Citizenship Ceremony cancelled due to Covid-19

chand92 wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 29, 2020 3:35 pm

CULLINAN wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 29, 2020 2:09 pm

One is your Home Office Reference Number i.e. the Case ID and you also receive an invitation letter from HO to attend the ceremony. The reference number on that is different to your Case ID and that is what is needed by the councils to book you in.

Thank you very much for your prompt reply.


Love for All, Hatred for None.

Anyone heard from Somerset County Council? There is no update on their website and I got a generic reply to my email saying that they get 200 emails a day and therefore they don't reply to them and any updates will be on their website... I haven't tried calling them yet. I've been approved on 12th of June so I'm at the back of the queue but if they haven't even restarted the ceremonies yet I might be waiting till next year...

chand92 wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 29, 2020 12:36 pm

chand92 wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 29, 2020 12:28 am

I received this email from my council today, they asking me to provide Home office Ref No but i didnt receive invitation letter from Home office, The Home Office Ref no for citizen is this my application ref No or is this any new Ref No?


Dear Mr ........
We will be holding our first ceremonies on Friday 7th August 2020. Please can you provide me with the home office reference number for the new citizen and I can arrange a time for the ceremony.

Many thanks,

I spoke to my council today and they confirmed that they have received my certificate but they are not booking me for citizenship ceremony due to Home Office Citizen Ref No not matching with Application Ref No. I still have not received the invitation letter from Home Office, The lady spoke to me from Council, She advised that when you receive invitation letter from Home Office, let us know then we will book a ceremony for you.

The reference number starts with 02 and it is the same as your Case ID. Check your approval letter it should state your Case ID at the top.

Hi, I had my e-ceremony yesterday and got the certificate today. My 6 month would have been up on 6th August.

Hello guys

I received my email with attachment today for application success. Date on letter is 31st July 2020.

Please what do I do next , do I call council to book ceremony ?

axeman85 wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 31, 2020 9:42 am

Hello guys

I received my email with attachment today for application success. Date on letter is 31st July 2020.

Please what do I do next , do I call council to book ceremony ?

I have already advised you in your other topic you started that you need to wait. The council likely doesn't have your paperwork yet.

CR001 wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 31, 2020 9:44 am

axeman85 wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 31, 2020 9:42 am

Hello guys

I received my email with attachment today for application success. Date on letter is 31st July 2020.

Please what do I do next , do I call council to book ceremony ?

I have already advised you in your other topic you started that you need to wait. The council likely doesn't have your paperwork yet.

Yes I inow you did. I had already posted this before I saw your comment in my other topic... thanks.

Hi All

So frustrating for everyone involved!
I was approved back in Feb and had received my invitation letter, booked my ceremony for 1st April (first one available at the time) and it was understandably cancelled.
My council is still not organising ceremonies and looking into how they could start them again from Mid-august.

My six months extended deadline is on 13th August, does anyone know what happens then?
I got in touch with them but only received a generic message with no mention of virtual ceremonies either.

The backlog must be getting huge, I can only imagine how many people got their application approved after me!

Ana

I called to council on behalf of my friend. They have no idea yet what they gonna do. Every time I rang them and receptionist gets the call who have no clue and no knowledge.Recently Boris said that virus is coming back again so I guess it will delay more. So the only option left is virtual cermony and councils have to adapt that way. Otherwise long wait

I've received a letter from my council confirming what they told me on the phone on Monday - it states they've received my naturalization certificate and in order to attend a ceremony, I would need the HO invitation letter. Let's see how long that takes- hopefully before the second wave kicks in !

AC12 congs mate. Which council are you from? Incase of second peak it will be shambles. Other countries already doing virtually. My friend is thinking to change his council. Any of you knows which councils across UK are doing ceremonies please? Also how and which online site, we can change our ceremony to another council. I guess my friend is in desperate due to his circumstances and he is happy to go for ceremony anywhere even to Timbuktu

Small wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 31, 2020 3:21 pm

AC12 congs mate. Which council are you from? Incase of second peak it will shambles. Other countries already doing virtually. I am thinking to change my council. Any of you knows which councils across UK are doing ceremonies please? Also how and which online site, we can change our ceremony to another council. I guess my friend is in desperate and he is happy to go for ceremony anywhere even to Timbuktu

