Citizenship Ceremony cancelled due to Covid-19

londuk1 wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 14, 2020 11:51 am

Frou01 wrote: ↑

Fri Nov 13, 2020 4:16 pm

Obviously my letter was sent to me on 11th this week.
I’m wondering how long a second class letter can take?
If it arrives soon might be worth changing to a private ceremony which is a lot sooner.

Hi I know we have similar approval dates (3/8 me)

How do you know it was sent on 11/11?

I have sent an email to my CT department.
In our approval letters are the numbers which CT department they respond from and to this one I have sent an email this week.

It was said it was sent on 11/11. That was Wednesday.
As on Thursday my council confirmed they have received my certificate I assume that the certificates are sent 1st class (that’s why the next day arrival) and as invitations are sent 2nd class it hasn’t arrived yet.

Btw I was looking up, 2nd class letters take 2-4 working days (including Saturdays) and not 10 working days.

Frou01 wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 14, 2020 12:25 pm

londuk1 wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 14, 2020 11:51 am

Frou01 wrote: ↑

Fri Nov 13, 2020 4:16 pm

Obviously my letter was sent to me on 11th this week.
I’m wondering how long a second class letter can take?
If it arrives soon might be worth changing to a private ceremony which is a lot sooner.

Hi I know we have similar approval dates (3/8 me)

How do you know it was sent on 11/11?

I have sent an email to my CT department.
In our approval letters are the numbers which CT department they respond from and to this one I have sent an email this week.

It was said it was sent on 11/11. That was Wednesday.
As on Thursday my council confirmed they have received my certificate I assume that the certificates are sent 1st class (that’s why the next day arrival) and as invitations are sent 2nd class it hasn’t arrived yet.

Btw I was looking up, 2nd class letters take 2-4 working days (including Saturdays) and not 10 working days.

How do I find the ct department contact details?

Hello,

My decision letter was dated 22nd July 2020 and it was attached to an email sent to me on that same day.

I know that my invitation letter should already have reached me (and it hasn't).

I would like to know if the HO prints out the invitation letter a fixed number of days after the decision letter.

The reason why I am asking is that if it was printed out (and possibly sent) soon after my decision letter, then my invitation letter may have gone to my previous address because it took the HO 35 days to acknowledge my change of address (communicated to HO by me on 10 August, acknowledged on 15 September).

And I have no way of getting mail from my previous address.

(desperate question) what is a telephone number to ask the HO regarding the above ?

Thank you

Szrsrts wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 14, 2020 12:31 pm

Frou01 wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 14, 2020 12:25 pm

londuk1 wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 14, 2020 11:51 am

Frou01 wrote: ↑

Fri Nov 13, 2020 4:16 pm

Obviously my letter was sent to me on 11th this week.
I’m wondering how long a second class letter can take?
If it arrives soon might be worth changing to a private ceremony which is a lot sooner.

Hi I know we have similar approval dates (3/8 me)

How do you know it was sent on 11/11?

I have sent an email to my CT department.
In our approval letters are the numbers which CT department they respond from and to this one I have sent an email this week.

It was said it was sent on 11/11. That was Wednesday.
As on Thursday my council confirmed they have received my certificate I assume that the certificates are sent 1st class (that’s why the next day arrival) and as invitations are sent 2nd class it hasn’t arrived yet.

Btw I was looking up, 2nd class letters take 2-4 working days (including Saturdays) and not 10 working days.

How do I find the ct department contact details?

Under your caseworkers signature it says CT plus a number.
However not all reply, but some do and received a quick response.

CT- the relevant number and caseworkenquiries@homeoffice.gov.uk

Frou01 wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 14, 2020 12:37 pm

Szrsrts wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 14, 2020 12:31 pm

Frou01 wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 14, 2020 12:25 pm

londuk1 wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 14, 2020 11:51 am

Hi I know we have similar approval dates (3/8 me)

How do you know it was sent on 11/11?

I have sent an email to my CT department.
In our approval letters are the numbers which CT department they respond from and to this one I have sent an email this week.

It was said it was sent on 11/11. That was Wednesday.
As on Thursday my council confirmed they have received my certificate I assume that the certificates are sent 1st class (that’s why the next day arrival) and as invitations are sent 2nd class it hasn’t arrived yet.

