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Hi buddy. I got the same email except my approval was done on the 15th of Jan 2021. I have contacted every possible email and phone number I could find but all of them lead to the same answer. In the email that I got they said the same thing and what I find RIDICULOUS is that they have mentioned invitations for applications that were approved by 26 March and have now commenced processing those for applications approved on 27 March. Ceremony invites are sent by 2nd class post and can take up to 10 working days to be delivered. I don’t even understand how they can say this when I was approved on the 15th and still no invitations. Doesn’t make sense. I have given up and left it to come when it has to. Sick and tired of listening to ridiculous answers. I’m sorry for you my friend I feel your pain as I am also suffering but don’t worry coz no one cares!dejh911 wrote: ↑Sat May 08, 2021 2:44 pmMy application has been approved since 08/03/2021 yet no ceremony letter even though the application is over 6months which is the time line the promised for the whole application process, i mailed the nationality department and got an auto response which says --------
IMPORTANT - PLEASE READ THIS MESSAGE AS THE INFORMATION YOU
REQUIRE MAY BE GIVEN BELOW. YOU WILL NOT RECEIVE ANOTHER RESPONSE TO THIS ENQUIRY. IF THE ANSWER TO YOUR ENQUIRY IS NOT FOUND HERE, FURTHER CONTACT INFORMATION IS PROVIDED.
Message updated – 28/04/2021
Coronavirus
The Home Office will endeavour to process applications as quickly as possible but in the current circumstances, applications will take longer than normal to process, including applications for British Citizenship.
If you wish to seek progress of your application for British citizenship and it has been with the Home Office for less than 6 months, we will be unable to provide you with any further information and you will not receive a reply. If we require further information from you, the case-working team will contact you directly.
If you have applied and are concerned about missing a deadline to enrol biometrics, provide additional information or take a citizenship ceremony, please be assured that extra time will be allowed, and applications will be held open during this period. No adverse decisions will be made on applications because of delays caused by Coronavirus.
Citizenship ceremonies and ceremony invitations
Government restrictions in relation to COVID-19 have understandably restricted the ability of local authorities to provide citizenship ceremonies, as the safety of customers must be paramount
Whilst we will continue to work closely with our local authorities to expand the provision of citizenship ceremonies, including the expansion of availability of virtual ceremonies, due to the changing restrictions and guidance relating to COVID-19, it is not possible at this time to advise when a certificate will be despatched once an application has been approved.
However, we can confirm that we have just completed the processing of certificates and ceremony invitations for applications that were approved on and before the 19 April and have now commenced processing those for applications approved on 20 April. Ceremony invites are sent by 2nd class post and can take up to 10 working days to be delivered.
We will update our website with any new information, in particular, in relation to the time it might take to despatch certificates. Please be assured that once a customer receives their Citizenship Ceremony Invitation Letter, they will still have up to six months within which to complete ceremony.
Exceptional circumstances relating to an urgent need to complete a British citizenship ceremony will, of course, be taken into consideration, with the appropriate supporting evidence. If you need to undertake a ceremony urgently, please contact us at Citizenship.Support@homeoffice.gov.uk. However, we are unable to guarantee that we will able to expedite any ceremony request at this time.
We would ask that you do not contact us, or your local authority, regarding your ceremony at this time and be assured that we are working as quickly as possible to despatch your certificate. Your patience and understanding at this time are much appreciated.
My point s that they are giving confirmation to what is different to what we are all seeing, when new approvals are getting invitation letter and yet they left the older ones, i think its unfair as its affect me mentally.
Still no response. I have now contacted the local government ombudsman and I'm speaking to a solicitor next week to take legal action against the council.DreamerInDarkness wrote: ↑Tue May 04, 2021 1:45 pm14 days and no response, and now I have contacted the office of the chairman of the Cambridgeshire council, who told me they will look into this. If I don't hear back within 7 days it will be time to contact the local government ombudsman.DreamerInDarkness wrote: ↑Fri Apr 30, 2021 3:13 pmThanks. Good to know they're not awful to everyone!glosnat wrote: ↑Fri Apr 30, 2021 2:10 pmE-mailed them and got a reply in a few hours.DreamerInDarkness wrote: ↑Fri Apr 30, 2021 9:37 amDoes anyone know a way to get in contact with Cambridgeshire citizenship office? I've emailed 10 days ago, radio silence.
You should provide them all the details they asked for and might be better to send a new email as well.
I provided everything they asked for, in all my emails, complete radio silence apart from the auto response (so they can't claim they haven't been getting my emails).
