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Hello

Greetings.

My wife's citizenship got approved in March. She has travel plans almost non stop till August. We called Richmond council in March, where the ceremony was to take place, and they said upto 6 months extension is allowed. Now, we hear that only a max of 3 months extension is allowed.

So, We called the home office and emailed them asking for extension. No update from them from the last 25 days.

Just a bit anxious. Does the citizenship process get reset and my wife needs to reapply for citizenship or do we just wait for guidance from home office ?

Regards
Pranam

Why did she decide to travel when she had applied to naturalise? I would suggest she thinks if she intends to live the UK and what her priorities are.

Where an applicant is required to take an oath of allegiance they must normally do so within the time limit of 3 months prescribed by the British Nationality (General) Regulations 1982 (or the British Nationality (General) Regulations 2003, as appropriate). Otherwise the applicant cannot be registered or naturalised unless the Home Secretary decides to extend the period.

When a request for the taking of an oath of allegiance has been sent, the file should be put on hold for 1 month and an oath reminder letter sent with a new oath form if the original oath form has not then been received. The letter makes it clear that an oath should have been taken within 3 months and allows a further 2 months for it to be completed and returned. The file should be put on hold for 2 months.

If the applicant asks for an extension of time and gives an acceptable reason such as a serious illness, an extension of up to 3 months may be allowed (or whatever longer period may be justified by the reason given for the request).

If an oath is returned undelivered, or not returned within 3 months of the original request, the applicant should be informed that it will not be possible for them to become a British citizen because the Home Secretary is not able to register or naturalise a person who has not taken an oath. Stock letter Oath Refusal (Non Receipt) should be used.

All applicants (except those who are not of full age) are required to make an oath and pledge at a citizenship ceremony before they are registered or naturalised as a British citizen. As an alternative to the oath, applicants may make an affirmation of allegiance.

From 1 June 2007 prospective British citizens making the citizenship oath (or affirmation) and pledge in Wales may, if they wish, do so in the Welsh language. The Citizenship Oath and Pledge (Welsh Language) Order 2007 contains the approved translations.

Citizenship Ceremonies Support Team (CCST) is the main contact with local authorities. CCST will liaise with local authorities in regard to citizenship ceremonies. CCST will deal with any requests to extend, transfer or become exempt from a citizenship ceremony after the case has been approved.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... ceremonies

Hi Pranam,

We had an issue where the email invite was never received. We tried everything but what seemed to work was getting our local MP involved. It was extended another three months and a new invite sent (actually arrived a month or so after extension!).

Hope that helps.