Citizenship Ceremony cancelled due to Covid-19

[024601]

Good morning beautiful people - Is there anyone here approved in July 2020?

I was approved on 13.07

[Runner12345]

I just want to get it done, as I applied mid-February already. The Zoom ceremony is super quick, they say 10-15min, so I also do not have to take time off work. I have asked if a friend of mine can dial into it as my virtual guest. They responded within 2h offering me a slot for Wednesday. The group ceremony is a different contact person, so not sure how frequently they are doing those.

Thanks for the response really appreciate it! Have a great ceremony

Thank you! I hope you receive your letter tomorrow! Just to add: you are not allowed to forward the link, so you cannot have guest dialing in from elsewhere. Also thanks to baybars1 from me, for helping us get some comfort on anticipated timelines!

Finally!!! I got the Almighty invitation Letter
Got the invite this morning dated 22/9/2020
The model is really spot on was expecting it on the 10/10 and 12/10 and it came now waiting for Southwark to respond to my email. Thanks to everyone on this forum and good luck to all still waiting hopefully it wouldn’t be long anymore

Yeah! Glad to hear this! I found them fairly responsive on email, so good luck!

[axeman85]

Good morning beautiful people - Is there anyone here approved in July 2020?

I was approved on 13.07

I was approved 31st july

[Sochi08]

Thanks for the response really appreciate it! Have a great ceremony

Thank you! I hope you receive your letter tomorrow! Just to add: you are not allowed to forward the link, so you cannot have guest dialing in from elsewhere. Also thanks to baybars1 from me, for helping us get some comfort on anticipated timelines!

Finally!!! I got the Almighty invitation Letter
Got the invite this morning dated 22/9/2020
The model is really spot on was expecting it on the 10/10 and 12/10 and it came now waiting for Southwark to respond to my email. Thanks to everyone on this forum and good luck to all still waiting hopefully it wouldn’t be long anymore

Yeah! Glad to hear this! I found them fairly responsive on email, so good luck!

Thanks yes they responded to my email strangely asking for a photograph of my invitation letter then saying my ceremony will be this week but will get back to me tomorrow with date and time, couldn’t be much happier( for the part that says this week and tomorrow I get to know the day and time) My council is Southwark

My timeline again
Applied online 25th of March 2020
Biometric done 8th June 2020
Approved via email 12th June 2020
Invitation received 12th October 2020
Ceremony will be booked tomorrow

[Vilandra]

My council is not taking phonecalls at all and their email auto reply says they aim to respond within 72 hours. Apparently they are short staffed due to coronavirus, I guess they haven't figured out the whole working from home yet... My point being you are very lucky to have helpful and responsive councils, some are not interested in public contacting them for any reason hahaha

[Frou01]

Birmingham Council is very responsive and friendly.
However it’s only by email if anyone tries to contact.
They receive every Tuesday a batch and need time until Wednesday to get an overview and let people know if they have received their details.

Last week they have received June certificates.

[Ccouture]

Good morning all. I've been a silent viewer of this thread since March. Congrats all who have already had their citizenship ceremony. I was approved in July 17, still here waiting patiently for my invitation letter. Fingers hands and toes cross.

[raij]

Good morning all. I've been a silent viewer of this thread since March. Congrats all who have already had their citizenship ceremony. I was approved in July 17, still here waiting patiently for my invitation letter. Fingers hands and toes cross.

i am sure you get it soon , i been waiting since 3rd of june .. still waiting

[AnnOsun]

Hi Everyone

I've recently stumbled upon this website and I must say it has so many useful reads!

I got approved on the 16th of July 2020 and still waiting for an invitation letter for my ceremony. Like many of you I've emailed the Home office and local council but been told to wait.

Is anyone able to give ne a timeline as to when I should expect to received the ceremony invitation letter?

Thanks in advance

[baybars1]

Hi Everyone

I've recently stumbled upon this website and I must say it has so many useful reads!

I got approved on the 16th of July 2020 and still waiting for an invitation letter for my ceremony. Like many of you I've emailed the Home office and local council but been told to wait.

Is anyone able to give ne a timeline as to when I should expect to received the ceremony invitation letter?

Thanks in advance

The model I have suggests that your invitation should have been printed yesterday, 12 October 2020, and it should reach you on or around 3 November 2020. Good luck!

