Citizenship Ceremony cancelled due to Covid-19

Cocobana · Post by **Cocobana** » Wed Nov 11, 2020 10:59 am

Cocobana wrote: ↑
Thu Nov 05, 2020 11:36 am
I have just email the below complaint to the head of registration Kent county council
And would advise others to do so. It is just not acceptable for ceremonies to be suspended when a private or virtual one can be offered. It is more off putting that other local council offer private and virtual ceremonies and a county council as big as it could not.
All these complacency in local government needs to questioned and stopped.

Dear .....
Could you please explain to me why the council as big as it is has made no provisions to offer a virtual or private citizenship ceremony.
Based on the recently published lockdown legislation, Reg 11 (4) attending or performing citizenship hasn’t been restricted.

ttps://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/1200/p ... paign=post
Why other local councils continue to offer private and virtual citizenship ceremony I have now been made to wait for God knows how long to attend my citizenship ceremony because the council has made decision to suspend it without any government guidelines or instruction.
I look forward to your reply as I intend to push my complaint to director of service, my councillors and ombudsman.
I take that while this service has been suspended your salary as head and the salaries of the ceremony officers hasn’t been.

Update
Am almost at the end of my citizenship journey, Kent county council finally booked me in to attend my ceremony on the 23rd Nov. Got the letter yesterday. Hopefully all goes as planned.

Cocobana · Post by **Cocobana** » Wed Nov 11, 2020 11:01 am

Anyone else attending their ceremony on the 23rd? Kent county council- Maidstone?

Szrsrts · Post by **Szrsrts** » Wed Nov 11, 2020 11:06 am

Cocobana wrote: ↑
Wed Nov 11, 2020 11:01 am
Anyone else attending their ceremony on the 23rd? Kent county council- Maidstone?

Hi What is your time line? Thanks

fanta · Post by **fanta** » Wed Nov 11, 2020 11:08 am

Virk89 wrote: ↑
Wed Nov 11, 2020 10:50 am

fanta wrote: ↑
Wed Nov 11, 2020 10:02 am

Tirinti wrote: ↑
Wed Nov 11, 2020 9:57 am
I've finally won in the games of chances

Applied 10/07/2020
Biometrics 10/08/2020
Approved 14/08/2020
Invitation Letter 11/11/2020 dated 31/10/2020.
Ceremony: suspended because of the lockdown
Council: Croydon

Good luck to everyone.
Congrats mate. This gives the mid-august approvals like me some hope!
Hi fanta congratulation
The update for you Croydon council booking for ceremony you have to give them call as I’ve booked mine for coming Monday

Thank you so much. That's very kind of you, but I am from Bury council. Last time I was told to wait for the invitation letter. I'll keep my patience for a few more weeks.

Cocobana · Post by **Cocobana** » Wed Nov 11, 2020 11:15 am

Szrsrts wrote: ↑
Wed Nov 11, 2020 11:06 am

Cocobana wrote: ↑
Wed Nov 11, 2020 11:01 am
Anyone else attending their ceremony on the 23rd? Kent county council- Maidstone?
Hi What is your time line? Thanks

Hi, here is my timeline below
Eligibility criteria: 10yrs ILR + spouse
Language Criteria: MSC + LiUK test
Nationality: non Eu
Method of application: Online
Date of application: 08 July 2020
Payment method: Debit card
Date of debit fees: 08 July 2020
Date of acknowledgement: 08 July 2020
Date of Biometric reuse email: 06 August 2020
Opted out -07 August 2020
Date Biometrics enrolled: 20 August 2020
Date on Approval letter: 1 September 2020 email
Date of receipt of approval: Email
Date of receipt of ceremony letter: PENDING
Date of Ceremony: PENDING

