Travel after Approval from Home Office but before Citizenship Ceremony

Hi there,

I hope everyone is keeping safe and well during these difficult times.

I am applying for British Citizenship in June 2021 as this is when my ILR is one year old. I am planning on traveling to America in September 2021, 3 months after applying, to present my medical research at a conference. I currently hold a Refugee Home Office Travel Document and will be applying for an American VISA on that passport.

If we are considering an optimistic scenario, and I receive an approval decision letter from the Home Office for the citizenship before the time I travel to America. Can I still travel using my ILR BRP and Home Office Travel Document considering I have not attended the citizenship ceremony yet?

I know the Refugee status is lost once Naturalisation is successful, but does that occur when receiving the initial Home Office decision or after the Citizenship ceremony?

I hope you are able to guide me, as I am sure you are aware flights, hotels and conference tickets are not cheap. I thank you very much in advance!

Best wishes

You are only a British citizen once you attend the ceremony and not from the approval letter date. Until the ceremony is attended, you are a migrant holding ILR and nothing more.

Yes you can travel before you attend the ceremony. Your refugee status will be lost once you become a British Citizen at the date of the ceremony.
However, note seeking a US/Canada etc visa on a HOTD is difficult. Good luck.