Citizenship Ceremony cancelled due to Covid-19

kgnot · Post by **kgnot** » Sat Feb 20, 2021 11:24 am

Hi I live in Mitcham but recently moved to schtoland for more work.
My question after reading the comments is should I apply to the local council prematurely to book a ceremony? If so which one is for Mitcham? - is it Merton?
Also in the letter the people have written :
"Please do not contact your local authority until you receive a Citizenship Ceremony Invitation Letter confirming that your certificate has been dispatched to the authority and that you should approach them to book a ceremony"
I think I must comply..

Bre44 · Post by **Bre44** » Sat Feb 20, 2021 1:09 pm

Hi Everyone,
I just received my invitation letter today - approval date: 01/12. Invitation letter dated 11/02

Juzinha · Post by **Juzinha** » Sat Feb 20, 2021 1:36 pm

Hi Everyone,
I have just received my invitation letter, timeline below:
Biometrics in person (Croydon): 22/10/20
Approval received: 01/12/20
Date on invitation letter: 15/02/21
Letter received: 20/02/21
Council: Bromley - I've requested a virtual ceremony through their website and received a confirmation saying they aim to respond within 5 working days. That means I'm still playing the waiting game but glad I've received the letter.
Good luck to you all!

Contd · Post by **Contd** » Sat Feb 20, 2021 3:28 pm

Eligibility criteria: 2 DLR + 1 year ILR
Language/LIUK Criteria: LIUK and Trinity B1
Nationality: Ghana
Method of application: ONLINE
Date of application :30/09/2020
Payment method: Visa Debit
Date of acknowledgement: 30/09/2020
Date of debit of fees: 30/09/2020
Date of biometric letter received/issued: N/A
Date Biometrics enrolled: 14/10/2020
Date on Approval letter: 1/12/2020
Date of receipt of approval: 1/12/2020
Date of receipt of ceremony letter: 19/02/2021
Date of Ceremony:pending.... Send email to My council Northamptonshire and they asked me to call back on Monday

nicelady190 · Post by **nicelady190** » Sat Feb 20, 2021 4:15 pm

nicelady190 wrote: ↑
Sat Feb 20, 2021 10:05 am

Happystudent1000 wrote: ↑
Wed Feb 17, 2021 10:17 pm

Flamelily2020 wrote: ↑
Wed Feb 17, 2021 9:18 pm

nadeem75 wrote: ↑
Wed Feb 17, 2021 8:59 pm

My approval 30th November. Still waiting.
Hi everyone,
Our Approval on 26th of Nov. Still waiting...
2 Adults 3 children.
Lewisham council.

Mine is Lewisham council as well . Approval date for me is 8th of December which is not that far off from your approval. Pls keep me updated if you get an invitation letter from lewisham council and I will do the same.
My invitation letter just came through the post. Approval date on the 27th of Nov 2020. Will contact Greenwich council on Monday morning for booking. Good luck guys

Hamza167 · Post by **Hamza167** » Sat Feb 20, 2021 4:30 pm

Hi Everyone

My approval is 30/11/2020

Still not received The invitation letter from Home Office/ Council.

My Council is Essex.

Is there anyone in similar situation.

Thanks for the cooperation.

nadeem75 · Post by **nadeem75** » Sat Feb 20, 2021 8:39 pm

Update.
Approval date 30th nov 2020
Today I received email from Lambeth council that they have received my citizenship certificate and allow me to book online ceremony.

But I haven’t receive the invitation letter yet.
I dropped the email to council for book a ceremony without invitation letter. Waiting for reply.
Any advice pls.

