Citizenship Ceremony cancelled due to Covid-19

[Helen123]

Hi @Frou01?

I was approved in September for Birmingham but haven’t received my invitation letter. Who do you ring to ask about your certificate? I hope you hear back from the registry office soon!

Thank you so much!

[nnn15]

I wonder if anyone has received a reply from citizenship.support@homeoffice.gov.uk?
I have emailed the above regarding my invitation letter three times in the last 3 months and still no reply.
In the current set up or the Home Office attitudes as you like, there is no way to find out if my certificate has been already printed or when will I get the invitation letter.
There is also no way to talk to anyone at the HO who can provide you any real update at all.
Yeah... and then on the other side, you have Croydon Council doing what they do best – happily following those so-called "national restrictions" and closing everything up. No common sense, no solution, comfortable being stuck in "stone age" bubble. Just Great! Covid - I am sick of this word.

I received a response, but it took them more than 3 months (I'm waiting since April and first emailed them in July). The response just said they forwarded my enquiry to the "relevant department" and I have no idea how long it will take to confirm the status of my application.

[Frou01]

Hi @Frou01?

I was approved in September for Birmingham but haven’t received my invitation letter. Who do you ring to ask about your certificate? I hope you hear back from the registry office soon!

Thank you so much!

Hi Helen!

They don’t answer calls.
I email them: Citizenship.Ceremonies@birmingham.gov.uk

[Cost Manager]

I called Westminster Registry yesterday one more time. Again receptionist had no clue, he said no one was in the office today. Last week I have been told that they expect to receive a big batch on Monday. As soon as lockdown announced over the weekend,they stopped coming to office and put the approvals in the system I guess. Big Councils are complete failure. I wish I would pick some rural council dealing with fewer citizenship applications.

[Helen123]

Hi @Frou01?

I was approved in September for Birmingham but haven’t received my invitation letter. Who do you ring to ask about your certificate? I hope you hear back from the registry office soon!

Thank you so much!

Hi Helen!

They don’t answer calls.
I email them: Citizenship.Ceremonies@birmingham.gov.uk

That’s great! Thank you!

[Cocobana]

I read the legislation for the lockdown and Reg 11(4) Exception 3 is that the person concerned is fulfilling a legal obligation or participating in legal proceedings- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/202 ... paign=post

Means citizenship ceremony can continue.


Citizenship ceremony is a legal obligation! So all the local authorities who have suspended the ceremony without further instructions from the government are just pure ignorant.
I am going to write my council and insist on making a complaint if they shut down citizenship ceremony.
If council can perform the ceremony in person they should be able to conduct private and/or virtual ceremony but to suspend it, is not acceptable.

[Frou01]

I read the legislation for the lockdown and Reg 11(4) Exception 3 is that the person concerned is fulfilling a legal obligation or participating in legal proceedings- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/202 ... paign=post

Means citizenship ceremony can continue.


Citizenship ceremony is a legal obligation! So all the local authorities who have suspended the ceremony without further instructions from the government are just pure ignorant.
I am going to write my council and insist on making a complaint if they shut down citizenship ceremony.
If council can perform the ceremony in person they should be able to conduct private and/or virtual ceremony but to suspend it, is not acceptable.

Thank you for this.

I couldn’t agree more.

The link for formal complaints is a few posts above.

[Parisiana]

I called Westminster Registry yesterday one more time. Again receptionist had no clue, he said no one was in the office today. Last week I have been told that they expect to receive a big batch on Monday. As soon as lockdown announced over the weekend,they stopped coming to office and put the approvals in the system I guess. Big Councils are complete failure. I wish I would pick some rural council dealing with fewer citizenship applications.

It's still possible to book ceremonies online on their website but I guess it won't help if they stopped coming to office and processing certificates... They should at least keep shadow staff to make sure nothing gets lost / delayed during this period. I wonder how they will deal with the backlog post lockdown given UKVCAS and UKVI are still running full speed.

[Cost Manager]

I called Westminster Registry yesterday one more time. Again receptionist had no clue, he said no one was in the office today. Last week I have been told that they expect to receive a big batch on Monday. As soon as lockdown announced over the weekend,they stopped coming to office and put the approvals in the system I guess. Big Councils are complete failure. I wish I would pick some rural council dealing with fewer citizenship applications.

