Citizenship Ceremony cancelled due to Covid-19

[N S]

Southampton city council doing a virtual ceremonies just got reply from them

http://www.southampton.gov.uk/coronavir ... onies.aspx

[anm88]

I have now received my ceremony invitation.

Approval Date: 23 October 2020
Date on the invitation letter: 30 December
Received on: 13 January (letter says I should use the details within 21 days of date above)

I strongly suspect that these letters are printed in batches and not posted right away.

[Kay100]

I have now received my ceremony invitation.

Approval Date: 23 October 2020
Date on the invitation letter: 30 December
Received on: 13 January (letter says I should use the details within 21 days of date above)

I strongly suspect that these letters are printed in batches and not posted right away.

Yup. I concur

[Kay100]

I have now received my ceremony invitation.

Approval Date: 23 October 2020
Date on the invitation letter: 30 December
Received on: 13 January (letter says I should use the details within 21 days of date above)

I strongly suspect that these letters are printed in batches and not posted right away.

Same as me. Yup. I concur

[kamalshah74]

Update - i just checked the site using the reference number from the successful application letter and it seems to be updated as I am able to book a ceremony. Previously it would say the information would not match, so that means the website is updated and the council must have received the certificate and uploaded the details to their database.

not working for me i.e they cannot retreive my details. i also got approved on 19th of October

How strange! Have you got a middle name? maybe you need to write it after your first name. In my case thats the case you need to write It as per your original application.

Same here. Got approved on 22 October. HO has said letter is in the post. I called Westminster yesterday and they said they will check and call me back. No response yet. They did mention that i cannot use the HO reference or case ID in my approval letter. The reference for the ceremony booking will start with 02xxx (i think). I also tried to book online on the link and it is not working for me. Let's see if someone responds via phone today. WIll update

Quick update. Got my letter today. Dated 30 December, posted 9 January, received 13 January. Now to book the ceremony.

[kamalshah74]

Update - i just checked the site using the reference number from the successful application letter and it seems to be updated as I am able to book a ceremony. Previously it would say the information would not match, so that means the website is updated and the council must have received the certificate and uploaded the details to their database.

not working for me i.e they cannot retreive my details. i also got approved on 19th of October

How strange! Have you got a middle name? maybe you need to write it after your first name. In my case thats the case you need to write It as per your original application.

Same here. Got approved on 22 October. HO has said letter is in the post. I called Westminster yesterday and they said they will check and call me back. No response yet. They did mention that i cannot use the HO reference or case ID in my approval letter. The reference for the ceremony booking will start with 02xxx (i think). I also tried to book online on the link and it is not working for me. Let's see if someone responds via phone today. WIll update

Quick update. Got my letter today. Dated 30 December, posted 9 January, received 13 January. Now to book the ceremony.

[kamalshah74]

Update - i just checked the site using the reference number from the successful application letter and it seems to be updated as I am able to book a ceremony. Previously it would say the information would not match, so that means the website is updated and the council must have received the certificate and uploaded the details to their database.

not working for me i.e they cannot retreive my details. i also got approved on 19th of October

How strange! Have you got a middle name? maybe you need to write it after your first name. In my case thats the case you need to write It as per your original application.

Same here. Got approved on 22 October. HO has said letter is in the post. I called Westminster yesterday and they said they will check and call me back. No response yet. They did mention that i cannot use the HO reference or case ID in my approval letter. The reference for the ceremony booking will start with 02xxx (i think). I also tried to book online on the link and it is not working for me. Let's see if someone responds via phone today. WIll update

Quick update. Got my letter today. Dated 30 December, posted 9 January, received 13 January. Now to book the ceremony.

[kamalshah74]

I have now received my ceremony invitation.

Approval Date: 23 October 2020
Date on the invitation letter: 30 December
Received on: 13 January (letter says I should use the details within 21 days of date above)

I strongly suspect that these letters are printed in batches and not posted right away.

Agree. Mine was as follow:

Approval Date: 22 October 2020
Date on the invitation letter: 30 December
Received on: 13 January

[shahzy970]

Anyone from Newham council here? Can you please share your experience?
What reference number have you used to book your ceremony?
How long have you been waiting for?

Many thanks to those who replied to my previous question

Hi! Did you check with Newham council? mine is Newham and I tried to reach out but they couldn't find my details plus I haven't received the invitation letter from ho yet.

