Citizenship Ceremony cancelled due to Covid-19

[Abi00]

13th october approval. No invitation letter yet

Hi
I told you I got a call from my local council and they received my paper work and booked me ceremony next month , approval 14 October ( Kirklees council )
Good luck guys

[luckyshah]

Hi,
I've seen on thread today that some October approvals have recieved invitation email today.
Just wondering if everyone from October approval have received invitation today or just some of you. (Just to see whether October backlog is cleared now or not yet as 12 weeks waiting period is over for them)
Ch eers.

Applied 22 May 2020
Approved 9th October 2020
Invitation letter still waiting
Council received certificate 11/01/2021
Wokingham Borough Council

I called my council and they booked me for tomorrow virtual ceremony that was quick

Hood luck everyone

[Atighee]

Hi
Is there anyone whose application approved on 29 October and receiced invitation??

I m still waiting for invitation, approved 29 oct

[Rabs]

Hi,
I've seen on thread today that some October approvals have recieved invitation email today.
Just wondering if everyone from October approval have received invitation today or just some of you. (Just to see whether October backlog is cleared now or not yet as 12 weeks waiting period is over for them)
Ch eers.

Applied 22 May 2020
Approved 9th October 2020
Invitation letter still waiting
Council received certificate 11/01/2021
Wokingham Borough Council

I called my council and they booked me for tomorrow virtual ceremony that was quick

Hood luck everyone

You are quite lucky. Not all councils accept ceremonies without invitation letter, in addition to lockdown restrictions. Goodluck!!!

[askmeplz82]

Guys is this normal that you receive Ceremony invitation but not certificate? I received Ceremony invitation by POST date 8th December but it is more than 30 days and the COUNCIL don't have my certificate

[askmeplz82]

Hello folks,
I’m in a desperate need to travel. Hopeless situation. I’ve my elderly mother unwell. She needs to be taken to dr for specialist investigation and she may have to go through an surgical operation. I’ve tried to obtained Turkish visa to be able to travel and attend her but no luck due to unavailability of appointments and now the closure of consulate general until the 15th of Feb.

My approval was emailed to me by HO on 28 October. I’ve sent at least 3 emails to HO (different email addresses inc citizenship.support,front end) in the last 10 days but I’ve not got any response yet. I have forwarded to them email replies from Turkish consulate that they cannot help as they are not working and visa section is closed.

If I go quickly through naturalisation process and apply for a British passport I’d then not need a visa for turkey but I am not getting any replies from the HO to my email request.

Can anyone advise what I should do, pls? I don’t see any good options. It’s frustrating, I feel hopeless.

" Ordinary passport holders with a valid Schengen members or USA, UK, Ireland visa or residence permit may get their one month period single entry e-Visas via the website www.evisa.gov.tr "

[London249]

Guys is this normal that you receive Ceremony invitation but not certificate? I received Ceremony invitation by POST date 8th December but it is more than 30 days and the COUNCIL don't have my certificate

One of my friend his certificate was delay about one and half month barking &dag council I don’t know which one is your but it’s normal can happen .

[Musti]

Hey everybody, bro Cullinan I have just finished my ceremony, it took less than 10 minutes plus 5 minutes for payment as it was not working. The lady is really lovely. They charged 125 only and they will send the certificate tomorrow via special delivery and it will reach me before 1pm and when I asked about the number she said she was not supposed to give it via the Microsoft Team app. I wasn't bother because one day isn't a big deal and I was just happy to finally get it over and done with. She advised that I should return the BRP asap and via special or recorded delivery. But when I asked about returning the travel document she said I could keep it which was quite confusing.
Also bro, you have to go on the link on your own at the time or 2 minutes before your appointment, they do not call you in advance neither do they call you on the app.

[maglum]

UPDATE
Hello folks, Happy to update my council has received my certificate yesterday - Bang on 12th weeks.
Approval - 21/10/2020
Certificate received by council - 11/01/2021
virtual ceremony tomorrow - 13/01/2021 (Lucky that my council (Southampton) is doing this)

I still have not received any invitation letter to me (nor by email) but council lady asked me to present the October approval letter with any photo ID.
Looks like this dreadful wait is soon be over. Let me take this opportunity to thank all you guys. It surely keep me engaged during this longggg 12 weeks.
Happy to see many more October approvals getting their certificates and Hope all others will get their good news by this week.
Good luck.