[AnnOsun]

Thank you so much, my fingers are crossed

[Roxen]

Good afternoon everyone
Good news but half at the moment. I received my invitation letter today dated 26/09/20. But when I call my council few time it seems like they force you to hear all the long speech about covid and then they drop your call. I emailed to the registrar office about the ceremony letter has arrived and need to book a ceremony now. Someone replied saying they haven't received my certificate yet with advice the 21 days booking time is no longer enforced because of covid.
My time line is as below
Application made 03/03/20
Biometric done on 12/06/20
Approval letter dated 25/06/20
Letter receive date 30/06/20
Invitation later date 26/09/20
Invitation letter received 13/06/20
I will try my luck again on Thursday will see what they say
Good luck to everyone who are waiting.

[BoyTed]

Dear Members,
Hope you are wearing the best colours of health.
This is what i got via email today.

Baybars1 your formula is working

Dear Mr xxxxx

 

Thank you for contacting the Further Nationality Enquiry email inbox. We apologise for the delay in reply.

We can confirm that your ceremony invitation was dispatched on 28 September. We ask that you allow 10 working days for delivery.

In normal circumstances customers were required to book their citizenship ceremony within three months of being sent an invitation from the Home Office.  Due to the current circumstances we have extended this period to six months. We will keep this under constant review. Please be assured that no adverse decisions will be made on your application because of delays caused by Coronavirus (unless there is a material change in your circumstances, for example, you are convicted of a criminal offence).      

 

Yours sincerely

 

X xxxx

Central Operations

UK Visas & Immigration

[TheTraveller]

Dear Members,
Hope you are wearing the best colours of health.
This is what i got via email today.

Baybars1 your formula is working

Dear Mr xxxxx

 

Thank you for contacting the Further Nationality Enquiry email inbox. We apologise for the delay in reply.

We can confirm that your ceremony invitation was dispatched on 28 September. We ask that you allow 10 working days for delivery.

In normal circumstances customers were required to book their citizenship ceremony within three months of being sent an invitation from the Home Office.  Due to the current circumstances we have extended this period to six months. We will keep this under constant review. Please be assured that no adverse decisions will be made on your application because of delays caused by Coronavirus (unless there is a material change in your circumstances, for example, you are convicted of a criminal offence).      

 

Yours sincerely

 

X xxxx

Central Operations

UK Visas & Immigration

What date was your approval date please ?

[BoyTed]

Dear Members,
Hope you are wearing the best colours of health.
This is what i got via email today.

Baybars1 your formula is working

Dear Mr xxxxx

 

Thank you for contacting the Further Nationality Enquiry email inbox. We apologise for the delay in reply.

We can confirm that your ceremony invitation was dispatched on 28 September. We ask that you allow 10 working days for delivery.

In normal circumstances customers were required to book their citizenship ceremony within three months of being sent an invitation from the Home Office.  Due to the current circumstances we have extended this period to six months. We will keep this under constant review. Please be assured that no adverse decisions will be made on your application because of delays caused by Coronavirus (unless there is a material change in your circumstances, for example, you are convicted of a criminal offence).      

 

Yours sincerely

 

X xxxx

Central Operations

UK Visas & Immigration

What date was your approval date please ?

Hello The Traveller,
Approved 29 June 2020 via post
Received 02 July 2020
Goodluck to all of us waiting.

[N1234]

Finally Ceremony done!! I had to wait 18 days for it, a week before my ceremony I sent a complaint about not having the option to do a private ceremony for safety and for speed. They sent me an email saying I can book a private ceremony for earlier date. By then, it was too late because I was gonna have my ceremony in a week time. So for anyone waiting for ceremony, it might be worth emailing your council to speed up the process if it takes long like mine.

Good luck everyone and see you in passport.

Waiting for approval- 21/12/2019–03/07/20 (6 months and 10 days)

Waiting for invitation- 03/07/2020 — 25/09/20 (2 months and 22 days)

Waiting for ceremony day- 25/09/20 — 13/10/20 (18 days)

It almost took 10 months.

[AsPa]

Dear Members,
Hope you are wearing the best colours of health.
This is what i got via email today.

Baybars1 your formula is working

Dear Mr xxxxx

 

Thank you for contacting the Further Nationality Enquiry email inbox. We apologise for the delay in reply.