Szrsrts · Post by **Szrsrts** » Wed Nov 11, 2020 11:27 am

Cocobana wrote: ↑
Wed Nov 11, 2020 11:15 am

Szrsrts wrote: ↑
Wed Nov 11, 2020 11:06 am

Cocobana wrote: ↑
Wed Nov 11, 2020 11:01 am
Anyone else attending their ceremony on the 23rd? Kent county council- Maidstone?
Hi What is your time line? Thanks
Hi, here is my timeline below
Eligibility criteria: 10yrs ILR + spouse
Language Criteria: MSC + LiUK test
Nationality: non Eu
Method of application: Online
Date of application: 08 July 2020
Payment method: Debit card
Date of debit fees: 08 July 2020
Date of acknowledgement: 08 July 2020
Date of Biometric reuse email: 06 August 2020
Opted out -07 August 2020
Date Biometrics enrolled: 20 August 2020
Date on Approval letter: 1 September 2020 email
Date of receipt of approval: Email
Date of receipt of ceremony letter: PENDING
Date of Ceremony: PENDING

Congratulations!

That s very odd. I was approved in mid August and haven't heard anything from the council yet so far.

arselers · Post by **arselers** » Wed Nov 11, 2020 12:44 pm

baybars1 wrote: ↑
Mon Nov 09, 2020 5:01 pm

arselers wrote: ↑
Mon Nov 09, 2020 2:51 pm
My certificate arrived last week - Hounslow council confirmed to my enquiry.

Approval date Sep 8..

So stupid they’re not booking my ceremony until I receive the invitation letter.. I’m moving my home next week and no idea whom I should contact to update the address..
Your invitation may have already been posted to you if you council received your certificate last week. I have seen a number of early September approvals whose invitation letters arrived within seven days of being printed. I would imagine that your invite would have been printed at the same time when your certificate was printed.

Received my invitation letter today .. dated 29th Oct.

Good luck all of you!

georgeecs2020 · Post by **georgeecs2020** » Wed Nov 11, 2020 12:48 pm

Hi all,
Approved on 13.08.2020
No letter, no certificate.
Is anyone with Enfield council?

Szrsrts · Post by **Szrsrts** » Wed Nov 11, 2020 12:51 pm

Hello people. Is anyone from Kent count Council Maidstone waiting from July August approvals? Thank you.

difrt · Post by **difrt** » Wed Nov 11, 2020 12:58 pm

Hi All,
Just got my ceremony invitation letter today for the Westminster Council. Here is my timeline, I think it was spot on as predicted by the model.

Application: 05/08/2020
Approval Email: 08/09/2020 (Dated: the same)
Invitation Letter: 11/11/2020 (Dated: 31/10/2020)
Private Ceremony (free): 17/11/2020 (Booked).

Hopefully no more surprises!

Parisiana · Post by **Parisiana** » Wed Nov 11, 2020 1:05 pm

difrt wrote: ↑
Wed Nov 11, 2020 12:58 pm
Hi All,
Just got my ceremony invitation letter today for the Westminster Council. Here is my timeline, I think it was spot on as predicted by the model.

Application: 05/08/2020
Approval Email: 08/09/2020 (Dated: the same)
Invitation Letter: 11/11/2020 (Dated: 31/10/2020)
Private Ceremony (free): 17/11/2020 (Booked).

Hopefully no more surprises!

Congrats! How did you book your ceremony? Was it online or did you call the council?
Is anyone else from Westminster council still waiting? I was approved on August 21 and no news about my certificate or invitation letter.

difrt · Post by **difrt** » Wed Nov 11, 2020 1:13 pm

Thank you! I booked directly on the council's website (https://www.westminster.gov.uk/arrange- ... p-ceremony), quite straight forward. I think you should be getting yours next week or so. Good luck!

Cost Manager · Post by **Cost Manager** » Wed Nov 11, 2020 1:16 pm

Parisiana wrote: ↑
Wed Nov 11, 2020 1:05 pm

difrt wrote: ↑
Wed Nov 11, 2020 12:58 pm
Hi All,
Just got my ceremony invitation letter today for the Westminster Council. Here is my timeline, I think it was spot on as predicted by the model.