Teedee · Post by **Teedee** » Sat Feb 20, 2021 11:20 pm

Bre44 wrote: ↑
Sat Feb 20, 2021 1:09 pm
Hi Everyone,
I just received my invitation letter today - approval date: 01/12. Invitation letter dated 11/02

Yayyy! Looks like they’re finally working on December approvals! Congratulations

Mine is 3rd December so I hope it comes next week

Bre44 · Post by **Bre44** » Sun Feb 21, 2021 12:19 pm

Yes, I am sure you will receive it in the next few days.

kahy · Post by **kahy** » Sun Feb 21, 2021 2:03 pm

Contd wrote: ↑
Sat Feb 20, 2021 3:28 pm
Eligibility criteria: 2 DLR + 1 year ILR
Language/LIUK Criteria: LIUK and Trinity B1
Nationality: Ghana
Method of application: ONLINE
Date of application :30/09/2020
Payment method: Visa Debit
Date of acknowledgement: 30/09/2020
Date of debit of fees: 30/09/2020
Date of biometric letter received/issued: N/A
Date Biometrics enrolled: 14/10/2020
Date on Approval letter: 1/12/2020
Date of receipt of approval: 1/12/2020
Date of receipt of ceremony letter: 19/02/2021
Date of Ceremony:pending.... Send email to My council Northamptonshire and they asked me to call back on Monday

Hi Contd, thanks for sharing this info... I am also from Northamptonshire and still waiting the council to arrange the ceremony date. However, they told me they are unable to offer a group ceremony due to COVID. They are only performing virtual ceremonies at the moment, so the virtual ceremony will take a number of weeks, to be completed, as there is a high demand for them. Please also update me if there any changes on Monday when you call them back. thanks

Bre44 · Post by **Bre44** » Sun Feb 21, 2021 2:48 pm

Does anyone know if Brent Council is holding ceremonies at the moment?

kenadams · Post by **kenadams** » Mon Feb 22, 2021 9:28 am

Hi anyone - Has anyone got any updates from the Newham council? The last time I spoke to them was about 2-3 weeks ago with no sign of starting the ceremonies.

PhantomPermit · Post by **PhantomPermit** » Mon Feb 22, 2021 11:46 am

FINALLY

I received my invitation through 3rd class post

Teedee · Post by **Teedee** » Mon Feb 22, 2021 11:49 am

PhantomPermit wrote: ↑
Mon Feb 22, 2021 11:46 am
FINALLY

I received my invitation through 3rd class post

Congrats! When did you receive your approval?

PhantomPermit · Post by **PhantomPermit** » Mon Feb 22, 2021 12:12 pm

Teedee wrote: ↑
Mon Feb 22, 2021 11:49 am

PhantomPermit wrote: ↑
Mon Feb 22, 2021 11:46 am
FINALLY

I received my invitation through 3rd class post
Congrats! When did you receive your approval?

15th October 2020 approval
12 February date on ceremony invitation letter

hzs · Post by **hzs** » Mon Feb 22, 2021 7:51 pm

Hi Everyone,
I have just received my invitation letter, timeline below:
Biometrics in person (Cardiff): 06/10/20
Approval received: 02/12/20
Date on invitation letter: 15/02/21
Letter received: 19/02/21
Council: Bristol - first available group ceremony offered was for 10/05/21. I requested a private ceremony and they have booked me for 05/03/2021.

madansowmiya21 · Post by **madansowmiya21** » Mon Feb 22, 2021 8:22 pm

Hi Everyone,

Finally I received my invitation letter today, approval date 26 Nov 2020, and is there anyone recently attended virtual ceremony from Birmingham council.

madansowmiya21 · Post by **madansowmiya21** » Mon Feb 22, 2021 8:24 pm

Hi Everyone,
I have just received my invitation letter, timeline below:
Approval received: 26/11/20
Date on invitation letter: 09/02/21
Letter received: 22/02/21
Birmingham council, has anyone attended recently, please let me know. I have emailed council, waiting for response

