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There isn't a general one. Start your own topic with your questions, for what is a very simple application.lifeRockss1 wrote: ↑Thu Dec 24, 2020 11:32 amGot my certificate today, 2 days after online ceremony.
can someone please direct me to the passport foram to seek guidence? I don't seem to find it on the main page.
mrmo93 wrote: ↑Thu Dec 24, 2020 10:48 amHi Man, Im totally with you!, i agree it is pretty disorganized and it can be improved. a lot like hacing a timeline of the process in the UKVAS website for example. In this crisis they can easily create an online website where you just upload an "oath" or alliegence video and you get the ceremony sent. Instead of this mess.naruto wrote: ↑Wed Dec 23, 2020 11:56 pm
First of all that’s my opinion about the home office as an organisation and there’s something called “freedom of speech’’ furthermore I did not disrespect any individual or anyone I’m referring to the home office as an organisation. They can do better then that!!!
6 months waiting for an invitation plus the application process time!!! And how many other frustrated people are going through stress and anxiety because all they asked for is normal human right is getting a status and carry on with their life....
IF MY COMMENT OFFENDED YOU OR ANYONE ELSE IN ANY WAY PLEASE ACCEPT MY APOLOGIES.
Peace and tranquility
% .... let’s be optimistic and hope things will improve soon to better days fingers crossed 
Glad to know. I think they might change the private (same date and time) to virtual (if need be) closer to our dates like they did for @Nature11. I suppose we have the same ceremony date mid Jan!!
£125 on top of the original £250? With all honesty, I believe they are over charging people.£250 for an appointment that is over 2 weeks? Also when you request a virtual ceremony they state that it is for exceptional cases yet a few people said theyhad a virtual one.CULLINAN wrote: ↑Thu Dec 24, 2020 12:37 pmGlad to know. I think they might change the private (same date and time) to virtual (if need be) closer to our dates like they did for @Nature11. I suppose we have the same ceremony date mid Jan!!
PS: TBH I would prefer in person so I can collect my certificate myself rather waiting in the post but it will be £125 more
this is really pathetic and unfair. Some people get an invitation soon after, while others wait ages for no reason and you can't even ask them what's going on. the answer they give you is lamentable .They don't care really1tarck81 wrote: ↑Wed Dec 23, 2020 8:51 pmHi all, just to update you guys, I received an email that my application was successful on 03 June 2020 but I'm still waiting for my invitation letter. I emailed Southampton City Council many times but they wrote back that they have not received my paperwork from the Home Office so far so they can't book me in for a ceremony.
In Nov/Dec. I blasted nationalitysupportteamfmt@homeoffice.gov.uk with quite a few emails and after the 5th attempt maybe a week ago this email came back to me:
"Thank you for your e-mail. It appears that a system error caused a delay. This has since been rectified and you will be contacted in due. Please do not contact your Local Authority until you have received your invitation as they will not have your certificate to conduct your ceremony before this. Please accept our apology`s for any delay. Thank you MT Admin Support Nationality Group"
then I asked them to send an email invitation so I can book a ceremony asap but their reply within 24 hours was the following: "The invitation will be sent in as soon as possible. Obviously, under the current circumstances -COVID-19, the process is taking longer than usual to complete."
In the meantime, I filled out the complaint form I received this today.
"Thank you for your email of 26 November 2020 where you have raised a complaint
about the delay in issuing your British citizenship ceremony invitation letter.
I acknowledge that you have had a lengthy wait and I am sorry for any frustration,
but I am unable to fully uphold your complaint as I should explain that the COVID-19
pandemic has caused severe disruption to our services; and this has inevitably led to
delays which have been down to circumstances beyond our control.
I am aware from our records that you received an email from the Home Office on 22
December (yesterday) confirming that your letter would be sent as soon as possible.
I appreciate that you may be disappointed, but I hope that my response has helped
to explain the position. I believe I have addressed all the points you have raised. However, if you feel that there are specific aspects that have not been addressed you can request a review of our response within one month of the date on this letter by writing to us at: complaintsreview@homeoffice.gov.uk. Please ensure that you provide us with specific details setting out why you believe review is required. This will enable us to provide you with a full response."