Thanks

[mrmo93]

Curseet!

Im approved October 12 and got the letter but Kent county council doesn't have my certificate

[LNDwaiting]

Is it only me or HO stopped responding to emails, I've used those and did not here anything back form them:

• FurtherNationalityEnquiries@homeoffice.gov.uk,

• NationalitySupportTeamFMT@homeoffice.gov.uk,

• NationalityCaseworkDecisionService@homeoffice.gov.uk,

• CT3CaseworkEnquiries@homeoffice.gov.uk,

• Citizenship.Support@homeoffice.gov.uk

Not even ack, it's almost like I've been added to a spam list

I sent a round of emails to these addresses when 2021 started. I was approved in March 2020 and there are still no signs of my certificate. I haven't got any replies from any of these addresses.
The complaint I submitted at the HO website was upheld and they said they would "endeavour to print and despatch the paperwork as soon as possible", but also said they cannot tell when they can do so. So I guess the only thing I can do is to remind them about my still unprinted paperwork.

Hi nnn15,

My case is similar to yours. Approved in March 2020. Since August I have been writing and complaining, MP is involved. I also wrote to Kevin Foster, minister of immigration. His office replied on Dec saying 'I will receive it very soon'. Its been more than a month now.

I received a reply to my complaint saying ''I am upholding your complaint and I apologise for any inconvenience caused by the delay that has affected your application. It may be helpful if I explain that due to a technical error, your ceremony invitation letter has not yet been issued to you.
It is not possible to confirm when your certificate will be despatched to you. However, we will expedite issuing your certificate and ceremony invite letter''

Honestly, I don't trust them and I don't bother anymore. Have stopped thinking about my ceremony, It is very stressful.

Did your MP ever get a response? I even spoke to a lawyer I know about what I can do. The advice was - apparently going via the MP is the most powerful way as the Home Office is obliged to respond to the MPs.

In my case the Home Office didn't reply to the MP for over 2 months. Apparently there is an MP hotline, and when the MP called, the HO said they had sent the documents (which they actually didn't do). After this mistake has been highlighted to the HO, they said they were working on my case as an urgent matter. They also quoted a "technical problem". So after the HO confirmed they were treating it as an urgent matter, it took 5 weeks to receive a letter.

Another thing you can do is submit an SAR request (https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... mmigration). You can get a copy of the data and caseworker notes, probably it can shed some light on the reasons for the delay.

Congratulations to you for receving a letter from HO.

And thanks for your suggestions. MP didnt receive any reply. Its been 2 months now. I reminded my MP two weeks ago, but never heard anything back from her. I am very tempted to make a subject access request. I am gonna do that tonight.
Thanks a lot.

[Gillji]

Hi every one
I been a silent reader all the time and every second day read here comments and have some idea
I was approved on 30 October 2020
Invitation print on 22 December 2020
Received invitation on 13 January 2021
Ceremony date 15 December 2021 Virtual ceremony
Thanks for forum people who was really Helpful all the time with their suggestions and comments
And wishing every one good luck and success in this forum
Regards

[CULLINAN]

Hi every one
I been a silent reader all the time and every second day read here comments and have some idea
I was approved on 30 October 2020
Invitation print on 22 December 2020
Received invitation on 13 January 2021
Ceremony date 15 December 2021 Virtual ceremony
Thanks for forum people who was really Helpful all the time with their suggestions and comments
And wishing every one good luck and success in this forum
Regards

Ceremony date after 11 months???

[squaresausage]

Apparently, the Falkirk council is not holding any citizenship ceremonies at present until the government guidelines change. No option to arrange private or virtual ceremonies either.

[Yazzz95]

Hi, does anyone know if newham council is conducting ceremonies?? Are they doing in person or virtual ceremonies??
Thanks

[Gillji]

Sorry it’s 15 January 2021 ceremoney booked
Writing error from me
It’s not 15 December 2021
It’s 15 January mean tomorrow

[nnn15]

I sent a round of emails to these addresses when 2021 started. I was approved in March 2020 and there are still no signs of my certificate. I haven't got any replies from any of these addresses.
The complaint I submitted at the HO website was upheld and they said they would "endeavour to print and despatch the paperwork as soon as possible", but also said they cannot tell when they can do so. So I guess the only thing I can do is to remind them about my still unprinted paperwork.

