Citizenship Ceremony cancelled due to Covid-19

Sohail222 · Post by **Sohail222** » Fri Aug 14, 2020 9:35 pm

Hi members

Just to let everyone know I have attended my ceremony today finally I’m British now I want to thank everyone on this board you guys are amazing timeline online application date 24 February 2020 biometric 27 February 2020 invitation letter received 5th August but dated 24 March 2020 I wish everyone receive there approval and invitation letter soon all the best guys

Wahidwadid · Post by **Wahidwadid** » Sat Aug 15, 2020 2:30 am

Sohail222 wrote: ↑
Fri Aug 14, 2020 9:35 pm
Hi members

Just to let everyone know I have attended my ceremony today finally I’m British now I want to thank everyone on this board you guys are amazing timeline online application date 24 February 2020 biometric 27 February 2020 invitation letter received 5th August but dated 24 March 2020 I wish everyone receive there approval and invitation letter soon all the best guys

CONGRATULATIONS

TheTraveller · Post by **TheTraveller** » Sat Aug 15, 2020 7:00 am

Sohail222 wrote: ↑
Fri Aug 14, 2020 9:35 pm
Hi members

Just to let everyone know I have attended my ceremony today finally I’m British now I want to thank everyone on this board you guys are amazing timeline online application date 24 February 2020 biometric 27 February 2020 invitation letter received 5th August but dated 24 March 2020 I wish everyone receive there approval and invitation letter soon all the best guys

Congratulations:) how did you receive your invitation? Is it letter or email … from Home office or council ?

I’m so happy for you

mr_iyamu · Post by **mr_iyamu** » Sat Aug 15, 2020 7:42 am

Sohail222 wrote: ↑
Fri Aug 14, 2020 9:35 pm
Hi members

Just to let everyone know I have attended my ceremony today finally I’m British now I want to thank everyone on this board you guys are amazing timeline online application date 24 February 2020 biometric 27 February 2020 invitation letter received 5th August but dated 24 March 2020 I wish everyone receive there approval and invitation letter soon all the best guys

Congratulations Sohail. Good luck in your endeavours and conquests. God speed

Sohail222 · Post by **Sohail222** » Sat Aug 15, 2020 8:02 am

Thanks guys it’s not email it’s letter received by my solicitor then I email my council about the ceremony first they told be on the phone they not doing ceremony at the moment after week I received call from the council the lady on the phone say when I want my ceremony I say anytime she say can you cam tomorrow I say yes then she say to me I need to come alone because of Covid no guest and then she say I be there for my ceremony only 10 mints that’s all when I went there it was quick ceremony I have to take oath I went there only 10 minutes that’s all then I was given my certificate there

Lopand · Post by **Lopand** » Sat Aug 15, 2020 9:46 am

Sohail222 wrote: ↑
Sat Aug 15, 2020 8:02 am
Thanks guys it’s not email it’s letter received by my solicitor then I email my council about the ceremony first they told be on the phone they not doing ceremony at the moment after week I received call from the council the lady on the phone say when I want my ceremony I say anytime she say can you cam tomorrow I say yes then she say to me I need to come alone because of Covid no guest and then she say I be there for my ceremony only 10 mints that’s all when I went there it was quick ceremony I have to take oath I went there only 10 minutes that’s all then I was given my certificate there

Congratulations! How much did they charge you for the private ceremony?

Sohail222 · Post by **Sohail222** » Sat Aug 15, 2020 9:51 am

Thank you They not charged me anything it’s free

bisho79 · Post by **bisho79** » Sun Aug 16, 2020 8:37 am

Sohail222 wrote: ↑
Fri Aug 14, 2020 9:35 pm
Hi members

Just to let everyone know I have attended my ceremony today finally I’m British now I want to thank everyone on this board you guys are amazing timeline online application date 24 February 2020 biometric 27 February 2020 invitation letter received 5th August but dated 24 March 2020 I wish everyone receive there approval and invitation letter soon all the best guys

Congratulation Sohail. Can I ask, which council were you at?

Frou01 · Post by **Frou01** » Sun Aug 16, 2020 11:12 am

Sohail222 wrote: ↑
Sat Aug 15, 2020 9:51 am
Thank you They not charged me anything it’s free

Not actually free. You’ve already paid for it with £80 of your £1350 application fee.

Sohail222 · Post by **Sohail222** » Sun Aug 16, 2020 11:38 am

I mean to say for private ceremony I don’t have to pay for that

Frou01 · Post by **Frou01** » Sun Aug 16, 2020 12:06 pm

Sohail222 wrote: ↑
Sun Aug 16, 2020 11:38 am
I mean to say for private ceremony I don’t have to pay for that

That’s indeed unusual.

Sohail222 · Post by **Sohail222** » Sun Aug 16, 2020 12:19 pm

I don’t know if it was private they just call me alone no group ceremony I was onley there for 10 minutes

PiDri · Post by **PiDri** » Sun Aug 16, 2020 3:22 pm

I was notified by email last 25th July that my application was successful and that they would let me know when the Ceremony would take place (but to be prepared for delays due to covid).

Can someone tell me if I will be notified by email or letter ? I am asking because I changed my address twice in the last 40 days and I am not sure which address they would put on a letter to me ... I did email Citizenship.Support@homeoffice.gov.uk communicating my current address but they haven't got back to me... that was three weeks ago.

Small · Post by **Small** » Sun Aug 16, 2020 5:59 pm

PiDri wrote: ↑
Sun Aug 16, 2020 3:22 pm
I was notified by email last 25th July that my application was successful and that they would let me know when the Ceremony would take place (but to be prepared for delays due to covid).

Can someone tell me if I will be notified by email or letter ? I am asking because I changed my address twice in the last 40 days and I am not sure which address they would put on a letter to me ... I did email Citizenship.Support@homeoffice.gov.uk communicating my current address but they haven't got back to me... that was three weeks ago.

Hi 25th July ..., it should not be a problem as HO started invitation letter in August. The people are getting invitations who got approved in March. So if you changed your address ( provided you sent at right email address) it should be fine.

Soo123 · Post by **Soo123** » Sun Aug 16, 2020 7:02 pm

Hi
I applied on 14 December 2019 took my biometrics on 16th December didn’t get any reply for 6 months I sent few emails to ukba but no reply however I got a reply on 4th August with a approval letter dated 30th January 2020 and it was stated that a separate letter will be sent when ceremonies will be resumed.
My local council (Hillingdon) have resumed ceremonies however they don’t have my certificate yet . I know someone who applied in may got his approval on 10 August and the letter of invitation.
I hope everyone gets this Certificates and Invitation letter asap

rozearo · Post by **rozearo** » Sun Aug 16, 2020 10:55 pm

Soo123 wrote: ↑
Sun Aug 16, 2020 7:02 pm
Hi
I applied on 14 December 2019 took my biometrics on 16th December didn’t get any reply for 6 months I sent few emails to ukba but no reply however I got a reply on 4th August with a approval letter dated 30th January 2020 and it was stated that a separate letter will be sent when ceremonies will be resumed.
My local council (Hillingdon) have resumed ceremonies however they don’t have my certificate yet . I know someone who applied in may got his approval on 10 August and the letter of invitation.
I hope everyone gets this Certificates and Invitation letter asap

Are you sure that your approval was in January?

You should attend ceremony within 6 months from the date on your invitation letter.

Have you tried to get an extension to allow you to attend ceremony?

Malikg123 · Post by **Malikg123** » Sun Aug 16, 2020 11:40 pm

You didn’t read properly Approval letter dated 30 jan 2020 still waiting for invitation letter 6 months starts from date of invitation letter not from decision date.
I’m surprised decision was made in jan why they hold it for so long lockdown started in end of March

rozearo wrote: ↑
Sun Aug 16, 2020 10:55 pm

Soo123 wrote: ↑
Sun Aug 16, 2020 7:02 pm
Hi
I applied on 14 December 2019 took my biometrics on 16th December didn’t get any reply for 6 months I sent few emails to ukba but no reply however I got a reply on 4th August with a approval letter dated 30th January 2020 and it was stated that a separate letter will be sent when ceremonies will be resumed.
My local council (Hillingdon) have resumed ceremonies however they don’t have my certificate yet . I know someone who applied in may got his approval on 10 August and the letter of invitation.
I hope everyone gets this Certificates and Invitation letter asap
Are you sure that your approval was in January?

You should attend ceremony within 6 months from the date on your invitation letter.

Have you tried to get an extension to allow you to attend ceremony?

Malikg123 · Post by **Malikg123** » Sun Aug 16, 2020 11:42 pm

Congrats brother.

Sohail222 wrote: ↑
Fri Aug 14, 2020 9:35 pm
Hi members

Just to let everyone know I have attended my ceremony today finally I’m British now I want to thank everyone on this board you guys are amazing timeline online application date 24 February 2020 biometric 27 February 2020 invitation letter received 5th August but dated 24 March 2020 I wish everyone receive there approval and invitation letter soon all the best guys

Malikg123 · Post by **Malikg123** » Sun Aug 16, 2020 11:45 pm

I think 6 months time start from invitation letter not from decision date. I think no one will get invitation letter in August May be from September we will start getting them.

Learning18 wrote: ↑
Fri Aug 14, 2020 11:57 am

Malikg123 wrote: ↑
Fri Aug 14, 2020 10:39 am
I agree with you no one knowS what Home office is upto. I made my complaint on 10th August is it worth involving my MP in this issue.

Cost Manager wrote: ↑
Fri Aug 14, 2020 10:19 am

Malikg123 wrote: ↑
Fri Aug 14, 2020 10:15 am
It’s a generic response I received the same email copy and paste. I don’t understand why they not printing certificate most of the Council saying the same thing they not receiving batch regularly. I suggest everyone to make complaint and put pressure on them.

I will never understand HO in this matter. Send all the invitations and leave it with the applicant and the Council. Why you are withholding it. I have done my complaint 1 week ago

I will be involving my MP again. The first time I involved her, they gave me my decision. I will will contact again for an update. As being given the same response which is " you can get your invitation letter whenever" is not good for me anymore. I even said I have a 6 months period and i am past half of that, he said I can't guarantee you that you will get it within that time .

Soo123 · Post by **Soo123** » Mon Aug 17, 2020 12:31 am

6 months starts from the invitation letters not from the approval letter I am surprised the approval letter dated 30 January 2020 and email was sent on 4th August if they would have sent me the Approval letter in January /February I would have the passport by now I called the ukba the waiting time for the invitation letter is 8 weeks once the email is sent and it could be longer for some boroughs.
Best thing is keep e-mailing ukba and ask your local borough to contact ukba aswell
Is there anyone who got his approval in may /June and received the ceremony letter recently ?

AC12 · Post by **AC12** » Mon Aug 17, 2020 6:55 am

Frou01 wrote: ↑
Sun Aug 16, 2020 12:06 pm

Sohail222 wrote: ↑
Sun Aug 16, 2020 11:38 am
I mean to say for private ceremony I don’t have to pay for that
That’s indeed unusual.

That's not unusual, I did a 5 min private ceremony, the council did not charge me anything. They could have easily charged in excess of £120 but they didn't. They are more eager to get through the backlog and not focusing on making money.

nnn15 · Post by **nnn15** » Mon Aug 17, 2020 9:39 am

It's been more than half a year since I submitted my application. I received an email in April confirming that the decision had been made, but so far I haven't received a ceremony invitation letter. So I called 03001232253 today to enquire whether the paperwork was dispatched. They told me they couldn't tell me whether the paperwork had been dispatched and normally it's within 12 weeks after the decision is made. I highlighted that in my case it's already been over 3 months since the decision was made, and I was advised to send an email to citizenship.support@homeoffice.gov.uk. Back in July I sent an email to citizenship.support@homeoffice.gov.uk asking them if the paperwork can be dispatched as my council confirmed they could book me in for a ceremony if they had my certificate. I never received any response from citizenship.support@homeoffice.gov.uk.
So following some of the forum's members recommendations I submitted a complaint at https://www.ukvi-complaints.homeoffice.gov.uk/reason highlighting that the only blocking point at the moment is the paperwork being dispatched as the council have resumed the ceremonies. I got an automatic response that it would take 20 days to process the complaint.

If someone on this forum happens to know how to move things forward, please share.

igheorghe · Post by **igheorghe** » Mon Aug 17, 2020 9:46 am

nnn15 wrote: ↑
Mon Aug 17, 2020 9:39 am
It's been more than half a year since I submitted my application. I received an email in April confirming that the decision had been made, but so far I haven't received a ceremony invitation letter. So I called 03001232253 today to enquire whether the paperwork was dispatched. They told me they couldn't tell me whether the paperwork had been dispatched and normally it's within 12 weeks after the decision is made. I highlighted that in my case it's already been over 3 months since the decision was made, and I was advised to send an email to citizenship.support@homeoffice.gov.uk. Back in July I sent an email to citizenship.support@homeoffice.gov.uk asking them if the paperwork can be dispatched as my council confirmed they could book me in for a ceremony if they had my certificate. I never received any response from citizenship.support@homeoffice.gov.uk.
So following some of the forum's members recommendations I submitted a complaint at https://www.ukvi-complaints.homeoffice.gov.uk/reason highlighting that the only blocking point at the moment is the paperwork being dispatched as the council have resumed the ceremonies. I got an automatic response that it would take 20 days to process the complaint.

If someone on this forum happens to know how to move things forward, please share.

I am in the same boat so following with interest.
Applied in Feb, got email on 5th May saying that a decision on my application has been made and no response from either of the email addresses listed (and more) so far nor a letter

Soo123 · Post by **Soo123** » Mon Aug 17, 2020 10:46 am

I spoke to my local council (Hillingdon) the have received a batch 2 weeks ago but they were all from March to April I don’t think UKBA is printing new certificates at the moment they will clear the backlog first

Cost Manager · Post by **Cost Manager** » Mon Aug 17, 2020 11:25 am

I lost my hope. It will take another 2,5-3 months probably. I will call myself lucky if i get my passport before xmas

Immigrationboards.com: Immigration, work visa and work permit discussion board

Citizenship Ceremony cancelled due to Covid-19

Re: Citizenship Ceremony cancelled due to Covid-19

Re: Citizenship Ceremony cancelled due to Covid-19

Re: Citizenship Ceremony cancelled due to Covid-19

Re: Citizenship Ceremony cancelled due to Covid-19

Re: Citizenship Ceremony cancelled due to Covid-19

Re: Citizenship Ceremony cancelled due to Covid-19

Re: Citizenship Ceremony cancelled due to Covid-19

Re: Citizenship Ceremony cancelled due to Covid-19

Re: Citizenship Ceremony cancelled due to Covid-19

Re: Citizenship Ceremony cancelled due to Covid-19

Re: Citizenship Ceremony cancelled due to Covid-19

Re: Citizenship Ceremony cancelled due to Covid-19