Citizenship Ceremony cancelled due to Covid-19

[Tirinti]

Is there anyone from August who didn’t receive an invitation today?

14th August and no invitation yet. I hope it will arrive in the next few days. Anyway Croydon council suspended ceremonies.
Good luck to everyone as it seams a big wave of invitations is on its way.

[Frou01]

Is there anyone from August who didn’t receive an invitation today?

14th August and no invitation yet. I hope it will arrive in the next few days. Anyway Croydon council suspended ceremonies.
Good luck to everyone as it seams a big wave of invitations is on its way.

Thank you for letting us know.

I really hope we get it the next days!

[desy2003]

Hi everyone
I'm really grateful to the founder and active members of this board its a very helpful platform I thought Should share this on this platform to give hope to you guys still waiting

Route: ILR 8 years +spouse

Online application: 7th August 2020

Biometric submission: 22nd September

Approval date: 4th November 2020

ceremony invitation letter: Pending

ceremony date: I'm not really bothered whenever, I have waited for more than 16 years and I don't have any restriction with my present status

[Dorota01]

Approval email 31st July
Croydon Council - Ceremonies suspended (no privte, no virtual avail)
No invitation Letter
Council hasn't received my Cetrificate yet

[amazingneo]

Received invitation letter today.

Approval date: 1st Sep 2020 (via email same date)
Invitation letter date: 27 Oct 2020 (printed on letter)
Invitation letter received (post): 5 Nov 2020

Last week Redbridge council mentioned they have just started receiving July approved certificates. I have contacted them now again with the invitation to check if they have received the letter. They are conducting virtual ceremonies during the lockdown.

[Cost Manager]

Approval email 31st July
Croydon Council - Ceremonies suspended (no privte, no virtual avail)
No invitation Letter
Council hasn't received my Cetrificate yet

Even september approvals got their invitations today, i am 27th july approval and nothing. Started to worry that it got lost

[Vidit32]

Hello everyone,

My time line as follows

Application submitted: 15 April 20

Biometrics Attended: 13 Oct 20

Naturalisation Approval: 23 Oct 20

Invitation letter arrived: 05 Nov 20

Date on invitation letter: 24 Oct 20

Council: Harrow (not hosting ceremonies during lockdown)

[daisy1122]

I got the invitation letter just a min. ago.

The council also sent me the email about the ceremonies booking
yesterday which I have not check my mail account until now.

The ceremonies by Cambridge Council 3 sessions in morning and 2 sessions in Afternoon)
Wednesday 9th December 2020
Wednesday 16th December 2020
Wednesday 6th January 2021
Wednesday 13th January 2021
Wednesday 20th January 2021
Wednesday 27th January 2021

Online application 25th Apr. 20
Biometric on 16th July 20
email approval on 21st July 20
received Invitation letter on 5th Nov. 20 (letter dated 18th Oct 20)
will have the ceremony on 9th Dec 20 (waiting the council re-confirm)

wish those with July's approval brothers and sisters will get your invitation letter soon.
good luck to all.

[Frou01]

Hello everyone,

My time line as follows

Application submitted: 15 April 20

Biometrics Attended: 13 Oct 20

Naturalisation Approval: 23 Oct 20

Invitation letter arrived: 05 Nov 20

Date on invitation letter: 24 Oct 20

Council: Harrow (not hosting ceremonies during lockdown)

Regarding you had a ridiculous 6 months wait to attend biometrics I think it’s fair you received your letter now.

[leo55]

Received invitation letter today.

Approval date: 1st Sep 2020 (via email same date)
Invitation letter date: 27 Oct 2020 (printed on letter)
Invitation letter received (post): 5 Nov 2020

Last week Redbridge council mentioned they have just started receiving July approved certificates. I have contacted them now again with the invitation to check if they have received the letter. They are conducting virtual ceremonies during the lockdown.

Dear Amazingneo,

Good to know you have received invitation letter today.