The advice you were already given asking about changing the ceremony does not change if you ask again!!!

https://www.immigrationboards.com/briti ... l#p1917455

Update from Hillingdon council
Have phoned them couple of times, they’ve asked me for my HO reference number and postcode.
Now I am waiting a call back from back office possibly Monday or Tuesday...
No certificate received yet from HO.
Did anyone got their certificate after mid June approvals?

ana8715 wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 31, 2020 11:30 am

Hi All

So frustrating for everyone involved!
I was approved back in Feb and had received my invitation letter, booked my ceremony for 1st April (first one available at the time) and it was understandably cancelled.
My council is still not organising ceremonies and looking into how they could start them again from Mid-august.

My six months extended deadline is on 13th August, does anyone know what happens then?
I got in touch with them but only received a generic message with no mention of virtual ceremonies either.

The backlog must be getting huge, I can only imagine how many people got their application approved after me!

Ana

I would consider your situation as lucky, at least you could book a private ceremony for a fee, the people who got approved during the lockdown would likely need to wait for months before they could even get their invitation...

IrobotZ wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 31, 2020 7:34 pm

ana8715 wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 31, 2020 11:30 am

Hi All

So frustrating for everyone involved!
I was approved back in Feb and had received my invitation letter, booked my ceremony for 1st April (first one available at the time) and it was understandably cancelled.
My council is still not organising ceremonies and looking into how they could start them again from Mid-august.

My six months extended deadline is on 13th August, does anyone know what happens then?
I got in touch with them but only received a generic message with no mention of virtual ceremonies either.

The backlog must be getting huge, I can only imagine how many people got their application approved after me!

Ana

I would consider your situation as lucky, at least you could book a private ceremony for a fee, the people who got approved during the lockdown would likely need to wait for months before they could even get their invitation...

Had I known at the time I would have booked a private one, but too late now!
As things stand now my council isn't organising any time of ceremony at the moment, private or otherwise so I guess I'll just have to wait.
Apparently virtual/private ceremonies seem not to be available across all councils, and each of them seem to have different policies and do their own thing. Very frustrating as they already have the certificates of all of those who booked before the lockdown, and yet we're still no closer to clearing even that first step of the queue.

Ana

Hello Everyone,

I guess we are all in the same boat but emotionally different place i was still enjoying my approval and now the honeymoon is over ie one month since my approval kindly asking anyone approved end of june and got decision beginning of July had any luck with the council or even better HO in regards to council having your cert or HO sending your invitation?

BoyTed wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 31, 2020 8:59 pm

Hello Everyone,

I guess we are all in the same boat but emotionally different place i was still enjoying my approval and now the honeymoon is over ie one month since my approval kindly asking anyone approved end of june and got decision beginning of July had any luck with the council or even better HO in regards to council having your cert or HO sending your invitation?

Hi Boyted

I was informed that my application is approved on May ( a reply to an email i sent to HO) . my council doesn't have my certificate yet.

Did you get approval email in may or they just told you now that your application approved

Sohail222 wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 01, 2020 1:54 pm

Did you get approval email in may or they just told you now that your application approved

I did not get an approval email
On the 1st of May to NationalitySupportTeamFMT@homeoffice.gov.uk and they said a decision has been made but they did not say what is the decision
On the 20 of May I got a reply from NationalityFrontEndTechnicalSpecialists
Who advised it is approved

On the 14 th of July both emails asvised that my certificate has not been sent yet

AC12 wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 31, 2020 2:01 pm

I've received a letter from my council confirming what they told me on the phone on Monday - it states they've received my naturalization certificate and in order to attend a ceremony, I would need the HO invitation letter. Let's see how long that takes- hopefully before the second wave kicks in !

Congrats AC12!

Do you mind sharing your timeline with us? When did you receive your approval letter? Thanks

Sous49 wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 01, 2020 1:31 pm

BoyTed wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 31, 2020 8:59 pm

Hello Everyone,

I guess we are all in the same boat but emotionally different place i was still enjoying my approval and now the honeymoon is over ie one month since my approval kindly asking anyone approved end of june and got decision beginning of July had any luck with the council or even better HO in regards to council having your cert or HO sending your invitation?