Hi nnn15,

My case is similar to yours. Approved in March 2020. Since August I have been writing and complaining, MP is involved. I also wrote to Kevin Foster, minister of immigration. His office replied on Dec saying 'I will receive it very soon'. Its been more than a month now.

I received a reply to my complaint saying ''I am upholding your complaint and I apologise for any inconvenience caused by the delay that has affected your application. It may be helpful if I explain that due to a technical error, your ceremony invitation letter has not yet been issued to you.
It is not possible to confirm when your certificate will be despatched to you. However, we will expedite issuing your certificate and ceremony invite letter''

Honestly, I don't trust them and I don't bother anymore. Have stopped thinking about my ceremony, It is very stressful.

Did your MP ever get a response? I even spoke to a lawyer I know about what I can do. The advice was - apparently going via the MP is the most powerful way as the Home Office is obliged to respond to the MPs.

In my case the Home Office didn't reply to the MP for over 2 months. Apparently there is an MP hotline, and when the MP called, the HO said they had sent the documents (which they actually didn't do). After this mistake has been highlighted to the HO, they said they were working on my case as an urgent matter. They also quoted a "technical problem". So after the HO confirmed they were treating it as an urgent matter, it took 5 weeks to receive a letter.

Another thing you can do is submit an SAR request (https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... mmigration). You can get a copy of the data and caseworker notes, probably it can shed some light on the reasons for the delay.

Congratulations to you for receving a letter from HO.

And thanks for your suggestions. MP didnt receive any reply. Its been 2 months now. I reminded my MP two weeks ago, but never heard anything back from her. I am very tempted to make a subject access request. I am gonna do that tonight.
Thanks a lot.

Good luck! I hope this works. Apparently the HO can't be ignoring the MPs forever, so there must be a channel for your MP to get a response. But it probably doesn't harm to get a copy of the data on the file either.

[Atighee]

Hi
Is there anybody whose application was approved on 29th October?
If yes please reply if u received invitation letter yet or not?

[MeMFM]

Sorry it’s 15 January 2021 ceremoney booked
Writing error from me
It’s not 15 December 2021
It’s 15 January mean tomorrow

Good Morning Gillji,
I have the approval letter with 21.10.2020. The RBKC confirmed that they have my certificate. I haven't though received yet the HO Invitation Letter. Given the borough has my certificate I have tried to book the ceremony using the ref number on approval letter but does not work. Is it this number you have used to book your ceremony or perhaps on the Invitation letter you have a different number? Could you please let me know? Thank you.

[imz2020]

Hi
Is there anybody whose application was approved on 29th October?
If yes please reply if u received invitation letter yet or not?

Hi, I was approved on 26 oct and no invitation letter received yet.

[masam52]

Hi,

Technically, at what point you become a British Citizenship? Right after the ceremony? or once you get the certificate at home?

I am asking because Royal Mail is not sending anything where I should receive it. What happens if it gets lost? Or What would happen if the certificate is never sent?

[CR001]

Hi,

Technically, at what point you become a British Citizenship? Right after the ceremony? or once you get the certificate at home?

I am asking because Royal Mail is not sending anything where I should receive it. What happens if it gets lost? Or What would happen if the certificate is never sent?

Once you have attended the ceremonynis when you officially become British.

[zeetee]

************UPDATE **********
Applied for Citizenship : 15-9-2020
Approval: 19-10-2020
Citizenship ceremony invitation received today: 14-1-2021
Letter on the date: 7-1-2021

Redbridge Council has suspended ceremonies and they will contact me for next available date.
GoodLuck for all those who are waiting

[zeetee]

Hi
Is there anybody whose application was approved on 29th October?
If yes please reply if u received invitation letter yet or not?

Hi, I was approved on 26 oct and no invitation letter received yet.

I was approved on 19th Oct and received it today. Soon you will be receiving too.

[Basel_AH]

Hello all,

Finally received the letter through my solicitor today!

Approved on 7 October 2020
Invitation print on 16 December 2020
Received invitation on 14 January 2021
Ceremony date - Soonest free public ceremony in my council, Brent, is 17 February, any day for a private one which costs £130.

Thanks to everyone who contributed to this forum. It's been really helpful to feel like one is not alone during these challenging times when we have to handle so much happening around us and still wait patiently for our paper work to be done.

Good luck to everyone waiting, I wish you hear your good news soon.