We can confirm that your ceremony invitation was dispatched on 28 September. We ask that you allow 10 working days for delivery.

In normal circumstances customers were required to book their citizenship ceremony within three months of being sent an invitation from the Home Office.  Due to the current circumstances we have extended this period to six months. We will keep this under constant review. Please be assured that no adverse decisions will be made on your application because of delays caused by Coronavirus (unless there is a material change in your circumstances, for example, you are convicted of a criminal offence).      

 

Yours sincerely

 

X xxxx

Central Operations

UK Visas & Immigration

What date was your approval date please ?

Hello The Traveller,
Approved 29 June 2020 via post
Received 02 July 2020
Goodluck to all of us waiting.

Oh i got approved the same date as you too... so hopefully we should received the invitation letter within the next week or so.... Finger crossed....

[BoyTed]

Dear Members,
Hope you are wearing the best colours of health.
This is what i got via email today.

Baybars1 your formula is working

Dear Mr xxxxx

 

Thank you for contacting the Further Nationality Enquiry email inbox. We apologise for the delay in reply.

We can confirm that your ceremony invitation was dispatched on 28 September. We ask that you allow 10 working days for delivery.

In normal circumstances customers were required to book their citizenship ceremony within three months of being sent an invitation from the Home Office.  Due to the current circumstances we have extended this period to six months. We will keep this under constant review. Please be assured that no adverse decisions will be made on your application because of delays caused by Coronavirus (unless there is a material change in your circumstances, for example, you are convicted of a criminal offence).      

 

Yours sincerely

 

X xxxx

Central Operations

UK Visas & Immigration

What date was your approval date please ?

Hello The Traveller,
Approved 29 June 2020 via post
Received 02 July 2020
Goodluck to all of us waiting.

Oh i got approved the same date as you too... so hopefully we should received the invitation letter within the next week or so.... Finger crossed....

Indeed Aspa,
It's been a long wait hopefully next week.
Goodluck to all of us in this forum.

[Vilandra]

Good afternoon everyone
Good news but half at the moment. I received my invitation letter today dated 26/09/20. But when I call my council few time it seems like they force you to hear all the long speech about covid and then they drop your call. I emailed to the registrar office about the ceremony letter has arrived and need to book a ceremony now. Someone replied saying they haven't received my certificate yet with advice the 21 days booking time is no longer enforced because of covid.
My time line is as below
Application made 03/03/20
Biometric done on 12/06/20
Approval letter dated 25/06/20
Letter receive date 30/06/20
Invitation later date 26/09/20
Invitation letter received 13/06/20
I will try my luck again on Thursday will see what they say
Good luck to everyone who are waiting.

Hi Roxen, I had a call from the council today, they have only just received my certificate that very morning and it came special delivery whilst I received an invitation letter on Saturday sent second class. So might be a few more days

[ASegs]

Hi All,
Hope you are keeping well. Massive thanks to the coordinators and contributors of this forum! Its been a massive help.

Is anyone from Oxfordshire County Council? I received my invitation on 28/09/2020 dated 01/09/2020 (I applied in 09/03/2020 got approval email 09/06/2020). I have been trying to get my ceremony booked but the council says they are yet to received certificate from HO.

Below is the reply I received on Friday 09/10/2020 from the registers office


Good Afternoon,

Please be aware we are still waiting for certificates to be delivered from the Home Office, there is an issue with the courier service they use which we have raised with them.

If you have received a letter from the Home Office stating you need to contact your local authority to book a ceremony with in 21 days do not worry due to the pandemic this is no longer being enforced.

As soon as we receive your certificate of naturalisation from the Home Office we will send you an invitation to the earliest available ceremony date.



Thank you for your patience during this time.

Is anyone else in similar situation ?

[standrews]

Dear Members,
Hope you are wearing the best colours of health.
This is what i got via email today.

Baybars1 your formula is working

Dear Mr xxxxx

 

Thank you for contacting the Further Nationality Enquiry email inbox. We apologise for the delay in reply.

We can confirm that your ceremony invitation was dispatched on 28 September. We ask that you allow 10 working days for delivery.