Hi Boyted

I was informed that my application is approved on May ( a reply to an email i sent to HO) . my council doesn't have my certificate yet.

Hello Sous49,
HO don't make sense the least they can do is email you your approval.
Bro maybe you should email your MP see if he can push for you it's approaching one e year

ana8715 wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 31, 2020 8:14 pm

IrobotZ wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 31, 2020 7:34 pm

ana8715 wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 31, 2020 11:30 am

Hi All

So frustrating for everyone involved!
I was approved back in Feb and had received my invitation letter, booked my ceremony for 1st April (first one available at the time) and it was understandably cancelled.
My council is still not organising ceremonies and looking into how they could start them again from Mid-august.

My six months extended deadline is on 13th August, does anyone know what happens then?
I got in touch with them but only received a generic message with no mention of virtual ceremonies either.

The backlog must be getting huge, I can only imagine how many people got their application approved after me!

Ana

I would consider your situation as lucky, at least you could book a private ceremony for a fee, the people who got approved during the lockdown would likely need to wait for months before they could even get their invitation...

Had I known at the time I would have booked a private one, but too late now!
As things stand now my council isn't organising any time of ceremony at the moment, private or otherwise so I guess I'll just have to wait.
Apparently virtual/private ceremonies seem not to be available across all councils, and each of them seem to have different policies and do their own thing. Very frustrating as they already have the certificates of all of those who booked before the lockdown, and yet we're still no closer to clearing even that first step of the queue.

Ana

Wow,, I thought all councils are offering private ceremonies at the moment, I do agree that the policies for citizenship ceremony is drastically diff from one council to another, forward thinking councils are already start to org virtual ceremonies yet most others are practically doing nothing... I am not optimistic about the whole situation as its looks like the second ware could hit us soon and my council is slow as hell.

Doc2020 wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 01, 2020 5:46 pm

AC12 wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 31, 2020 2:01 pm

I've received a letter from my council confirming what they told me on the phone on Monday - it states they've received my naturalization certificate and in order to attend a ceremony, I would need the HO invitation letter. Let's see how long that takes- hopefully before the second wave kicks in !

Congrats AC12!

Do you mind sharing your timeline with us? When did you receive your approval letter? Thanks

Applied mid-Feb, biometrics end of Feb, received an email in April saying application was approved on 9th March and letter is on its way. That letter was never going to arrive!
Received the decision/approval letter via email (PDF) in May. The local authority received my certificate on 27/07. Need to wait for the invitation letter now.

BoyTed wrote: ↑

Sun Aug 02, 2020 3:10 am

Sous49 wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 01, 2020 1:31 pm

BoyTed wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 31, 2020 8:59 pm

Hello Everyone,

I guess we are all in the same boat but emotionally different place i was still enjoying my approval and now the honeymoon is over ie one month since my approval kindly asking anyone approved end of june and got decision beginning of July had any luck with the council or even better HO in regards to council having your cert or HO sending your invitation?

Hi Boyted

I was informed that my application is approved on May ( a reply to an email i sent to HO) . my council doesn't have my certificate yet.

Hello Sous49,
HO don't make sense the least they can do is email you your approval.
Bro maybe you should email your MP see if he can push for you it's approaching one e year

Hi Boyted
You are competently right.even when I chased HO lately (mid of July) i got one reply referring me th email when I was advised that it is approved and a second email from NationalityFrontEndTechnicalSpecialists ( this is the only email that I get proper replies) that they contacted the department that issues the invitation letters and they were waiting confimarion of when to start. Maybe I shall send another email to them ask about my invitation

It has been a very long and stressful wait ( still can not fully believe till i see it).but i don't really think the MP can do anything. I have contacted my MP on November and January and I didnt get any meaningful outcome

Based on HO the application has been approved since end of April 2020.
Thank you for the advice though .and good luck

Hi Guys,

Its been nearly 2 months for the naturalization approval email, Still i didn't received Home office Invitation letter, Is there any where we can contact or we just need to wait?
without the Invitation letter we can't book the cermenony in the council, Right?

I applied for my wife and 2 kids, Approval email received only in my wife name, do we receive approval email for kids as well?

Thanks in advance for your support.