My application was approved on 11/09/20 (approval received via email) and have not received the Invitation letter yet. My council is Redbridge too.

Called council early this week and being told they have only received certificates for the applicants approved in July. However, council confirmed that virtual ceremonies will take place even during the lockdown period, which is good news.

Please keep us posted if Council has received your certificate?

[baybars1]

A big thank you to everyone posting their updates regarding the ceremony invitations. I am not responding individually to avoid cluttering the forum with my posts, but I am grateful to all for helping keep the model alive

[tauqeer81]

Hi,
I have just registered to the website to post my timeline if it helps for future models.

Applied online on 25 Jun 2020
Biometrics 19 Aug 2020
Approval email 28 August 2020
Invitation letter received 5 nov 2020
Date on the letter 28 October 2020

Ceremony pending - Council Coventry has not yet update the webpage for the new lockdown

First of all congratulations for some development on your application. I am also in Coventry and got the approval on 9 Sept, so I am expecting my letter soon. Did you contact the Coventry council if they will do Online ceremony and if they have your certificate? Thank you!!

[tauqeer81]

Hi,
I have just registered to the website to post my timeline if it helps for future models.

Applied online on 25 Jun 2020
Biometrics 19 Aug 2020
Approval email 28 August 2020
Invitation letter received 5 nov 2020
Date on the letter 28 October 2020

Ceremony pending - Council Coventry has not yet update the webpage for the new lockdown

First of all congratulations for some development on your application. I am also in Coventry and got the approval on 9 Sept, so I am expecting my letter soon. Did you contact the Coventry council if they will do Online ceremony and if they have your certificate? Thank you!!

[nnn15]

Approval email 31st July
Croydon Council - Ceremonies suspended (no privte, no virtual avail)
No invitation Letter
Council hasn't received my Cetrificate yet

Even september approvals got their invitations today, i am 27th july approval and nothing. Started to worry that it got lost

The backlog is certainly not fully cleared. My timeline - mid February application and biometrics, decision made some time in March and April when they weren't sending decisions by email yet, have an approval letter dated early July, and no progress since.

[CheshireKnight]

Hi Everyone

Any September approvals received invitation or certificates yet?

Thanks

[baybars1]

Hi Everyone

Any September approvals received invitation or certificates yet?

Thanks

There are at least two, you can check posts on the last couple of pages.

[lmannova]

My approval was on 20th July and still no invitation. :[

[JanisZiemelis]

Adding my name to the bucket of "those who have received the invitation from the Gov today".

Council: Birmingham City
Approval date: 7th of July
Date received ceremony invitation (for 24th Nov) from council: 31st of November
Date Received ceremony invitation from Gov: 5th of November (dated 5th of October).

Unfortunately I also received a reply back from BCC stating that all November ceremonies have been cancelled "until further notice":

Following the UK Prime Minister’s announcement on the 31st October 2020 to cancel public gatherings unfortunately your ceremony booked for the 24th November has been cancelled and no further citizenship ceremonies will be taking place until further notice. Unfortunately as your paperwork has been forwarded to us you will need to arrange your ceremony with Birmingham Register Office.

We are awaiting instruction from the Home Office and once received we will contact all new citizens to inform them of new arrangements.

Customers would normally be expected to attend a citizenship ceremony within three months of being sent an invitation from the Home Office. Due to the current pandemic circumstances UKVI have extended this period to six months and will keep this under constant review. For further information you can visit the Home Office website at https://www.gov.uk/citizenship-ceremonies

For up to date information regarding Citizenship ceremonies at Birmingham Register Office please visit our website at www.birmingham.gov.uk/registeroffice.

We will contact you with a date for your ceremony as soon as we are able.

I have went back to them (5 minutes ago) asking them if there are any alternatives (e.g. virtual ceremonies) that they could provide on the interim period. Let's see what they'll come back with.