[mrmo93]

UPDATE
Hello folks, Happy to update my council has received my certificate yesterday - Bang on 12th weeks.
Approval - 21/10/2020
Certificate received by council - 11/01/2021
virtual ceremony tomorrow - 13/01/2021 (Lucky that my council (Southampton) is doing this)

I still have not received any invitation letter to me (nor by email) but council lady asked me to present the October approval letter with any photo ID.
Looks like this dreadful wait is soon be over. Let me take this opportunity to thank all you guys. It surely keep me engaged during this longggg 12 weeks.
Happy to see many more October approvals getting their certificates and Hope all others will get their good news by this week.
Good luck.

WOO CONGRATS!

PS Anyone from Kent County Council?

[PhantomPermit]

UPDATE
Hello folks, Happy to update my council has received my certificate yesterday - Bang on 12th weeks.
Approval - 21/10/2020
Certificate received by council - 11/01/2021
virtual ceremony tomorrow - 13/01/2021 (Lucky that my council (Southampton) is doing this)

I still have not received any invitation letter to me (nor by email) but council lady asked me to present the October approval letter with any photo ID.
Looks like this dreadful wait is soon be over. Let me take this opportunity to thank all you guys. It surely keep me engaged during this longggg 12 weeks.
Happy to see many more October approvals getting their certificates and Hope all others will get their good news by this week.
Good luck.

i was approved 15 october
no invitation yet.

[CULLINAN]

Hey everybody, bro Cullinan I have just finished my ceremony, it took less than 10 minutes plus 5 minutes for payment as it was not working. The lady is really lovely. They charged 125 only and they will send the certificate tomorrow via special delivery and it will reach me before 1pm and when I asked about the number she said she was not supposed to give it via the Microsoft Team app. I wasn't bother because one day isn't a big deal and I was just happy to finally get it over and done with. She advised that I should return the BRP asap and via special or recorded delivery. But when I asked about returning the travel document she said I could keep it which was quite confusing.
Also bro, you have to go on the link on your own at the time or 2 minutes before your appointment, they do not call you in advance neither do they call you on the app.

Congrats!! Thank you for the update.

PS: I have already told you what you need to do with your travel document in my previous posts to yourself.

[CULLINAN]

Hey everybody, bro Cullinan I have just finished my ceremony, it took less than 10 minutes plus 5 minutes for payment as it was not working. The lady is really lovely. They charged 125 only and they will send the certificate tomorrow via special delivery and it will reach me before 1pm and when I asked about the number she said she was not supposed to give it via the Microsoft Team app. I wasn't bother because one day isn't a big deal and I was just happy to finally get it over and done with. She advised that I should return the BRP asap and via special or recorded delivery. But when I asked about returning the travel document she said I could keep it which was quite confusing.
Also bro, you have to go on the link on your own at the time or 2 minutes before your appointment, they do not call you in advance neither do they call you on the app.

Congrats!! Thank you for the update.

PS: I have already told you what you need to do with your travel document in my previous posts to yourself.

You should send your travel document (HOTD) to HMPO when you apply for BP. Add a cover letter that you are returning your HOTD. HMPO will retain it and send it to TDS Croydon for safe destruction and issue you with a letter. HMPO will issue you with a BP. You can NOT keep your HOTD after BP issued.

OR if you want to get your Home Country’s Passport back from HO, you can wait and see if HMPO returns your HOTD. In that case, you can simply post your HOTD (after you get your BP and IF HMPO returns your HOTD) to TDS Croydon and request them to return your Home Country’s Passport. Even if HMPO retains your HOTD, you still can request TDS Croydon to return your Home Country’s Passport after you get your BP.

Either way you must return your HOTD. You are no longer a refugee. Your status is changed to British Citizen today.

[mrmo93]

UPDATE

Baybars model was right for me , Got the letter sent to my laywer but they didnt get it on time. The home office sent me the letter, however the letter has now lapsed AND kent county council has cancelled the ceremonies. What should i do?

[aswadi]

UPDATE

Baybars model was right for me , Got the letter sent to my laywer but they didnt get it on time. The home office sent me the letter, however the letter has now lapsed AND kent county council has cancelled the ceremonies. What should i do?

You have 6 months to attend the ceremony after receiving the invitation. Ignore any references made to a 21 day time frame.

[mrmo93]

UPDATE

Baybars model was right for me , Got the letter sent to my laywer but they didnt get it on time. The home office sent me the letter, however the letter has now lapsed AND kent county council has cancelled the ceremonies. What should i do?

You have 6 months to attend the ceremony after receiving the invitation. Ignore any references made to a 21 day time frame.

THANK YOU SOOO MUCH!