In normal circumstances customers were required to book their citizenship ceremony within three months of being sent an invitation from the Home Office.  Due to the current circumstances we have extended this period to six months. We will keep this under constant review. Please be assured that no adverse decisions will be made on your application because of delays caused by Coronavirus (unless there is a material change in your circumstances, for example, you are convicted of a criminal offence).      

 

Yours sincerely

 

X xxxx

Central Operations

UK Visas & Immigration

Hi BoyTed,

Many congratulations and I hope you get the letter in a day or two. In how many days does this "Further Nationality Enquiry email" replied back to you?

Thanks!

[nnn15]

Hi BoyTed, congratulations!
Which email did you send your enquiry to and how long did they take to respond?

Dear Members,
Hope you are wearing the best colours of health.
This is what i got via email today.

Baybars1 your formula is working

Dear Mr xxxxx

 

Thank you for contacting the Further Nationality Enquiry email inbox. We apologise for the delay in reply.

We can confirm that your ceremony invitation was dispatched on 28 September. We ask that you allow 10 working days for delivery.

In normal circumstances customers were required to book their citizenship ceremony within three months of being sent an invitation from the Home Office.  Due to the current circumstances we have extended this period to six months. We will keep this under constant review. Please be assured that no adverse decisions will be made on your application because of delays caused by Coronavirus (unless there is a material change in your circumstances, for example, you are convicted of a criminal offence).      

 

Yours sincerely

 

X xxxx

Central Operations

UK Visas & Immigration

[lmannova]

Is there anyone here from Greenwich council?
If so any updates from them?

Been waiting since June. Applied in Mar approved in June and still waiting for my invitation letter

Hi, I am am from Greenwich council.

Did you receive your invitation letter already?

My approval was on 20th July but I am worried they suspended the ceremonies for now..

[Roxen]

Good afternoon everyone
Good news but half at the moment. I received my invitation letter today dated 26/09/20. But when I call my council few time it seems like they force you to hear all the long speech about covid and then they drop your call. I emailed to the registrar office about the ceremony letter has arrived and need to book a ceremony now. Someone replied saying they haven't received my certificate yet with advice the 21 days booking time is no longer enforced because of covid.
My time line is as below
Application made 03/03/20
Biometric done on 12/06/20
Approval letter dated 25/06/20
Letter receive date 30/06/20
Invitation later date 26/09/20
Invitation letter received 13/06/20
I will try my luck again on Thursday will see what they say
Good luck to everyone who are waiting.

Hi Roxen, I had a call from the council today, they have only just received my certificate that very morning and it came special delivery whilst I received an invitation letter on Saturday sent second class. So might be a few more days

Hello Velindre
Congratulations to you. You are lucky that they actually called you and confirmed that your certificate has arrived. But my council which is Oxfordshire county council which has resumed ceremonies since July but still they are not helpful and doesn't like to be contacted until you have received the invitation letter. Now I have received it they only confirmed that no certificate has arrived yet. I am hoping next week they will it.

[Roxen]

Hi All,
Hope you are keeping well. Massive thanks to the coordinators and contributors of this forum! Its been a massive help.

Is anyone from Oxfordshire County Council? I received my invitation on 28/09/2020 dated 01/09/2020 (I applied in 09/03/2020 got approval email 09/06/2020). I have been trying to get my ceremony booked but the council says they are yet to received certificate from HO.

Below is the reply I received on Friday 09/10/2020 from the registers office


Good Afternoon,

Please be aware we are still waiting for certificates to be delivered from the Home Office, there is an issue with the courier service they use which we have raised with them.

If you have received a letter from the Home Office stating you need to contact your local authority to book a ceremony with in 21 days do not worry due to the pandemic this is no longer being enforced.

As soon as we receive your certificate of naturalisation from the Home Office we will send you an invitation to the earliest available ceremony date.



Thank you for your patience during this time.

Is anyone else in similar situation ?

Hello ASegs
I am in a same boat where you are. I am also from Oxfordshire county council. No wonder why Oxfordshire county council is very popular in the whole country they always have issues, they may be arguing with the courier company demanding them to pay money with the certificates. ( just joking ) same here they told me this morning that 21 days limit is not in force. That means forget about your ceremony go back to waiting. Good luck man its been over 2 weeks they couldn't get your certificate. Now I need more patience and this wait is killing me. Please do update here when they received it so I can see some hope. Good luck