Shall I go further and ask for a review or wait patiently?
Hounslow never used to carry virtual ceremonies. It is first time reported by @Nature11 and that too after London went in Tier 4 lockdown.Musti wrote: ↑Thu Dec 24, 2020 2:02 pm£125 on top of the original £250? With all honesty, I believe they are over charging people.£250 for an appointment that is over 2 weeks? Also when you request a virtual ceremony they state that it is for exceptional cases yet a few people said theyhad a virtual one.CULLINAN wrote: ↑Thu Dec 24, 2020 12:37 pmGlad to know. I think they might change the private (same date and time) to virtual (if need be) closer to our dates like they did for @Nature11. I suppose we have the same ceremony date mid Jan!!
PS: TBH I would prefer in person so I can collect my certificate myself rather waiting in the post but it will be £125 more
I think I'd rather pay the extra money to get the certificate the same day, and they use the fact that people can't wait to get it over with so they charge then ridiculous amounts of money.
But what is the 125 for?
So if you attend in person, you'll receive the certificate the very same day on the spot?CULLINAN wrote: ↑Thu Dec 24, 2020 2:33 pmHounslow never used to carry virtual ceremonies. It is first time reported by @Nature11 and that too after London went in Tier 4 lockdown.Musti wrote: ↑Thu Dec 24, 2020 2:02 pm£125 on top of the original £250? With all honesty, I believe they are over charging people.£250 for an appointment that is over 2 weeks? Also when you request a virtual ceremony they state that it is for exceptional cases yet a few people said theyhad a virtual one.CULLINAN wrote: ↑Thu Dec 24, 2020 12:37 pmGlad to know. I think they might change the private (same date and time) to virtual (if need be) closer to our dates like they did for @Nature11. I suppose we have the same ceremony date mid Jan!!
PS: TBH I would prefer in person so I can collect my certificate myself rather waiting in the post but it will be £125 more
I think I'd rather pay the extra money to get the certificate the same day, and they use the fact that people can't wait to get it over with so they charge then ridiculous amounts of money.
But what is the 125 for?
They are charging in person private £250 (I know it is too much - hounslow is charging way more than majority of other councils).
For virtual they charged @Nature 11 - £125 (@Nature11 was booked for private in person for £250 on 23rd Dec but Hounslow council called changed last minute (on 21st Dec) to virtual (same date and time on 23rd Dec) and charged £125 instead. I am not sure what exceptional circumstances were involved OR it was due to Tier 4.
We will only know closer to mid Jan if our in person ceremony is changed to virtual in a similar manner or not. For in person we will pay £250 otherwise (£125 more than virtual).
Yes.So if you attend in person, you'll receive the certificate the very same day on the spot?
Hi CULLINAN,CULLINAN wrote: ↑Wed Dec 23, 2020 7:37 pmThank you for your reply. Since the council is closed from tomorrow 24th onwards till 4th Jan, I guess, any communication regarding virtual ceremony (if any) will be done later on before my scheduled in person appointment mid Jan. Will update my experience in due course.
Great news. That was quick. Could you please clarify if you requested virtual ceremony due to some exceptional circumstances or it was offered by the council?Nature11 wrote: ↑Thu Dec 24, 2020 6:21 pmHi CULLINAN,CULLINAN wrote: ↑Wed Dec 23, 2020 7:37 pmThank you for your reply. Since the council is closed from tomorrow 24th onwards till 4th Jan, I guess, any communication regarding virtual ceremony (if any) will be done later on before my scheduled in person appointment mid Jan. Will update my experience in due course.