If I don't hear anything for 14 days from the original email I will write to my MP, the chairman of the Cambridgeshire council and the local government ombudsman.
You have already posted what the email you received today says, so why are you trying to book instead of waiting 1 working day as advised??alwaysintransit wrote: ↑Fri May 14, 2021 10:12 amHi All - I received the ceremony invitation letter from home office via email. However, when the council website does not yet recognize the reference number and or name. Has anyone faced similar issues in the past? I am trying this with Tower Hamlets
alwaysintransit wrote: ↑Fri May 14, 2021 10:10 amalwaysintransit wrote: ↑Wed May 05, 2021 4:14 pmEligibility criteria: 5 years Tier 2 General + 1 ILR
Language/LIUK Criteria: Trinity GESE 5 + Life in the UK
Nationality: Indian
Method of application: Online
Date of biometrics enrolled: 16/02/2021
Date on approval letter: 15/04/2021
Date of receipt of approval: 15/04/2021 (via email)
Date of receipt of ceremony letter: 14/05/2021 (via email)
Council applied for: Tower Hamlets
Seems like this whole process in picking up speed with more recent submissions also getting approvals and feels like there is a bit of LIFO system (e.g. recent applicants getting ceremony letter) although difficult to figure out how the systems prioritizes the applications.
Good luck to all of us who are still waiting and congratulations to those who are done with the process!
Received the invitation letter via email this morning. Currently unable to book the ceremony, the letter does say wait 1 working day to try and book.
"Please contact the Citizenship Ceremonies Officer Tower Hamlets to book your ceremony. You must attend your ceremony within three months of the date of this approval email, so please contact the local authority early to ensure you can book a convenient time. Please wait one working days after receiving this approval before you try to book, as it may take a few days for documentation to arrive at the local authority."
CR001 wrote: ↑Fri May 14, 2021 10:42 amYou have already posted what the email you received today says, so why are you trying to book instead of waiting 1 working day as advised??alwaysintransit wrote: ↑Fri May 14, 2021 10:12 amHi All - I received the ceremony invitation letter from home office via email. However, when the council website does not yet recognize the reference number and or name. Has anyone faced similar issues in the past? I am trying this with Tower Hamlets
i realised it after i posted but didnt know how to delete the post. thanksalwaysintransit wrote: ↑Fri May 14, 2021 10:10 amalwaysintransit wrote: ↑Wed May 05, 2021 4:14 pmEligibility criteria: 5 years Tier 2 General + 1 ILR
Language/LIUK Criteria: Trinity GESE 5 + Life in the UK
Nationality: Indian
Method of application: Online
Date of biometrics enrolled: 16/02/2021
Date on approval letter: 15/04/2021
Date of receipt of approval: 15/04/2021 (via email)
Date of receipt of ceremony letter: 14/05/2021 (via email)
Council applied for: Tower Hamlets
Seems like this whole process in picking up speed with more recent submissions also getting approvals and feels like there is a bit of LIFO system (e.g. recent applicants getting ceremony letter) although difficult to figure out how the systems prioritizes the applications.
Good luck to all of us who are still waiting and congratulations to those who are done with the process!
Received the invitation letter via email this morning. Currently unable to book the ceremony, the letter does say wait 1 working day to try and book.
"Please contact the Citizenship Ceremonies Officer Tower Hamlets to book your ceremony. You must attend your ceremony within three months of the date of this approval email, so please contact the local authority early to ensure you can book a convenient time. Please wait one working days after receiving this approval before you try to book, as it may take a few days for documentation to arrive at the local authority."
intrusive wrote: ↑Sat May 01, 2021 1:47 amNationality: Pakistan
Date of application: 12 Feb 2021
Date Biometrics enrolled: 16 March 2021
Date on Approval via email: 24 march 2021
Date of receipt of ceremony letter: 26 April 2021
Date on the letter printed: 19 April 2021
Date of letter from Birmingham council: 29 April
Date of ceremony: 06 July 2021
I Had opted for Birmingham council instead of my council because that council used to offer virtual ceremonies. That is very late its more than two months from the letter of invitation date. i cannot believe my eyes when i opened and saw the letter from Birmingham council.
Does any one have any idea can i change it to my local council in Worcester please. or any one knows how to expedite it with birmingham council. Many thanks.
Good luck to everyone waiting
Booked Citizenship Ceremony on 30/06/2021 as this was only date available at that time in March 2021. But in the months of April 2021, Newham Council brought the date back nearly 1.5 months early automatically and notified me in email and new date was 16/05/2021.Mak9878 wrote: ↑Wed Mar 31, 2021 7:05 pmReceived Ceremony Invitation Letter from HO: 31/03/2021, date on letter is 17/03/2021.Mak9878 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 08, 2021 7:29 pmHi Everyone,
Hope you all are fine.
