals and invitations just days apart.
I saw someone who applied in June, never got any approval but just got the invitation in the post.

[mename]

Is anyone from Westminster London council? Could you please share your timeline. Currently waiting from the beginning of November wonder when would be my turn

[Soo123]

Hi

Is there anyone here with Hillingdon Council
It’s for a friend who got approved in November but waiting for the invitation letter

[askmeplz82]

Saw this is Facebook group . Is that even possible ?

[CR001]

Saw this is Facebook group . Is that even possible ?

Do NOT post screenshots of personal details of people posting on Facebook groups. Also do not post any Facebook group details or links.

[nnn15]

I enquired about my certificate last day at NationalitySupportTeamFMT@homeoffice.gov.uk and got a replay as below.

It didn't help at all and added more confusion Did they ask to wait for another 8 to 12 weeks? or is it a generic email? Confused now! I am approved on 7th October.

Thank you for your enquiry about your citizenship ceremony.

We are currently working with Local Authorities throughout the UK and with overseas diplomatic posts as they begin to resume Citizenship Ceremonies. Service has not yet returned to normal due to continuing adherence to Government advice on social distancing ¿ which is subject to some local and International variance.

Due to the strict social distancing measures currently in place and to ensure the safety of our staff, regrettably, resources in our Ceremonies and Citizenship Support department are extremely limited, at present.

With regards to individual/private/virtual ceremonies, we are aware that some local authorities have already started to offer this service however it is up to each council as to whether or not they can carry out these with social distancing measures in place. Further to this, unless you have exceptional circumstances, we are unable to accommodate requests to expedite ceremony invites/despatch of certificates at present for the reasons given above.

Please be assured that our ceremonies and citizenship support team will issue your ceremony invite letter by post within the next 8 to 12 weeks. You are required to attend a citizenship ceremony within 6 months of the date printed on your ceremony invitation. Upon receipt of the invitation letter, you can make the necessary arrangements with your local authority.

We will keep ceremony deadlines under constant review. Please be assured that no adverse decisions will be made on your application because of delays caused by Coronavirus (unless there is a material change in your circumstances, for example, you are convicted of a criminal offence).

Please do not contact your Local Authority until you have received your invitation as they will not have your certificate to conduct your ceremony before this.

I fully appreciate that you attending your citizenship ceremony is the final part of the process and please be assured that we aim to resolve this situation as quickly as possible.

During this time UKVI are receiving a high volume of enquires that may take longer than usual for a reply. Please do not contact the Visas and Citizenship department to request your ceremony be held in another location based on ceremony date availability as such requests cannot be accommodated and will be declined.

Yours sincerely

FMT Admin Support Nationality Group

I can 100% tell you this is a generic email...Copy and Paste...I got exactly the same type of message a week ago......So bother no more after this email I can categorically tell you they wont reply you anymore Just wait......Talking from experience..

I got a very similar email telling me to wait 8-12 weeks and not contact anyone in the middle of September (approved in March). Still waiting for the paperwork. I don't think they've actually checked the status of your application, it's probably a generic email.

[yogii96]

Hi I wanted to check if anyone here got this type of email?
Just want to confirm if this a generic email as well.



Good Morning

Thank you for your email

Upon investigation I can confirm that your citizenship ceremony documents have not yet been printed or despatched to the local authority. Your citizenship paperwork will be generated in coming weeks when current restrictions due to Coronavirus are eased.

In normal circumstances customers were required to book their citizenship ceremony within three months of being sent an invitation from the Home Office. Due to the current circumstances we have extended this period to six months. We will keep this under constant review. Please be assured that no adverse decisions will be made on your application because of delays caused by Coronavirus (unless there is a material change in your circumstances, for example, you are convicted of a criminal offence).

Kind regards

UKVI

[Misty1]

So guys how far do you think Baybars model has been taken off?

It seems it isn't applicable any longer. Invitations are not being released in the numbers required to develop another model unfortunately!

Yes , Its frustrating because my turn is literally NEXT . Like I got approved 12 of October

I feel your pain... I was approved on the 6th. Feel so close, but now don't want to get my hopes up of receiving anything this year... Will be patient till mid Jan and then start chasing HO...

[ellruf]

Is anyone from Westminster London council? Could you please share your timeline. Currently waiting from the beginning of November wonder when would be my turn

Waiting for my ceremony invitation letter from 2nd of October..

[Abi00]

Hi yogii96
I got the same email this Monday after I emailed UKVI , approval 14 Oct

[CULLINAN]

Update:

Approved: 10th Nov.

Ceremony Invitation EMAIL received today i.e. 18th Dec @9AM.

Council: Hounslow.

I emailed Hounslow council to book a private ceremony, awaiting their call back.

PS: Thank you @Baybars1. Your model is spot ON. Best wishes.

[naruto]

I know someone who is timeline like mine but had their approval slightly delayed and they got the approval and invitation letter at the same time.....

His time line below;

Timeline:
In July 2020 applied
7th sep biometric
18th dec got the approval letter
And good part is same time I received ceremony letter
Ceremony is on 6th January 2021

[en_ilegna]

My husband’s timeline:
Approved via email:9/06
Emailed MP: 7/12
Reply from MP asking for more details: 7/12
Invitation letter (email): 10/12
Private ceremony: today
Council: Barnet

At least they are starting to clear up spring approvals.
Hope those who are waiting will have theirs soon.

[dragon098]

Congrats CULLINAN, I am happy that you've finally got it now.

However, I am wondering beside handful of guys who got invitation for October Approval via email, some guys from November Approvals are getting it too. It seems like HO forgot whole October Approvals. Most of us who've emailed HO office got reply stating "they haven't printed or posted invitation and will print in coming weeks". This is really disappointing and I do understand it might depend on Council but it would be nice to get notified rather than copy paste email. I think getting email invitation would be more preferable than invitation being sent in post.