It's still possible to book ceremonies online on their website but I guess it won't help if they stopped coming to office and processing certificates... They should at least keep shadow staff to make sure nothing gets lost / delayed during this period. I wonder how they will deal with the backlog post lockdown given UKVCAS and UKVI are still running full speed.

Yes it is still possible however it is possible as long as they feed the system with the new approval which they currently don't do. As they think lock down kicked in and no ceremonies anyway so no rush.

[baybars1]

Also I’m very disappointed to see HO is NOT sending certificates in strict order.
Some people still waiting from May and June and a majority for July, pretty much everyone for August, but September approvals have their certificates send to their councils already?
That’s not ok (as much as I understand that’s good news for the individual as also them have had a two months wait at that stage) and doesn’t make a fair and professional impression.

It is not clear that these September approvals, they may have learned about their approvals in September, but the date when their approval was communicated is not necessarily the date when the decision was made.

For example, I have noticed that people who were told about their approval in September and whose certificates have already arrived would have applied well before the lockdown whereas most September approvals are those who applied between June and August this year.

Now, given that that the communication of the approval decision separately from the ceremony invitation is a recent addition to the process, there is a good chance that many people who learned about their approvals in September had actually been approved way earlier, but the Home Office hadn't got round to informing them.

[Tamera]

Also I’m very disappointed to see HO is NOT sending certificates in strict order.
Some people still waiting from May and June and a majority for July, pretty much everyone for August, but September approvals have their certificates send to their councils already?
That’s not ok (as much as I understand that’s good news for the individual as also them have had a two months wait at that stage) and doesn’t make a fair and professional impression.

It is not clear that these September approvals, they may have learned about their approvals in September, but the date when their approval was communicated is not necessarily the date when the decision was made.

For example, I have noticed that people who were told about their approval in September and whose certificates have already arrived would have applied well before the lockdown whereas most September approvals are those who applied between June and August this year.

Now, given that that the communication of the approval decision separately from the ceremony invitation is a recent addition to the process, there is a good chance that many people who learned about their approvals in September had actually been approved way earlier, but the Home Office hadn't got round to informing them.

Hi Baybars1,

I think you are right, as I applied for BC in March, and got approval in Sep. My certificate has arrived at Maidstone council, but no ceremony conducted during lockdown.

Thank you again for your time, help and support for all of us here.

Cheers,

Tamera

[Frou01]

Also I’m very disappointed to see HO is NOT sending certificates in strict order.
Some people still waiting from May and June and a majority for July, pretty much everyone for August, but September approvals have their certificates send to their councils already?
That’s not ok (as much as I understand that’s good news for the individual as also them have had a two months wait at that stage) and doesn’t make a fair and professional impression.

It is not clear that these September approvals, they may have learned about their approvals in September, but the date when their approval was communicated is not necessarily the date when the decision was made.

For example, I have noticed that people who were told about their approval in September and whose certificates have already arrived would have applied well before the lockdown whereas most September approvals are those who applied between June and August this year.

Now, given that that the communication of the approval decision separately from the ceremony invitation is a recent addition to the process, there is a good chance that many people who learned about their approvals in September had actually been approved way earlier, but the Home Office hadn't got round to informing them.

In this case yes, their biometrics date was in July just.

[Learning20]

Great news
I just recieved an email from my council saying the finally got my certificate and booked me in for wenesday morning.
Just as I was about to loose hope after a year of waiting. I am finally relieved this journey is over and done with soon.

To the guy bay (sorry cannot remember the rest of your name) I just want to thank you for helping us all through the hard time H.O has/ are given us. Your predicted timeline is accurate. Also for all the other people posting as well. Thank you all for your support.
Its important to stay positive what is meant for you will come your way the right time.
I hope you all hear great news soon

What is your approval date?

I was approved 17july

[Szrsrts]

Also I’m very disappointed to see HO is NOT sending certificates in strict order.
Some people still waiting from May and June and a majority for July, pretty much everyone for August, but September approvals have their certificates send to their councils already?
That’s not ok (as much as I understand that’s good news for the individual as also them have had a two months wait at that stage) and doesn’t make a fair and professional impression.