My timeline is mentioned below but I am still waiting for invitation letter from Home Office and Newham council since approval on 07/01/2021.
Eligibility criteria: 5 year (Tier 1 Entrepreneur) + 1 year ILR
Language/LIUK Criteria: UK Degree + LIUK
Nationality: Non-EU Pakistan
Method of application: online
Date of application: 19/10/2020
Date of acknowledgement: 20/10/2020
Date of debit of fees: 19/10/2020
Date Biometrics enrolled: 03/11/2020
Date of receipt of approval: 07/01/2021 by email
Date on Approval letter: 07/01/2021 by email pdf file attached.
Date of receipt of ceremony invitation letter from Newham Council: waiting
Date of receipt of ceremony invitation letter from Home Office: waiting
Date of Ceremony: waiting
Have anyone had approval from January 2021 from Newham council?
Has anyone received invitation letter either from Home Office or Newham Council since January approval only? And shall I chase up home office for invitation letter and on which email address?
Is Newham inviting for ceremonies virtually or in person?
Please guide
Instructed on letter to book within 21 days of receipt of letter with your council (Newham).
I logged into Newham website, it is asking Group and and Private Ceremony option. Private ceremony is costing £105.
Is Private ceremony free in coronavirus pandemic?
Group ceremoney dates are coming after three month.
Plz guide
Same happened to me. I just called the council and they booked my ceremony for me as they have received my certificate. I have done the ceremony on 6th of May and until now no ceremony letter. So call your council and find out about your certificate they might agree to do your ceremony with your approval letter.peterhon wrote: ↑Fri May 28, 2021 10:25 amHello everyone,
Long story short, I've applied in Sep, was approved in Nov but then my ceremony letter never arrived. Around March I started calling whatever numbers I could find to get more info and realised it was actually sent early Feb but it never arrived anywhere, so it got lost.
Since late March/early April I've been emailing the citizenship support email address, complaints address and called the 0300 790 6268 contact centre number to have this escalated many times but I literally got no responses in months.
Could anyone suggest if there is anything else I should do? I am wasting so much time here as I could've and should've had this paper months ago, unfortunately.
I don't know who else to reach out to and no one seems to be doing anything. Why is the government acting so slowly on this?
I also scheduled my appointment over 2 months in advance (it's in 2 weeks) but I cannot attend without that paper. Why don't they send it over email in the first place and avoid months of extra work and delays...
Would appreciate some advice
Hi - did you change your council for ceremony and if so how? Grateful if you could please share more detail. Many thanks!intrusive wrote: ↑Wed May 19, 2021 7:51 pmHi there guys,
By the Grace of Almighty Allah I have attended my virtual ceremony and got my citizenship certificate. And today I have applied for my passport.intrusive wrote: ↑Sat May 01, 2021 1:47 amNationality: Pakistan
Date of application: 12 Feb 2021
Date Biometrics enrolled: 16 March 2021
Date on Approval via email: 24 march 2021
Date of receipt of ceremony letter: 26 April 2021
Date on the letter printed: 19 April 2021
Date of letter from Birmingham council: 29 April
Date of ceremony: 06 July 2021
I Had opted for Birmingham council instead of my council because that council used to offer virtual ceremonies. That is very late its more than two months from the letter of invitation date. i cannot believe my eyes when i opened and saw the letter from Birmingham council.
Does any one have any idea can i change it to my local council in Worcester please. or any one knows how to expedite it with birmingham council. Many thanks.
Good luck to everyone waiting
Still no response. We will send the council a letter of intent to take legal action against them for breach of statutory duty.DreamerInDarkness wrote: ↑Wed May 12, 2021 9:56 pmStill no response. I have now contacted the local government ombudsman and I'm speaking to a solicitor next week to take legal action against the council.DreamerInDarkness wrote: ↑Tue May 04, 2021 1:45 pm14 days and no response, and now I have contacted the office of the chairman of the Cambridgeshire council, who told me they will look into this. If I don't hear back within 7 days it will be time to contact the local government ombudsman.DreamerInDarkness wrote: ↑Fri Apr 30, 2021 3:13 pmThanks. Good to know they're not awful to everyone!glosnat wrote: ↑Fri Apr 30, 2021 2:10 pmE-mailed them and got a reply in a few hours.DreamerInDarkness wrote: ↑Fri Apr 30, 2021 9:37 amDoes anyone know a way to get in contact with Cambridgeshire citizenship office? I've emailed 10 days ago, radio silence.