[CULLINAN]

Myself including a couple more who were approved in November (myself approved 10th Nov) received the ceremony invitations in December. Lucky?

I would like to give a little background about my case.

I applied on 22nd June and went for dual submission on 25th Sep (initially submitted via IDV on 28th Aug). Back then approvals were pouring within 1-2 days after dual submission but mine never came through. I thought my case is stuck for more enquiries. However, most likely my approval was made end September but approval email NOT pushed through then.

Going forward, I received a HO survey email which is usually sent after approval is made in November. This triggered me to send an enquiry to HO and my approval was POSTED dated 10th Nov the very same day I sent an enquiry.

Looking at the timelines reported on the forum (and also 2 people who I personally know who were approved in October), many are still waiting for ceremony invitations. Seems like HO is barely processing ceremony invitations for Oct approvals now.

Myself and couple others who reported receiving quick ceremony invitations most likely got approved in September as stated above due to HO’s delay @approval stage. Hope this will give some insight into the delay situation for others.

[masam52]

For those who had the ceremony online...

How was it? What questions do they ask?

I read they first ask you where you are. That means you cannot have the online ceremony if you are abroad.

[CULLINAN]

For those who had the ceremony online...

How was it? What questions do they ask?

I read they first ask you where you are. That means you cannot have the online ceremony if you are abroad.

You must be in UK to attend a virtual ceremony also.

[maglum]

Myself including a couple more who were approved in November (myself approved 10th Nov) received the ceremony invitations in December. Lucky?

I would like to give a little background about my case.

I applied on 22nd June and went for dual submission on 25th Sep (initially submitted via IDV on 28th Aug). Back then approvals were pouring within 1-2 days after dual submission but mine never came through. I thought my case is stuck for more enquiries. However, most likely my approval was made end September but approval email NOT pushed through then.

Going forward, I received a HO survey email which is usually sent after approval is made in November. This triggered me to send an enquiry to HO and my approval was POSTED dated 10th Nov the very same day I sent an enquiry.

Looking at the timelines reported on the forum (and also 2 people who I personally know who were approved in October), many are still waiting for ceremony invitations. Seems like HO is barely processing ceremony invitations for Oct approvals now.

Myself and couple others who reported receiving quick ceremony invitations most likely got approved in September as stated above due to HO’s delay @approval stage. Hope this will give some insight into the delay situation for others.

Excellent point Cullinan. I think the total time from submission to get the certificate in hand is around 6 months for most of the people here when you add up all the different waiting periods.

[aswadi]

Good luck in getting your invitations to anyone living in these areas:

Royal Mail publishes list of UK Covid blackspots 'no longer receiving post'

https://www.itv.com/news/2021-01-12/roy ... iving-post

[zeetee]

Hi,
I've seen on thread today that some October approvals have recieved invitation email today.
Just wondering if everyone from October approval have received invitation today or just some of you. (Just to see whether October backlog is cleared now or not yet as 12 weeks waiting period is over for them)
Cheers.

Not all of them. I was approved on 19th oct and still waiting. Hopefully it will be this week

[N S]

UPDATE
Hello folks, Happy to update my council has received my certificate yesterday - Bang on 12th weeks.
Approval - 21/10/2020
Certificate received by council - 11/01/2021
virtual ceremony tomorrow - 13/01/2021 (Lucky that my council (Southampton) is doing this)

I still have not received any invitation letter to me (nor by email) but council lady asked me to present the October approval letter with any photo ID.
Looks like this dreadful wait is soon be over. Let me take this opportunity to thank all you guys. It surely keep me engaged during this longggg 12 weeks.
Happy to see many more October approvals getting their certificates and Hope all others will get their good news by this week.
Good luck.

thanks for your update since when Southampton do Virtual ceremony did not seen any update on their website..

[hardhercule]

Hi All,

A quick update regarding my wife's ceremony that we had today - 12th Jan 21. The ceremony was held at the Bristol council (in person). We still haven't received the invitation letter but the council were happy to go ahead with the ceremony as they had received the certificate.

We received the approval (via email) on 8th Oct 20 so its taken 12 weeks, which seems to be the norm.

Wish everyone all the best with their applications.

[PhantomPermit]

Hi,
I've seen on thread today that some October approvals have recieved invitation email today.
Just wondering if everyone from October approval have received invitation today or just some of you. (Just to see whether October backlog is cleared now or not yet as 12 weeks waiting period is over for them)
Cheers.

Not all of them. I was approved on 19th oct and still waiting. Hopefully it will be this week

sick of waiting