Btw I was looking up, 2nd class letters take 2-4 working days (including Saturdays) and not 10 working days.

How do I find the ct department contact details?

Under your caseworkers signature it says CT plus a number.
However not all reply, but some do and received a quick response.

CT- the relevant number and caseworkenquiries@homeoffice.gov.uk

In my approval email this what I received even though email was typed wrong. Check it out.

CT3caseworkenquiries@homreoffice.goc.uk

It should be home office gov no?

Szrsrts wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 14, 2020 1:10 pm

Frou01 wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 14, 2020 12:37 pm

Szrsrts wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 14, 2020 12:31 pm

Frou01 wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 14, 2020 12:25 pm

I have sent an email to my CT department.
In our approval letters are the numbers which CT department they respond from and to this one I have sent an email this week.

It was said it was sent on 11/11. That was Wednesday.
As on Thursday my council confirmed they have received my certificate I assume that the certificates are sent 1st class (that’s why the next day arrival) and as invitations are sent 2nd class it hasn’t arrived yet.

Btw I was looking up, 2nd class letters take 2-4 working days (including Saturdays) and not 10 working days.

How do I find the ct department contact details?

Under your caseworkers signature it says CT plus a number.
However not all reply, but some do and received a quick response.

CT- the relevant number and caseworkenquiries@homeoffice.gov.uk

In my approval email this what I received even though email was typed wrong. Check it out.

CT3caseworkenquiries@homreoffice.goc.uk

It should be home office gov no?

Yes gov.
Let us know when you get something. On these emails you don’t get the usual automated response first, so don’t worry.

quick update guys
I was approved on the 23rd of July
ceremony letter received on 6th of November dated 16th of October
I am so thankful to god I have been booked for the ceremony on 17th of November
My council is Birmingham city council.
I did get the councillor involved to get ceremony booked.
Good luck to all of you.
Thanks again, everyone

rayyfar wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 14, 2020 1:42 pm

quick update guys
I was approved on the 23rd of July
ceremony letter received on 6th of November dated 16th of October
I am so thankful to god I have been booked for the ceremony on 17th of November
My council is Birmingham city council.
I did get the councillor involved to get ceremony booked.
Good luck to all of you.
Thanks again, everyone

That’s great to know. Congratulations!
I already wanted to ask you.
I now have booked my ceremony with Birmingham as well as certificate arrived last week.

Happy days! And enjoy your ceremony!

Frou01 wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 14, 2020 12:25 pm

londuk1 wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 14, 2020 11:51 am

Frou01 wrote: ↑

Fri Nov 13, 2020 4:16 pm

Obviously my letter was sent to me on 11th this week.
I’m wondering how long a second class letter can take?
If it arrives soon might be worth changing to a private ceremony which is a lot sooner.

Hi I know we have similar approval dates (3/8 me)

How do you know it was sent on 11/11?

I have sent an email to my CT department.
In our approval letters are the numbers which CT department they respond from and to this one I have sent an email this week.

It was said it was sent on 11/11. That was Wednesday.
As on Thursday my council confirmed they have received my certificate I assume that the certificates are sent 1st class (that’s why the next day arrival) and as invitations are sent 2nd class it hasn’t arrived yet.

Btw I was looking up, 2nd class letters take 2-4 working days (including Saturdays) and not 10 working days.

Having invitation letter printed by the HO doesn't necessarily means that they are dispatched on the same day. I think certificate and the invitation letter are printed at the same time. Certificate is dispatched straight away but invitation letter is posted a few days later and by a 2nd class service.

fanta wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 14, 2020 1:48 pm

Frou01 wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 14, 2020 12:25 pm

londuk1 wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 14, 2020 11:51 am

Frou01 wrote: ↑

Fri Nov 13, 2020 4:16 pm

Obviously my letter was sent to me on 11th this week.
I’m wondering how long a second class letter can take?
If it arrives soon might be worth changing to a private ceremony which is a lot sooner.

Hi I know we have similar approval dates (3/8 me)

How do you know it was sent on 11/11?

I have sent an email to my CT department.
In our approval letters are the numbers which CT department they respond from and to this one I have sent an email this week.