You should provide them all the details they asked for and might be better to send a new email as well.
I provided everything they asked for, in all my emails, complete radio silence apart from the auto response (so they can't claim they haven't been getting my emails).
If I don't hear anything for 14 days from the original email I will write to my MP, the chairman of the Cambridgeshire council and the local government ombudsman.
Well done!DreamerInDarkness wrote: ↑Sat Jun 05, 2021 9:26 amStill no response. We will send the council a letter of intent to take legal action against them for breach of statutory duty.DreamerInDarkness wrote: ↑Wed May 12, 2021 9:56 pmStill no response. I have now contacted the local government ombudsman and I'm speaking to a solicitor next week to take legal action against the council.DreamerInDarkness wrote: ↑Tue May 04, 2021 1:45 pm14 days and no response, and now I have contacted the office of the chairman of the Cambridgeshire council, who told me they will look into this. If I don't hear back within 7 days it will be time to contact the local government ombudsman.DreamerInDarkness wrote: ↑Fri Apr 30, 2021 3:13 pmThanks. Good to know they're not awful to everyone!glosnat wrote: ↑Fri Apr 30, 2021 2:10 pmE-mailed them and got a reply in a few hours.DreamerInDarkness wrote: ↑Fri Apr 30, 2021 9:37 amDoes anyone know a way to get in contact with Cambridgeshire citizenship office? I've emailed 10 days ago, radio silence.
You should provide them all the details they asked for and might be better to send a new email as well.
I provided everything they asked for, in all my emails, complete radio silence apart from the auto response (so they can't claim they haven't been getting my emails).
If I don't hear anything for 14 days from the original email I will write to my MP, the chairman of the Cambridgeshire council and the local government ombudsman.
There is no booking phone number other than the one that's listed on your invitation letter, which goes to an automated message telling you to email and hangs up. From what I understand, the process is that they will check the list of people who contacted them every 2 weeks and respond to emails if they've received the certificates, they don't recheck every day. These emails are usually (though not always) sent on Tuesdays.samapply wrote: ↑Mon Jun 14, 2021 8:24 pmHi All
I received my invitation letter from home office on 12/06/2021 for ceremony , seems like it I have to book ceremony within 21days received letter . date on letter is 03/06/2021 and I don't have enough time.
My issue is I am living in Cambridge and rubbish Cambridge council only responded by email , I tried to call them multiple times but no luck .
What should I do ? will they contact me ?
is anyone know their booking phone number ?
thanks
Thank you for your replayDreamerInDarkness wrote: ↑Thu Jun 17, 2021 7:09 pmThere is no booking phone number other than the one that's listed on your invitation letter, which goes to an automated message telling you to email and hangs up. From what I understand, the process is that they will check the list of people who contacted them every 2 weeks and respond to emails if they've received the certificates, they don't recheck every day. These emails are usually (though not always) sent on Tuesdays.samapply wrote: ↑Mon Jun 14, 2021 8:24 pmHi All
I received my invitation letter from home office on 12/06/2021 for ceremony , seems like it I have to book ceremony within 21days received letter . date on letter is 03/06/2021 and I don't have enough time.
My issue is I am living in Cambridge and rubbish Cambridge council only responded by email , I tried to call them multiple times but no luck .
What should I do ? will they contact me ?
is anyone know their booking phone number ?
thanks
You are only required to contact the council within 21 days to book the ceremony, not actually book the ceremony. So as long as you've sent the first email within 21 days of the letter, you've got that bit covered.
Also, it's the Cambridgeshire country council that's responsible for the ceremonies, not the Cambridge city council. In case you want to contact someone (like the chairman of the council) to escalate, or get the MP involved, make sure you escalate at the county council and not the city council.
You cannot access the Liverpool office. They won't even let you in. They don't deal with applicants in personsamapply wrote: ↑Tue Jun 22, 2021 3:37 pmThank you for your replayDreamerInDarkness wrote: ↑Thu Jun 17, 2021 7:09 pmThere is no booking phone number other than the one that's listed on your invitation letter, which goes to an automated message telling you to email and hangs up. From what I understand, the process is that they will check the list of people who contacted them every 2 weeks and respond to emails if they've received the certificates, they don't recheck every day. These emails are usually (though not always) sent on Tuesdays.samapply wrote: ↑Mon Jun 14, 2021 8:24 pmHi All
I received my invitation letter from home office on 12/06/2021 for ceremony , seems like it I have to book ceremony within 21days received letter . date on letter is 03/06/2021 and I don't have enough time.