Contd · Post by **Contd** » Mon Feb 22, 2021 10:41 pm

kahy wrote: ↑
Sun Feb 21, 2021 2:03 pm

Contd wrote: ↑
Sat Feb 20, 2021 3:28 pm
Eligibility criteria: 2 DLR + 1 year ILR
Language/LIUK Criteria: LIUK and Trinity B1
Nationality: Ghana
Method of application: ONLINE
Date of application :30/09/2020
Payment method: Visa Debit
Date of acknowledgement: 30/09/2020
Date of debit of fees: 30/09/2020
Date of biometric letter received/issued: N/A
Date Biometrics enrolled: 14/10/2020
Date on Approval letter: 1/12/2020
Date of receipt of approval: 1/12/2020
Date of receipt of ceremony letter: 19/02/2021
Date of Ceremony:pending.... Send email to My council Northamptonshire and they asked me to call back on Monday
Hi Contd, thanks for sharing this info... I am also from Northamptonshire and still waiting the council to arrange the ceremony date. However, they told me they are unable to offer a group ceremony due to COVID. They are only performing virtual ceremonies at the moment, so the virtual ceremony will take a number of weeks, to be completed, as there is a high demand for them. Please also update me if there any changes on Monday when you call them back. thanks

I called them today and they said I will receive a call in the next few days for the appointment. Fingers crossed

Juzinha · Post by **Juzinha** » Tue Feb 23, 2021 11:11 am

I have received my invitation letter but still awaiting to hear from Bromley council. Anyone in the same situation? I would also appreciate feedback from people that have had their ceremony with them. Thanks!

yezi0432 · Post by **yezi0432** » Tue Feb 23, 2021 11:23 am

Timeline:
Application fee paid: March 2020
Biometric enrolled: June 2020
Approval received: 03/11/2020
Invitation letter: still pending

After emailing UKVI multiple times and calling the support line, I finally got this below from UKVI.

"Upon investigation I can confirm that your citizenship ceremony documents have not yet been printed or despatched to the local authority due to a system error. Your citizenship paperwork will be generated in coming weeks when current restrictions due to Coronavirus are eased. "

Not sure how many people are stuck here like me due to "system error". Looks like will be still a few weeks longer of waiting. Good luck!

SamcoSamco · Post by **SamcoSamco** » Tue Feb 23, 2021 2:38 pm

I have been waiting since July and nothing yet. I have seen others mentioning this system error before and wonder if UKVI is checking how many are affected by it.

PhantomPermit · Post by **PhantomPermit** » Tue Feb 23, 2021 4:22 pm

my council is not doing virtual ceremonies saying that it requires more staff. Is that true? or hors***?

nnn15 · Post by **nnn15** » Tue Feb 23, 2021 9:57 pm

SamcoSamco wrote: ↑
Tue Feb 23, 2021 2:38 pm
I have been waiting since July and nothing yet. I have seen others mentioning this system error before and wonder if UKVI is checking how many are affected by it.

I'm not sure the HO will be fixing it proactively. They've already confirmed that they printed and sent the paperwork for all the applications approved through August long ago.
In my case the HO also told my MP that my paperwork was sent (in reality it wasn't printed and sent). After I told my MP that I hadn't received anything and my council hadn't received the certificate either, the HO re-started the checks and eventually printed the paperwork. I reached out to my MP, sent the HO a paper letter and also submitted a complaint at the HO website - you might consider these options to draw their attention to your case.

successorxx · Post by **successorxx** » Tue Feb 23, 2021 10:00 pm

SamcoSamco wrote: ↑
Tue Feb 23, 2021 2:38 pm
I have been waiting since July and nothing yet. I have seen others mentioning this system error before and wonder if UKVI is checking how many are affected by it.

Hey Samco Can't beleive you're still waiting...I dont know whether to laugh or cry right now as I am totally exhausted...I have been waiting since August..Here is the last email I got from them

Thank you for your enquiry about your citizenship ceremony.

Apologies for the delay, but as explained in our previous email there was an IT issue that incurred a delay in your invitation being printed that has now been resolved and your application has been forwarded on to our Ceremonies and Citizenship Support department.

Unfortunately, due to the strict social distancing measures currently in place and to ensure the safety of our staff, regrettably, resources in our Ceremonies and Citizenship Support department are extremely limited, at present.

Please be assured that our ceremonies and citizenship support team will issue your ceremony invite letter by post within the next 8 – 12 weeks. You are required to attend a citizenship ceremony within 6 months of the date printed on your ceremony invitation. Upon receipt of the invitation letter, you can make the necessary arrangements with your local authority.

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