It was said it was sent on 11/11. That was Wednesday.
As on Thursday my council confirmed they have received my certificate I assume that the certificates are sent 1st class (that’s why the next day arrival) and as invitations are sent 2nd class it hasn’t arrived yet.

Btw I was looking up, 2nd class letters take 2-4 working days (including Saturdays) and not 10 working days.

Having invitation letter printed by the HO doesn't necessarily means that they are dispatched on the same day. I think certificate and the invitation letter are printed at the same time. Certificate is dispatched straight away but invitation letter is posted a few days later and by a 2nd class service.

Apologies, I misread your message. You did mention that you know that it was in fact sent on the day.

fanta wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 14, 2020 1:48 pm

Frou01 wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 14, 2020 12:25 pm

londuk1 wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 14, 2020 11:51 am

Frou01 wrote: ↑

Fri Nov 13, 2020 4:16 pm

Obviously my letter was sent to me on 11th this week.
I’m wondering how long a second class letter can take?
If it arrives soon might be worth changing to a private ceremony which is a lot sooner.

Hi I know we have similar approval dates (3/8 me)

How do you know it was sent on 11/11?

I have sent an email to my CT department.
In our approval letters are the numbers which CT department they respond from and to this one I have sent an email this week.

It was said it was sent on 11/11. That was Wednesday.
As on Thursday my council confirmed they have received my certificate I assume that the certificates are sent 1st class (that’s why the next day arrival) and as invitations are sent 2nd class it hasn’t arrived yet.

Btw I was looking up, 2nd class letters take 2-4 working days (including Saturdays) and not 10 working days.

Having invitation letter printed by the HO doesn't necessarily means that they are dispatched on the same day. I think certificate and the invitation letter are printed at the same time. Certificate is dispatched straight away but invitation letter is posted a few days later and by a 2nd class service.

You could be right.
They referred to paperwork could be both or just the certificate as you say.

However my council was saying they send out both the same day. I haven’t got knowledge about their process and timings.

Frou01 wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 14, 2020 1:45 pm

rayyfar wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 14, 2020 1:42 pm

quick update guys
I was approved on the 23rd of July
ceremony letter received on 6th of November dated 16th of October
I am so thankful to god I have been booked for the ceremony on 17th of November
My council is Birmingham city council.
I did get the councillor involved to get ceremony booked.
Good luck to all of you.
Thanks again, everyone

That’s great to know. Congratulations!
I already wanted to ask you.
I now have booked my ceremony with Birmingham as well as certificate arrived last week.

Happy days! And enjoy your ceremony!

Nice one when is your ceremony bro?

rayyfar wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 14, 2020 1:58 pm

Frou01 wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 14, 2020 1:45 pm

rayyfar wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 14, 2020 1:42 pm

quick update guys
I was approved on the 23rd of July
ceremony letter received on 6th of November dated 16th of October
I am so thankful to god I have been booked for the ceremony on 17th of November
My council is Birmingham city council.
I did get the councillor involved to get ceremony booked.
Good luck to all of you.
Thanks again, everyone

That’s great to know. Congratulations!
I already wanted to ask you.
I now have booked my ceremony with Birmingham as well as certificate arrived last week.

Happy days! And enjoy your ceremony!

Nice one when is your ceremony bro?

8 December. That was the earliest date.
They seem to be super busy.
However they offered to book a private ceremony for anytime earlier and I’m still thinking if I should...

My invitation letter by them says no guests for group ceremony, but couldn’t see if it’s different for a private ceremony.

However please let me know how it was, so know what will expect me.

No worries i will keep you posted and reply here after my ceremony on Tuesday

Date applied :17 June 2020
Date of biometrics : 04 August 2020
Date of approval: 07 August 2020
Invitation letter dated : 02 November 2020
Invitation letter received : 11 November 2020
Citizenship ceremony : 17 November 2020!
Council : Westminister

Frou01 wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 14, 2020 12:25 pm

londuk1 wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 14, 2020 11:51 am

Frou01 wrote: ↑

Fri Nov 13, 2020 4:16 pm

Obviously my letter was sent to me on 11th this week.
I’m wondering how long a second class letter can take?
If it arrives soon might be worth changing to a private ceremony which is a lot sooner.

Hi I know we have similar approval dates (3/8 me)

How do you know it was sent on 11/11?