My issue is I am living in Cambridge and rubbish Cambridge council only responded by email , I tried to call them multiple times but no luck .
What should I do ? will they contact me ?
is anyone know their booking phone number ?
thanks
You are only required to contact the council within 21 days to book the ceremony, not actually book the ceremony. So as long as you've sent the first email within 21 days of the letter, you've got that bit covered.
Also, it's the Cambridgeshire country council that's responsible for the ceremonies, not the Cambridge city council. In case you want to contact someone (like the chairman of the council) to escalate, or get the MP involved, make sure you escalate at the county council and not the city council.
I am thinking to go to Home office Liverpool in person and asked them about letter , I am sure they will say they can't help and you need to wait . but I am hoping they can re-send letter if I asked.
Stress level is very high at the moment.
Is home office "Liverpool" open for visitors ? if yes when and what time I should be there ?
Thanks
As suggested above, you can try escalating the matter to the chairman of the council as well as to the MP for your constituency. You may also inform the Home Office. Their email address is: citizenship.Support@homeoffice.gov.uksamapply wrote: ↑Tue Jun 22, 2021 3:37 pmThank you for your replayDreamerInDarkness wrote: ↑Thu Jun 17, 2021 7:09 pmThere is no booking phone number other than the one that's listed on your invitation letter, which goes to an automated message telling you to email and hangs up. From what I understand, the process is that they will check the list of people who contacted them every 2 weeks and respond to emails if they've received the certificates, they don't recheck every day. These emails are usually (though not always) sent on Tuesdays.samapply wrote: ↑Mon Jun 14, 2021 8:24 pmHi All
I received my invitation letter from home office on 12/06/2021 for ceremony , seems like it I have to book ceremony within 21days received letter . date on letter is 03/06/2021 and I don't have enough time.
My issue is I am living in Cambridge and rubbish Cambridge council only responded by email , I tried to call them multiple times but no luck .
What should I do ? will they contact me ?
is anyone know their booking phone number ?
thanks
You are only required to contact the council within 21 days to book the ceremony, not actually book the ceremony. So as long as you've sent the first email within 21 days of the letter, you've got that bit covered.
Also, it's the Cambridgeshire country council that's responsible for the ceremonies, not the Cambridge city council. In case you want to contact someone (like the chairman of the council) to escalate, or get the MP involved, make sure you escalate at the county council and not the city council.
I am thinking to go to Home office Liverpool in person and asked them about letter , I am sure they will say they can't help and you need to wait . but I am hoping they can re-send letter if I asked.
Stress level is very high at the moment.
Is home office "Liverpool" open for visitors ? if yes when and what time I should be there ?
Thanks
You need to chill out. You need to attend the ceremony within 6 months, and have already contacted the council to book your ceremony. There is is a 0% chance that they will turn you back because of the 21 day time frame lapsing due to delays on their side. There is absolutely no need to contact the home office at this point. Just wait for your council to offer you a ceremony appointment.samapply wrote: ↑Tue Jun 22, 2021 3:37 pmThank you for your replayDreamerInDarkness wrote: ↑Thu Jun 17, 2021 7:09 pmsamapply wrote: ↑Mon Jun 14, 2021 8:24 pmHi All
I received my invitation letter from home office on 12/06/2021 for ceremony , seems like it I have to book ceremony within 21days received letter . date on letter is 03/06/2021 and I don't have enough time.
My issue is I am living in Cambridge and rubbish Cambridge council only responded by email , I tried to call them multiple times but no luck .
What should I do ? will they contact me ?
is anyone know their booking phone number ?
thanks
There is no booking phone number other than the one that's listed on your invitation letter, which goes to an automated message telling you to email and hangs up. From what I understand, the process is that they will check the list of people who contacted them every 2 weeks and respond to emails if they've received the certificates, they don't recheck every day. These emails are usually (though not always) sent on Tuesdays.
You are only required to contact the council within 21 days to book the ceremony, not actually book the ceremony. So as long as you've sent the first email within 21 days of the letter, you've got that bit covered.
Also, it's the Cambridgeshire country council that's responsible for the ceremonies, not the Cambridge city council. In case you want to contact someone (like the chairman of the council) to escalate, or get the MP involved, make sure you escalate at the county council and not the city council.
I am thinking to go to Home office Liverpool in person and asked them about letter , I am sure they will say they can't help and you need to wait . but I am hoping they can re-send letter if I asked.
Stress level is very high at the moment.
Is home office "Liverpool" open for visitors ? if yes when and what time I should be there ?
Thanks