[Frou01]

Adding my name to the bucket of "those who have received the invitation from the Gov today".

Council: Birmingham City
Approval date: 7th of July
Date received ceremony invitation (for 24th Nov) from council: 31st of November
Date Received ceremony invitation from Gov: 5th of November (dated 5th of October).

Unfortunately I also received a reply back from BCC stating that all November ceremonies have been cancelled "until further notice":

Following the UK Prime Minister’s announcement on the 31st October 2020 to cancel public gatherings unfortunately your ceremony booked for the 24th November has been cancelled and no further citizenship ceremonies will be taking place until further notice. Unfortunately as your paperwork has been forwarded to us you will need to arrange your ceremony with Birmingham Register Office.

We are awaiting instruction from the Home Office and once received we will contact all new citizens to inform them of new arrangements.

Customers would normally be expected to attend a citizenship ceremony within three months of being sent an invitation from the Home Office. Due to the current pandemic circumstances UKVI have extended this period to six months and will keep this under constant review. For further information you can visit the Home Office website at https://www.gov.uk/citizenship-ceremonies

For up to date information regarding Citizenship ceremonies at Birmingham Register Office please visit our website at www.birmingham.gov.uk/registeroffice.

We will contact you with a date for your ceremony as soon as we are able.

I have went back to them (5 minutes ago) asking them if there are any alternatives (e.g. virtual ceremonies) that they could provide on the interim period. Let's see what they'll come back with.

Same council, got almost same reply yesterday.

I really REALLY hope they get online ceremonies ready!

[Vidit32]

Hello everyone,

My time line as follows

Application submitted: 15 April 20

Biometrics Attended: 13 Oct 20

Naturalisation Approval: 23 Oct 20

Invitation letter arrived: 05 Nov 20

Date on invitation letter: 24 Oct 20

Council: Harrow (not hosting ceremonies during lockdown)

Regarding you had a ridiculous 6 months wait to attend biometrics I think it’s fair you received your letter now.

Actually at first I submitted through IDV app around 27 aug 20 but it was taking so long that I went for biometric.

Overall it has been long journey but I can’t complain as there are others who have been waiting longer than me. I know it’s frustrating which I feel same as everyone else here although HO is doing best as they can during this pandemic and lockdown using limited resource.

This forum has always been helpful and specially during these times, we can share our experiences and timelines so others can gauge their timeline.

I can’t thank everyone enough. Bless you all

[whatevs2020]

Hi everyone,

So I finally have my virtual citizenship ceremony booked for next week (approved 15 July, invitation letter 16 october, council Edinburgh)

Question: i have changed address and set up a redirection service with Royal Mail. The council says that the redirection will not work for the certificate as they use a special type of delivery and that I have to change my address with the HO online. So wait up to 4 weeks for the HO to change my address etc and then they will send the certificate to the new address

Anyone been in the same situation? Did your redelivery work for the Certificate?

[lemmeseeyouwalk]

Stockport council.

Approved on 7th of July. Letter dated as 06/10/2020. I received it today, 05/11/2020. Letter says I should book within 21 days of the date on the letter. Which was never possible, because I only got the letter today.

Called the council to clarify, because the ceremonies are suspended again. When I asked about the date, and the 21 days to book, their reply was:

"Well, shouldn't be an issue".

I am beyond disappointed with all of this :\

[chacha-n-co]

I got approval on 23 September, Yesterday, i was able to book citizenship ceremony for next next week Wednesday. I spoke to the council today, they have received my letter and later today, i got invitation letter fron HO in post as well. thank you to all of you

[Cocobana]

Just got my invitation letter. Seems like things are moving along quite nicely on the HO front but suspension of ceremony by some local council and co is disappointing.
Timeline
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: 05/11/2020 dated 26 Oct 2020
Date of Ceremony: PENDING

[Szrsrts]

I quite don't get it. Late August and September approvals got their invitations but June July early August still waiting. It doesn't make any sense at all.