It is not clear that these September approvals, they may have learned about their approvals in September, but the date when their approval was communicated is not necessarily the date when the decision was made.

For example, I have noticed that people who were told about their approval in September and whose certificates have already arrived would have applied well before the lockdown whereas most September approvals are those who applied between June and August this year.

Now, given that that the communication of the approval decision separately from the ceremony invitation is a recent addition to the process, there is a good chance that many people who learned about their approvals in September had actually been approved way earlier, but the Home Office hadn't got round to informing them.

Hi Baybars1,

I think you are right, as I applied for BC in March, and got approval in Sep. My certificate has arrived at Maidstone council, but no ceremony conducted during lockdown.

Thank you again for your time, help and support for all of us here.

Cheers,

Tamera

Did you get any updates from Maidstone Council? I was approved in early August. Thank you

[Dorota01]

I wonder if anyone has received a reply from citizenship.support@homeoffice.gov.uk?
I have emailed the above regarding my invitation letter three times in the last 3 months and still no reply.
In the current set up or the Home Office attitudes as you like, there is no way to find out if my certificate has been already printed or when will I get the invitation letter.
There is also no way to talk to anyone at the HO who can provide you any real update at all.
Yeah... and then on the other side, you have Croydon Council doing what they do best – happily following those so-called "national restrictions" and closing everything up. No common sense, no solution, comfortable being stuck in "stone age" bubble. Just Great! Covid - I am sick of this word.

I received a response, but it took them more than 3 months (I'm waiting since April and first emailed them in July). The response just said they forwarded my enquiry to the "relevant department" and I have no idea how long it will take to confirm the status of my application.

Thank you @nnn15

[MannyWarrior]

I have sent another email to Manchester this morning for them to confirm my certificate arrival (Approval 7 July). It's not just my certificate, it's my whole family where we all got approved at once. I really hope they have received them for extra reassurance that's all.

Goodluck to everyone out there and I hope guidance from government is out soon so the registrars can remain open.

[nnn15]

Westminster council updated their website this morning - "We are not currently taking bookings for citizen ceremonies due to the national restrictions. We will provide more information as soon as it becomes available".

Hopefully there is a chance that private ceremonies will be allowed..
In case all in-person ceremonies are suspended there should be a way to do virtual ceremonies as the government stated they introduced it in July.

[Cost Manager]

Westminster council updated their website this morning - "We are not currently taking bookings for citizen ceremonies due to the national restrictions. We will provide more information as soon as it becomes available".

Hopefully there is a chance that private ceremonies will be allowed..
In case all in-person ceremonies are suspended there should be a way to do virtual ceremonies as the government stated they introduced it in July.

Westmister is the most archaic council ever. They will never do virtual ceremonies. They even stopped coming office this week as soon as they heard about national restrictions.

[Tamera]

Also I’m very disappointed to see HO is NOT sending certificates in strict order.
Some people still waiting from May and June and a majority for July, pretty much everyone for August, but September approvals have their certificates send to their councils already?
That’s not ok (as much as I understand that’s good news for the individual as also them have had a two months wait at that stage) and doesn’t make a fair and professional impression.

It is not clear that these September approvals, they may have learned about their approvals in September, but the date when their approval was communicated is not necessarily the date when the decision was made.

For example, I have noticed that people who were told about their approval in September and whose certificates have already arrived would have applied well before the lockdown whereas most September approvals are those who applied between June and August this year.

Now, given that that the communication of the approval decision separately from the ceremony invitation is a recent addition to the process, there is a good chance that many people who learned about their approvals in September had actually been approved way earlier, but the Home Office hadn't got round to informing them.

Hi Baybars1,

I think you are right, as I applied for BC in March, and got approval in Sep. My certificate has arrived at Maidstone council, but no ceremony conducted during lockdown.

Thank you again for your time, help and support for all of us here.

Cheers,

Tamera

Did you get any updates from Maidstone Council? I was approved in early August. Thank you

I just posted an update abt it. Basically, the council will not conduct any ceremonies during lockdown. If you have not yet received yours, you may want to try to phone them now as I just phoned and spoke to a very nice lady at 9:45am this morning. She went through the list to check whether my name was there. Mine was received a week ago. