Citizenship Ceremony cancelled due to Covid-19

minikube · Post by **minikube** » Tue Jun 16, 2020 3:34 pm

Found some potentially great news

According to Merton London Borough Council, they are planning to offer a modified citizenship ceremony:

The Ceremony will be held outside

You will not be able to bring any guests

There is no need to book the ceremony, just turn up on the day

We will only offer one ceremony date a month

The next designated day is:

1 July 2020

Details on the official website:
https://www.merton.gov.uk/births-marria ... itizenship

Hopefully other councils/boroughs will offer similar ceremonies!

user5877 · Post by **user5877** » Tue Jun 16, 2020 3:36 pm

That's cool and all but I think we need to receive official invitation letter from Home Office before we can turn up for the ceremony, isn't that correct?

Irakli · Post by **Irakli** » Tue Jun 16, 2020 4:29 pm

I believe you are right - without invitation letter I think you cannot attend ceremony.

Sous49 · Post by **Sous49** » Tue Jun 16, 2020 5:05 pm

Irakli wrote: ↑
Tue Jun 16, 2020 4:29 pm
I believe you are right - without invitation letter I think you cannot attend ceremony.

It depends on the council if they have your certificate sime of them will do without the confirmation letter.
My council does but I only received a reply to me email that my application is approved.no letter of confirmation yet though

tcell88 · Post by **tcell88** » Tue Jun 16, 2020 5:26 pm

Sous49 wrote: ↑
Tue Jun 16, 2020 5:05 pm

Irakli wrote: ↑
Tue Jun 16, 2020 4:29 pm
I believe you are right - without invitation letter I think you cannot attend ceremony.
It depends on the council if they have your certificate sime of them will do without the confirmation letter.
My council does but I only received a reply to me email that my application is approved.no letter of confirmation yet though

Could you please clarify. You are saying your council will perform a citizenship ceremony without you having received a physical confirmation letter, or are you saying that your council has received your certificate of naturalisation?

Emeliajayne88 · Post by **Emeliajayne88** » Tue Jun 16, 2020 5:58 pm

You cannot attend a citizenship ceremony without an invitation letter from your council. The home office mails out a certificate to your council once your application has been approved, who will then send you an invitation letter to attend the ceremony. In some instances, yes the council may have your certificate already but are waiting to invite you due to Covid restrictions.

Also, in some instances, your council may allow you to join a waiting list before they have received your certificate if your application has been approved by the home office - such as hackney council. You will need to provide your reference number and wait until the council receives your certificate, which will then be followed by an invitation letter from your council.

This is my understanding anyway. Think it’s pretty clear, it’s just a waiting game.

Polka909 · Post by **Polka909** » Tue Jun 16, 2020 9:15 pm

I see that Merton council has started to allow citizenship ceremonies. I really hope that other councils will follow as well.
In the news today is that Cineworld will be opening on 10th July as well, understand that citizenship Ceremonies are not priority but given that every other non-essential thing is opening, the delay in giving out naturalisation certificates is just pure laziness and incompetence by councils. Certificates post 23rd March were not sent by HO but before this date, councils have the certificates with them. Apologies for the rant but I fail to understand further delay especially when I see news around queues outside primark and opening of cineworld.

They can at least start with people whose ceremonies were cancelled and never refunded. Clearly councils have their certificates.

user5877 · Post by **user5877** » Wed Jun 17, 2020 11:07 am

I've just asked a council in Northern Ireland and they told me they don't have any certificates yet nor any word from Home Office as to when it's going to resume.

Sous49 · Post by **Sous49** » Wed Jun 17, 2020 4:41 pm

tcell88 wrote: ↑
Tue Jun 16, 2020 5:26 pm

Sous49 wrote: ↑
Tue Jun 16, 2020 5:05 pm

Irakli wrote: ↑
Tue Jun 16, 2020 4:29 pm
I believe you are right - without invitation letter I think you cannot attend ceremony.
It depends on the council if they have your certificate sime of them will do without the confirmation letter.
My council does but I only received a reply to me email that my application is approved.no letter of confirmation yet though
Could you please clarify. You are saying your council will perform a citizenship ceremony without you having received a physical confirmation letter, or are you saying that your council has received your certificate of naturalisation?

Hello
My council did not receive certificates since March.but in normal conditions they would alow attending the ceremony as long as they received the certificate even if confimation letter is not presented . And example is that my daughter got her ceremony invitation letter before she got her confirmation letter . And they did not mind as they had the certificate

josh06 · Post by **josh06** » Thu Jun 18, 2020 3:13 pm

HI everyone!

Good news for today!!!

I have received a phone call from my council and they are starting the private ceremony next week. I was booked for Monday.

Unfortunately the group ceremony is suspended so if you want to do it quicker just pay the fees for private one.

My Local council is in Borough London of Newham.

Lopand · Post by **Lopand** » Thu Jun 18, 2020 3:27 pm

josh06 wrote: ↑
Thu Jun 18, 2020 3:13 pm
HI everyone!

Good news for today!!!

I have received a phone call from my council and they are starting the private ceremony next week. I was booked for Monday.

Unfortunately the group ceremony is suspended so if you want to do it quicker just pay the fees for private one.

My Local council is in Borough London of Newham.

Congratulations! Thanks for the update. When did you get your ceremony invitation letter? To my understanding, the HO didn't send any new invitations since March.

josh06 · Post by **josh06** » Thu Jun 18, 2020 3:49 pm

Lopand wrote: ↑
Thu Jun 18, 2020 3:27 pm

josh06 wrote: ↑
Thu Jun 18, 2020 3:13 pm
HI everyone!

Good news for today!!!

I have received a phone call from my council and they are starting the private ceremony next week. I was booked for Monday.

Unfortunately the group ceremony is suspended so if you want to do it quicker just pay the fees for private one.

My Local council is in Borough London of Newham.
Congratulations! Thanks for the update. When did you get your ceremony invitation letter? To my understanding, the HO didn't send any new invitations since March.

Hi there,

I got my invitation letter since March so the 3 month period has been expired. The lady that I spoke to check my actual certificate from HO and said it expired too but shouldn't be a problem as they extend it.

Anyone awaiting for ceremony just give your local council a call. She told me If I want a free group ceremony its gonna be in 6 months time. D:

Polka909 · Post by **Polka909** » Thu Jun 18, 2020 4:14 pm

josh06 wrote: ↑
Thu Jun 18, 2020 3:13 pm
HI everyone!

Good news for today!!!

I have received a phone call from my council and they are starting the private ceremony next week. I was booked for Monday.

Unfortunately the group ceremony is suspended so if you want to do it quicker just pay the fees for private one.

My Local council is in Borough London of Newham.

That’s great news. Hopefully other councils can follow. I’ve sent an email to my council (Barnet) hopefully they’ll will respond positively this time. Getting frustrating now.

mrduplicity · Post by **mrduplicity** » Thu Jun 18, 2020 5:59 pm

Polka909 wrote: ↑
Thu Jun 18, 2020 4:14 pm

josh06 wrote: ↑
Thu Jun 18, 2020 3:13 pm
HI everyone!

Good news for today!!!

I have received a phone call from my council and they are starting the private ceremony next week. I was booked for Monday.

Unfortunately the group ceremony is suspended so if you want to do it quicker just pay the fees for private one.

My Local council is in Borough London of Newham.
That’s great news. Hopefully other councils can follow. I’ve sent an email to my council (Barnet) hopefully they’ll will respond positively this time. Getting frustrating now.

Hi. I emailed Barnet council 2 days ago and they responded with

"HI

For Citizenship Ceremonies

Thank you for your email. We are aware that following the announcement by the Government, there is an intention to potentially enable small ceremonies from the 1st June, however this will be conditional on other factors being met. At this time, the guidance provided to us from the General Register Office has not changed. Services at the Town Hall will return at an appropriate time that ensures customer and staff safety is achieved, which is of paramount importance to us. This may mean we are not able to facilitate all requests immediately when we are able to open to the public and we appreciate your understanding at this time. Due to the many and varied measures that need to be put in place, at present we are unable to provide a date for when ceremonies will resume.

Once we are able to hold postponed ceremonies safely, we will make contact with couples to advise of this. We will of course follow the national guidance as it is released and updated, and we will keep our website as up to date as possible."

Really generic response. Can you let us know if they say something different?

sanabibi123 · Post by **sanabibi123** » Thu Jun 18, 2020 6:16 pm

Hi great news congratulations
i spoke to my local council in Birmingham they told me they haven't received my certificate from home office. My application was approved in the beginning of march.so hopefully all the people waiting for cermony we may get somewhere soon.

Rehnim2016 · Post by **Rehnim2016** » Fri Jun 19, 2020 1:16 am

Hi is there anyone who has requested home office to change ceremony to a different council, I sent an email to home office 5 days ago to change ceremony to Lambeth Council from southwark but they haven’t replied me back, can someone tell me how long would they take to reply and change? I was approved in Feb n sent email to citizen.support@homeoffice.gov.uk to change the ceremony location on this Monday (4 days ago). Normally southwark asks £310 for private but Lambeth £171.00 so I wanna change anyway.

Polka909 · Post by **Polka909** » Fri Jun 19, 2020 10:25 am

mrduplicity wrote: ↑
Thu Jun 18, 2020 5:59 pm

Polka909 wrote: ↑
Thu Jun 18, 2020 4:14 pm

josh06 wrote: ↑
Thu Jun 18, 2020 3:13 pm
HI everyone!

Really generic response. Can you let us know if they say something different?
I have sent them an email and tried calling them. Will tell you if I hear anything. Can you please send them an email as well saying that other councils are planning to open so clearly it’s not the reason they are giving. We just want transparency.

mrduplicity · Post by **mrduplicity** » Fri Jun 19, 2020 10:53 am

Polka909 wrote: ↑
Fri Jun 19, 2020 10:25 am

mrduplicity wrote: ↑
Thu Jun 18, 2020 5:59 pm

Polka909 wrote: ↑
Thu Jun 18, 2020 4:14 pm

josh06 wrote: ↑
Thu Jun 18, 2020 3:13 pm
HI everyone!

Really generic response. Can you let us know if they say something different?
I have sent them an email and tried calling them. Will tell you if I hear anything. Can you please send them an email as well saying that other councils are planning to open so clearly it’s not the reason they are giving. We just want transparency.

Hello. They responded but it seems like for now they’re not conducting ceremonies.

“ Thank you for your email.
We have not had any guidance as yet with regards to private ceremonies.
Once ceremonies are re-opened they will be prioritised in date order.
All certificates are automatically valid for 6 months during the pandemic.”

Polka909 · Post by **Polka909** » Fri Jun 19, 2020 11:24 am

mrduplicity wrote: ↑
Fri Jun 19, 2020 10:53 am

Polka909 wrote: ↑
Fri Jun 19, 2020 10:25 am

mrduplicity wrote: ↑
Thu Jun 18, 2020 5:59 pm

Polka909 wrote: ↑
Thu Jun 18, 2020 4:14 pm

I have sent them an email and tried calling them. Will tell you if I hear anything. Can you please send them an email as well saying that other councils are planning to open so clearly it’s not the reason they are giving. We just want transparency.

Hello. They responded but it seems like for now they’re not conducting ceremonies.

“ Thank you for your email.
We have not had any guidance as yet with regards to private ceremonies.
Once ceremonies are re-opened they will be prioritised in date order.
All certificates are automatically valid for 6 months during the pandemic.”
They are not responding to me as I question why are other councils offering ceremonies, clearly not an issue with guidance. Ha guess they don’t have an answer now.

Ade1111 · Post by **Ade1111** » Fri Jun 19, 2020 11:43 am

Hi Guys,

Just a quick update that I contacted my borough this morning (Richmond Upon Thames) and they also confirmed they have received no certificates from the HO and still no ceremonies are permitted to be held.

Fingers crossed that they resume this in the coming weeks..

Moa7 · Post by **Moa7** » Fri Jun 19, 2020 12:41 pm

Just got an email from cineworld that they'll be reopening from 10 July, yet still no news on citizenship ceremonies. Its really annoying. Once the ceremonies happen, it'll be another several months before the passport is received. Sorry for the rant. All non-essential shops have opened, even the government has downgraded the coronavirus risk (whether that's wise or not is another debate) but yet no ceremonies and even the certificates aren't being posted since March. Sorry again for the rant I'm just very annoyed.

Polka909 · Post by **Polka909** » Fri Jun 19, 2020 5:27 pm

Yes. Got an email from Cineworld as well and quite annoyed now. There is another news that the quarantine rule will be relaxed in July as travel opens. I really do not understand why councils and HO are the only people who are not willing to world. Called Barnet council today and well they are still closed!!! They have stopped responding to my email as well. Is there anyone we can contact? Maybe the council MP?

Ukcitizenapp · Post by **Ukcitizenapp** » Sat Jun 20, 2020 8:18 pm

Ipswich will be doing ceremonies next week for my wife who got approved in Feb. Assume they are only doing ones they already have the certificate for. Hopefully other councils will start doing the same.

maneki · Post by **maneki** » Sun Jun 21, 2020 6:03 pm

josh06 wrote: ↑
Thu Jun 18, 2020 3:49 pm

Lopand wrote: ↑
Thu Jun 18, 2020 3:27 pm

josh06 wrote: ↑
Thu Jun 18, 2020 3:13 pm
HI everyone!

Good news for today!!!

I have received a phone call from my council and they are starting the private ceremony next week. I was booked for Monday. :D :D :D

Unfortunately the group ceremony is suspended so if you want to do it quicker just pay the fees for private one.

My Local council is in Borough London of Newham.
Congratulations! Thanks for the update. When did you get your ceremony invitation letter? To my understanding, the HO didn't send any new invitations since March.
Hi there,

I got my invitation letter since March so the 3 month period has been expired. The lady that I spoke to check my actual certificate from HO and said it expired too but shouldn't be a problem as they extend it.

Anyone awaiting for ceremony just give your local council a call. She told me If I want a free group ceremony its gonna be in 6 months time. D:

Hi Josho6, may I know about the group ceremony that the council lady said will be available in 6 months time, is it 6 months from.. now? so December 2020?? oh dear if it is true :? I am also waiting for ceremony from Newham, got my invitation letter early March.

Moa7 · Post by **Moa7** » Mon Jun 22, 2020 11:56 am

Polka909 wrote: ↑
Fri Jun 19, 2020 5:27 pm
Yes. Got an email from Cineworld as well and quite annoyed now. There is another news that the quarantine rule will be relaxed in July as travel opens. I really do not understand why councils and HO are the only people who are not willing to world. Called Barnet council today and well they are still closed!!! They have stopped responding to my email as well. Is there anyone we can contact? Maybe the council MP?

It's absolutely ridiculous. I went into town on Saturday and it was crowded like Xmas. Everything is open with social distancing rules. The lines outside Primark at 9am were mad. There was news of how the British vacationers have started arriving on Spanisn beaches, even Boris announced how pubs might be opening from 4 July and reducing social distancing to 1 meter, yet the Home Office hasn't posted any certificates. Not sure what they're waiting for! The amount of fees they charge compared to the service standards and the amount of mental stress they cause are ridiculous. No point contacting the local MP since all applicants are in the same boat.

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