I received my Certificate this morning.(came in next day recorded delivery before 1pm)
Hi CULLINAN,CULLINAN wrote: ↑Thu Dec 24, 2020 6:24 pmGreat news. That was quick. Could you please clarify if you requested virtual ceremony due to some exceptional circumstances or it was offered by the council?Nature11 wrote: ↑Thu Dec 24, 2020 6:21 pmHi CULLINAN,CULLINAN wrote: ↑Wed Dec 23, 2020 7:37 pmThank you for your reply. Since the council is closed from tomorrow 24th onwards till 4th Jan, I guess, any communication regarding virtual ceremony (if any) will be done later on before my scheduled in person appointment mid Jan. Will update my experience in due course.
I received my Certificate this morning.(came in next day recorded delivery before 1pm)
bobvana wrote: ↑Thu Dec 24, 2020 2:52 amI got my acceptance letter on the 6th of October and an invitation letter from the Council (Maidstone) on the 14th on December letting me know that my ceremony is on the 21st of January, but I still haven't received an invitation from the HO.
Anyone who lives in KENT had this same situation?
Shouldn't be you receive the invitation from HO first then you call the council to book a slot?
Amyx67 wrote: ↑Sun Dec 27, 2020 6:06 amHello, silent reader here. My timeline is that I was approved via email on October 26th and still waiting for my invitation later. However, my local council is Croydon but for my application I put lambeth Council knowingly. I’m just a bit skeptical if my certificate will actually be sent to Lambeth or Croydon. Are there any people who put a different council when applying and actually got their certificates posted there? Also, is there anyone from Lambeth Council who has recently had or booked a ceremony? What is the availability like? Thank you
This is ridiculousBazaar wrote: ↑Thu Dec 24, 2020 2:31 pmthis is really pathetic and unfair. Some people get an invitation soon after, while others wait ages for no reason and you can't even ask them what's going on. the answer they give you is lamentable .They don't care really1tarck81 wrote: ↑Wed Dec 23, 2020 8:51 pmHi all, just to update you guys, I received an email that my application was successful on 03 June 2020 but I'm still waiting for my invitation letter. I emailed Southampton City Council many times but they wrote back that they have not received my paperwork from the Home Office so far so they can't book me in for a ceremony.
In Nov/Dec. I blasted nationalitysupportteamfmt@homeoffice.gov.uk with quite a few emails and after the 5th attempt maybe a week ago this email came back to me:
"Thank you for your e-mail. It appears that a system error caused a delay. This has since been rectified and you will be contacted in due. Please do not contact your Local Authority until you have received your invitation as they will not have your certificate to conduct your ceremony before this. Please accept our apology`s for any delay. Thank you MT Admin Support Nationality Group"
then I asked them to send an email invitation so I can book a ceremony asap but their reply within 24 hours was the following: "The invitation will be sent in as soon as possible. Obviously, under the current circumstances -COVID-19, the process is taking longer than usual to complete."
In the meantime, I filled out the complaint form I received this today.
"Thank you for your email of 26 November 2020 where you have raised a complaint
about the delay in issuing your British citizenship ceremony invitation letter.
I acknowledge that you have had a lengthy wait and I am sorry for any frustration,
but I am unable to fully uphold your complaint as I should explain that the COVID-19
pandemic has caused severe disruption to our services; and this has inevitably led to
delays which have been down to circumstances beyond our control.
I am aware from our records that you received an email from the Home Office on 22
December (yesterday) confirming that your letter would be sent as soon as possible.
I appreciate that you may be disappointed, but I hope that my response has helped
to explain the position. I believe I have addressed all the points you have raised. However, if you feel that there are specific aspects that have not been addressed you can request a review of our response within one month of the date on this letter by writing to us at: complaintsreview@homeoffice.gov.uk. Please ensure that you provide us with specific details setting out why you believe review is required. This will enable us to provide you with a full response."
Shall I go further and ask for a review or wait patiently?
how can they do this to people I suppose everything will be very quiet till 4th Jan and normal operations will resume 11th Jan (festive season and holiday period).
OH FOR THE LOVE OF *******
for a document just a document. Sorry were all in the same boat but its getting ridiculous now. Been waiting for close to 3 months now.I think if more restrictions come in place AND IF schools and places of worship are closed also - this may impact ceremonies also... too early too say but likely...
1-3 months.
