Citizenship Ceremony cancelled due to Covid-19

[CULLINAN]

Information about ELMBRIDGE BOROUGH COUNCIL

The above council is carrying virtual ceremony at ZERO cost.

I personally know a family of 5 who were approved in October and got their invitations today. Called council and were offered date for 8th Feb free of cost.

This post might help others with the same council.

[Missi]

Thank you @Missi, I submitted my application on 9 September.
@ocean7.. thank you for replying back
so I can expect my invitation latter to arrive in next few days

[shahzy970]

Hi All,

Finally received the invitation letter, however, when contacting the council, they cannot find my details on the system? Maybe the possibly they haven't updated the system as ceremonies are suspended until the end of January.

Anyone in the same sititaon? Any suggestions?

Thanks

[London249]

Hi All,

Finally received the invitation letter, however, when contacting the council, they cannot find my details on the system? Maybe the possibly they haven't updated the system as ceremonies are suspended until the end of January.

Anyone in the same sititaon? Any suggestions?

Thanks

Hi what’s your timeline and which one is your council

[shahzy970]

Hi All,

Finally received the invitation letter, however, when contacting the council, they cannot find my details on the system? Maybe the possibly they haven't updated the system as ceremonies are suspended until the end of January.

Anyone in the same situation? Any suggestions?

Thanks

Hi what’s your timeline and which one is your council

Approved 30th October
Invitation letter received 18 Jan.
Newham council

[imz2020]

Hi All,

Finally received the invitation letter, however, when contacting the council, they cannot find my details on the system? Maybe the possibly they haven't updated the system as ceremonies are suspended until the end of January.

Anyone in the same situation? Any suggestions?

Thanks

Hi what’s your timeline and which one is your council

Approved 30th October
Invitation letter received 18 Jan.
Newham council

Did you receive the ceremony letter via e-mail or normal letter? im was approved on 26 oct and still waiting

[shahzy970]

Hi All,

Finally received the invitation letter, however, when contacting the council, they cannot find my details on the system? Maybe the possibly they haven't updated the system as ceremonies are suspended until the end of January.

Anyone in the same situation? Any suggestions?

Thanks

Hi what’s your timeline and which one is your council

Approved 30th October
Invitation letter received 18 Jan.
Newham council

Did you receive the ceremony letter via e-mail or normal letter? im was approved on 26 oct and still waiting

Via post letter dated 21st Dec. I am sure you'll get it this week- just be patient.

thanks

[imz2020]

Hi All,

I called the home office and a lady informed me that all ceremony letters for applications approved after 23 Oct until 3rd nov were sent via post on 15 Jan 2021 and will take up to 10 days to be received so we should get it this week or by next at the latest.

[CULLINAN]

Information about SLOUGH COUNCIL

My friend was approved in October and got ceremony invitation on Friday. Slough is carrying on with 1-2-1 ceremonies. He contacted the council today and they said they will email the ceremony date/time within next 10 days.

This post might help someone from slough council.

[lc42]

I was approved on 21 October. Contacted them last week and they still hadn’t printed my documents.

[SamcoSamco]

Samco Have you heard anything or received your Inivitation? After my 10th attempt contacting the Home office through different emails I finally got this reply I hope is true and not generic again btw I was approved early August.

“Dear Mr xxx,

Apologies for the delay in response.

We have been looking in to your case and it appears there was a system error when your application was granted and the invitation was not sent to print, we have now resolved the issue and our citizenship and ceremonies team will despatch the invitation as soon as possible.

Please accept our sincere apologies for the inconvenience.

Kind Regards

Good to hear that you received a valid response.
I have not received my ceremony paperwork yet. The latest response I received was that my paperwork is not printed and it will be processed as soon as COVID restrictions ease down. It’s a joke, I have seen people apply after me and got their approval and ceremony done before me. I do appreciate there are others who have been waiting longer and that we live through difficult times, but, I work as well and we made sure to put measures in place to reduce COVID impact on our customers and production. May be my certificate is taking so long because it is being engraved in hieroglyphs.

Can you share the email address you received a response through please?

Good luck and hopefully you will get this done and dusted before Easter.