Application: 05/08/2020
Approval Email: 08/09/2020 (Dated: the same)
Invitation Letter: 11/11/2020 (Dated: 31/10/2020)
Private Ceremony (free): 17/11/2020 (Booked).

Hopefully no more surprises!
Congrats! How did you book your ceremony? Was it online or did you call the council?
Is anyone else from Westminster council still waiting? I was approved on August 21 and no news about my certificate or invitation letter.

I am with Westminster. 27th approval no news at all

Parisiana · Post by **Parisiana** » Wed Nov 11, 2020 1:16 pm

difrt wrote: ↑
Wed Nov 11, 2020 1:13 pm
Thank you! I booked directly on the council's website (https://www.westminster.gov.uk/arrange- ... p-ceremony), quite straight forward. I think you should be getting yours next week or so. Good luck!

Thank you and good luck with the passport application! Fingers crossed

Parisiana · Post by **Parisiana** » Wed Nov 11, 2020 1:17 pm

Cost Manager wrote: ↑
Wed Nov 11, 2020 1:16 pm

Parisiana wrote: ↑
Wed Nov 11, 2020 1:05 pm

difrt wrote: ↑
Wed Nov 11, 2020 12:58 pm
Hi All,
Just got my ceremony invitation letter today for the Westminster Council. Here is my timeline, I think it was spot on as predicted by the model.

Application: 05/08/2020
Approval Email: 08/09/2020 (Dated: the same)
Invitation Letter: 11/11/2020 (Dated: 31/10/2020)
Private Ceremony (free): 17/11/2020 (Booked).

Hopefully no more surprises!
Congrats! How did you book your ceremony? Was it online or did you call the council?
Is anyone else from Westminster council still waiting? I was approved on August 21 and no news about my certificate or invitation letter.
I am with Westminster. 27th approval no news at all

This is very worrying I don't understand their timeline at all.

Cost Manager · Post by **Cost Manager** » Wed Nov 11, 2020 1:21 pm

Parisiana wrote: ↑
Wed Nov 11, 2020 1:17 pm

Cost Manager wrote: ↑
Wed Nov 11, 2020 1:16 pm

Parisiana wrote: ↑
Wed Nov 11, 2020 1:05 pm

difrt wrote: ↑
Wed Nov 11, 2020 12:58 pm
Hi All,
Just got my ceremony invitation letter today for the Westminster Council. Here is my timeline, I think it was spot on as predicted by the model.

Application: 05/08/2020
Approval Email: 08/09/2020 (Dated: the same)
Invitation Letter: 11/11/2020 (Dated: 31/10/2020)
Private Ceremony (free): 17/11/2020 (Booked).

Hopefully no more surprises!
Congrats! How did you book your ceremony? Was it online or did you call the council?
Is anyone else from Westminster council still waiting? I was approved on August 21 and no news about my certificate or invitation letter.
I am with Westminster. 27th approval no news at all
This is very worrying I don't understand their timeline at all.

Did you call the HO and follow up?

Parisiana · Post by **Parisiana** » Wed Nov 11, 2020 1:23 pm

Cost Manager wrote: ↑
Wed Nov 11, 2020 1:21 pm

Parisiana wrote: ↑
Wed Nov 11, 2020 1:17 pm

Cost Manager wrote: ↑
Wed Nov 11, 2020 1:16 pm

Parisiana wrote: ↑
Wed Nov 11, 2020 1:05 pm

Congrats! How did you book your ceremony? Was it online or did you call the council?
Is anyone else from Westminster council still waiting? I was approved on August 21 and no news about my certificate or invitation letter.
I am with Westminster. 27th approval no news at all
This is very worrying I don't understand their timeline at all.
Did you call the HO and follow up?