I have sent an email to my CT department.
In our approval letters are the numbers which CT department they respond from and to this one I have sent an email this week.

It was said it was sent on 11/11. That was Wednesday.
As on Thursday my council confirmed they have received my certificate I assume that the certificates are sent 1st class (that’s why the next day arrival) and as invitations are sent 2nd class it hasn’t arrived yet.

Btw I was looking up, 2nd class letters take 2-4 working days (including Saturdays) and not 10 working days.

oh my god you are right.
I just searched on Wandsworth council online ceremony booking system with my approval letter reference number and they got my certificate. woohoo
So my invitation letter should be on the way to me this week.

londuk1 wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 14, 2020 3:04 pm

Frou01 wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 14, 2020 12:25 pm

londuk1 wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 14, 2020 11:51 am

Frou01 wrote: ↑

Fri Nov 13, 2020 4:16 pm

Obviously my letter was sent to me on 11th this week.
I’m wondering how long a second class letter can take?
If it arrives soon might be worth changing to a private ceremony which is a lot sooner.

Hi I know we have similar approval dates (3/8 me)

How do you know it was sent on 11/11?

I have sent an email to my CT department.
In our approval letters are the numbers which CT department they respond from and to this one I have sent an email this week.

It was said it was sent on 11/11. That was Wednesday.
As on Thursday my council confirmed they have received my certificate I assume that the certificates are sent 1st class (that’s why the next day arrival) and as invitations are sent 2nd class it hasn’t arrived yet.

Btw I was looking up, 2nd class letters take 2-4 working days (including Saturdays) and not 10 working days.

oh my god you are right.
I just searched on Wandsworth council online ceremony booking system with my approval letter reference number and they got my certificate. woohoo
So my invitation letter should be on the way to me this week.

Oh wow that’s amazing! So happy for you.

#####UPDATE####


I have received a letter from my local registrars today and they are asking few personal details in order to book a time slot for citizenship cermony next week. I still have not received any invitation letter from hone office but it seem they have got all the paper work . My approval date was 18 August via email

ILR1980 wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 14, 2020 3:26 pm

#####UPDATE####


I have received a letter from my local registrars today and they are asking few personal details in order to book a time slot for citizenship cermony next week. I still have not received any invitation letter from hone office but it seem they have got all the paper work . My approval date was 18 August via email

What is your council and your timeline please

Hello all. I have not actually followed this thread previously. Please can someone who has been following this thread, be kind enough to give me a summary of what is happening with ceremonies.
What is the average time for ceremonies after approval letter? Any other suggestions?
Thank you

CULLINAN wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 14, 2020 4:41 pm

Hello all. I have not actually followed this thread previously. Please can someone who has been following this thread, be kind enough to give me a summary of what is happening with ceremonies.
What is the average time for ceremonies after approval letter? Any other suggestions?
Thank you

Hello. What is your council and your time line if you may share. Thank you

CULLINAN wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 14, 2020 4:41 pm

Hello all. I have not actually followed this thread previously. Please can someone who has been following this thread, be kind enough to give me a summary of what is happening with ceremonies.
What is the average time for ceremonies after approval letter? Any other suggestions?
Thank you

My suggestion is to follow the posts of baybars1.
He calculated a quite correct model of posting and arriving invitation letters depending on your approval date. Some people confirmed that the model works.


baybars1 » Thu Oct 15, 2020 10:58 am

Now that we have reached mid-July approvals with ceremony invites, let's take stock of the timeline projections. Better-than expected performance with respect to letter-sending timeline for some recent approvals has prompted me to the previous scrap point estimate for the arrival date of the invite and replace it with an empirically established range. The idea is to give a greater weight to more recent information.