I’m so sorry to hear this so frustrating...We just have to keep waiting also I got this reply through my caseworker the same email that was used in sending my approval letter....Just reply the email with your complaint hopefully your caseworker replies but I have also contacted my MP and he’s waiting for a reply aswell

Have you received anything yet my friend? Not sure if there are any July/August approvals here who are still waiting.

There were a few here who submitted their citizenship applications after July 2020 and got their application approved and ceremony done already!! Also, I can see many October approvals have already received their ceremony invitation -Many congratulations.

Since December, I have emailed all citizenship support emails that I know of, but no answers. I have also phoned UKVI multiple times and was recently told to wait due to Covid delays.

Clearly, these delays are not affecting everybody.

[westminster1213]

westminster council contacted me today, booked in for virtual citizenship ceremony for Wednesday. £10 only

[shahzy970]

Hi All,

I managed to get in touch Newham council today. Unfortunately, they cannot conduct any ceremonies ( group/private/virtual) until end of Jan although they advised if I want to change council, I could do by emailing citizenship.support@homeoffice.gov.uk.

Really frustrating tbh you wait all this time and still the waiting is neverending - the whole process is shambles tbh

Anyone in a similar situation? did anyone request to change council by any chance?

Thanks

[Rabs]

Hi All,

I managed to get in touch Newham council today. Unfortunately, they cannot conduct any ceremonies ( group/private/virtual) until end of Jan although they advised if I want to change council, I could do by emailing citizenship.support@homeoffice.gov.uk.

Really frustrating tbh you wait all this time and still the waiting is neverending - the whole process is shambles tbh

Anyone in a similar situation? did anyone request to change council by any chance?

Thanks

Wouldn't advise you going through that process. They'll need to send the certificate back to the H.O before H.O then re-arranges & send it to the new Council.
Considering how things are moving at the moment, one would expect it to take atleast 6 months.

[PhantomPermit]

Hi All,

I called the home office and a lady informed me that all ceremony letters for applications approved after 23 Oct until 3rd nov were sent via post on 15 Jan 2021 and will take up to 10 days to be received so we should get it this week or by next at the latest.

can't trust that. Many people getting just email invitations. HO is lost

[Rabs]

UPDATE: Havering Council is offering virtual ceremonies with dates available.

[Kay100]

Thank you Rabs.

I got a call from them last Friday and I was scheduled for a virtual ceremony today. All done now

#Finally

[shahzy970]

Hi All,

I managed to get in touch Newham council today. Unfortunately, they cannot conduct any ceremonies ( group/private/virtual) until end of Jan although they advised if I want to change council, I could do by emailing citizenship.support@homeoffice.gov.uk.

Really frustrating tbh you wait all this time and still the waiting is neverending - the whole process is shambles tbh

Anyone in a similar situation? did anyone request to change council by any chance?

Thanks

Wouldn't advise you going through that process. They'll need to send the certificate back to the H.O before H.O then re-arranges & send it to the new Council.
Considering how things are moving at the moment, one would expect it to take atleast 6 months.

Thanks! Very true. I think I'll wait and see what happens. At least, I have the invitation letter so I can relax a bit.

Good luck people - I hope you all get your invitation soon
Thanks

[PhantomPermit]

anyone still waiting approved on 15th of October?

[mrmo93]

Anyone from Kent get an update?

[YA0148]

Hi to all
does anyone know if Salford city council do virtual ceremonies?
thanks

[aliabbas]

anyone still waiting approved on 15th of October?

Approved 16 October n still waiting rang homeoffice today n was told that 1 Oct till 22 was posted last Tuesday n have to wait 10 working days so hopefully will get this week let's c

[bruteforce]

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/thou ... -5xn9dhzz3

[bruteforce]

Home Office have just announced that they will be granting citizenship certificates after applicants sign declaration, to clear the backlog.

[Missi]

Hi All,

I called the home office and a lady informed me that all ceremony letters for applications approved after 23 Oct until 3rd nov were sent via post on 15 Jan 2021 and will take up to 10 days to be received so we should get it this week or by next at the latest.

Hiya! Can you please give me the number you ring on.. Thanks