My 12 week period ends on Friday, I will follow-up then. Hopefully we receive the invitation before as the HO takes a long time to respond.

tingtong69 · Post by **tingtong69** » Wed Nov 11, 2020 1:35 pm

Invitation letter received today.

Approval 9/9/20

baybars1 · Post by **baybars1** » Wed Nov 11, 2020 2:02 pm

tingtong69 wrote: ↑
Wed Nov 11, 2020 1:35 pm
Invitation letter received today.

Approval 9/9/20

Can you please share the date on the letter?

Szrsrts · Post by **Szrsrts** » Wed Nov 11, 2020 2:22 pm

tingtong69 wrote: ↑
Wed Nov 11, 2020 1:35 pm
Invitation letter received today.

Approval 9/9/20

Hi What is your council? Thank you

IrobotZ · Post by **IrobotZ** » Wed Nov 11, 2020 2:25 pm

I would like to say that the UKBA and HMPO has totally diff service standard and I hope UKBA could improve its service standard considering how much we have paid to them.

When I was Appling for naturalisation the UKBA barely keep me updated and even after involving my MP they still only give standard replies to almost everything I asked, despite paying thousands of pounds to them they would only reply me after 15-25 working days.

At the sometime when you attended your ceremony and applying for the British Passport the service standard suddenly improved by a lot, The HMPO would constantly keep me updated in regards of my application and posting friendly reminder on what to do next, And I am only paying about 80 pounds for the service.

I certainly hope the UKBA would give reasonable updates to their customers in regards of their applications and stop making the environment toxic by intentionally causing trouble/delay to those who are qualified to apply for visas or citizenships.

Good luck to all.

tingtong69 · Post by **tingtong69** » Wed Nov 11, 2020 2:42 pm

tingtong69 wrote: ↑
Wed Nov 11, 2020 1:35 pm
Invitation letter received today.

Approval 9/9/20

The letter date is 29th October

tingtong69 · Post by **tingtong69** » Wed Nov 11, 2020 2:45 pm

Szrsrts wrote: ↑
Wed Nov 11, 2020 2:22 pm

tingtong69 wrote: ↑
Wed Nov 11, 2020 1:35 pm
Invitation letter received today.

Approval 9/9/20
Hi What is your council? Thank you

My council is Sunderland

aemvl · Post by **aemvl** » Wed Nov 11, 2020 3:08 pm

Hi All,

Thanks everyone for sharing all the updates. The experience so far is rather frustrating, knowing that there are a few of us in this boat gives some reassurance.

I am with Westminster Council and was approved on August 21st. +1 to those who haven't received their invitation letter yet. Fingers crossed it arrives this week.

Date of application: 14 April 2020
Date of Biometric reuse email: 03 July 2020
Opted out: 07 August 2020
Date Biometrics enrolled: 15 August 2020
Date on Approval letter: 21 August 2020 (via email)
Date of receipt of ceremony letter: PENDING
Council: Westminster

AussieUK · Post by **AussieUK** » Wed Nov 11, 2020 3:14 pm

Hi everyone

My story:

Biometrics: 24/8/2020

Approved: 9/9/2020

Invitation letter arrived: 11/11/2020

Invitation letter sent: 29/10/2020

I called Leeds council today to arrange a citizenship ceremony - the only way I could get through to a person was to select an option other than citizenship ceremonies. Selecting citizenship ceremonies plays a pre-recorded message which says they will write to you when they receive your certificate. Then it cuts you off.

I called back - I think I selected weddings or to change my appointment - got through to a very helpful lady who said she could help me.

I'm been advised to email the register and attach a copy of my invitation letter, which I've done, so hope to hear back soon regarding a ceremony. I did ask is Leeds currently running citizenship ceremonies and she replied that they were.

I'm a big step closer though not 100% there yet.

To everyone still waiting - hang on in there. Yours will come soon!

All the best,

AussieUK

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