Approved on -- Letter date - - - Letter arrival, date range------------
22/06/2020 - - - 28/09/2020 - - - from 05/10/2020 - - - to 19/10/2020
29/06/2020 - - - 01/10/2020 - - - from 08/10/2020 - - - to 22/10/2020
01/07/2020 - - - 02/10/2020 - - - from 09/10/2020 - - - to 23/10/2020
09/07/2020 - - - 07/10/2020 - - - from 14/10/2020 - - - to 28/10/2020
15/07/2020 - - - 09/10/2020 - - - from 16/10/2020 - - - to 30/10/2020
22/07/2020 - - - 14/10/2020 - - - from 21/10/2020 - - - to 04/11/2020
29/07/2020 - - - 16/10/2020 - - - from 23/10/2020 - - - to 06/11/2020
01/08/2020 - - - 19/10/2020 - - - from 26/10/2020 - - - to 09/11/2020
08/08/2020 - - - 22/10/2020 - - - from 29/10/2020 - - - to 12/11/2020
15/08/2020 - - - 27/10/2020 - - - from 03/11/2020 - - - to 17/11/2020
19/08/2020 - - - 28/10/2020 - - - from 04/11/2020 - - - to 18/11/2020
29/08/2020 - - - 03/11/2020 - - - from 10/11/2020 - - - to 24/11/2020
01/09/2020 - - - 04/11/2020 - - - from 11/11/2020 - - - to 25/11/2020
08/09/2020 - - - 06/11/2020 - - - from 13/11/2020 - - - to 27/11/2020
15/09/2020 - - - 11/11/2020 - - - from 18/11/2020 - - - to 02/12/2020
22/09/2020 - - - 16/11/2020 - - - from 23/11/2020 - - - to 07/12/2020
29/09/2020 - - - 18/11/2020 - - - from 25/11/2020 - - - to 09/12/2020
01/10/2020 - - - 19/11/2020 - - - from 26/11/2020 - - - to 10/12/2020
08/10/2020 - - - 24/11/2020 - - - from 01/12/2020 - - - to 15/12/2020
15/10/2020 - - - 27/11/2020 - - - from 04/12/2020 - - - to 18/12/2020
22/10/2020 - - - 01/12/2020 - - - from 08/12/2020 - - - to 22/12/2020
29/10/2020 - - - 04/12/2020 - - - from 11/12/2020 - - - to 25/12/2020
01/11/2020 - - - 04/12/2020 - - - from 11/12/2020 - - - to 25/12/2020

CULLINAN wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 14, 2020 4:41 pm

Hello all. I have not actually followed this thread previously. Please can someone who has been following this thread, be kind enough to give me a summary of what is happening with ceremonies.
What is the average time for ceremonies after approval letter? Any other suggestions?
Thank you

Having made a dog's dinner of the entire process, the Home Office are now sending invitation letters and certificates for those approved up until September and in large numbers, hard at work to catch up, apparently. However, they are no longer printing and posting these docs in the strict date order of approval (if they every really did), so trying to predict when your letter will arrive is hard.

I had made a model for members of this forum, trying to predict exactly that and it has worked for some. Whilst you can certainly check it out, it is worth highlighting the fact that the actual deviations from central predictions have been quite large for some members.

Needless to mention, the Home Office's reputation for unresponsiveness to case-specific queries has reached epic proportions.

To top it all off, some local councils in are conducting citizenship ceremonies whereas the others aren't, citing coronavirus restrictions (even though they are not legally prohibited from conducting those ceremonies).

If you are still awaiting your invitation letter, good luck!

Thank you @szrsrts @BGV

Thank you @Baybars1

Thank you for making the model. My situation is a little different than others. I applied on 22nd June and got an approval letter in the POST today 14th Nov (dated 10th Nov). No email approval.

Background: On 6th Nov, I received a UKVI survey email which is usually sent after a decision is made. However, I had not received any decision. I enquired with HO on 10th Nov as I was concerned, and same date is on my approval letter received via post on 14th Nov. So maybe that triggered approval letter via post. (?)

I am assuming my decision MAY have been made on an earlier date but maybe not pushed via email (as reported by many others previously- technical/human error?)

Having said that, time will tell when I receive my citizenship ceremony invitation letter. My decision letter does not state the “12 weeks wait.” Has it changed now?

CULLINAN wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 14, 2020 4:41 pm

What is the average time for ceremonies after approval letter?

It appears to differ from council to council. If you post the council that you expect the ceremony to be held at, others who have applied within the same council area will be able to respond with the information.

The ceremony part of the process is controlled/run by the local councils and there is a wide range of service among various councils, with some holding only virtual, some holding only private in-person (with some charging extra for it and others not charging for it) and some holding group, socially distanced ceremonies (again, some allowing guests and some not allowing guests, etc).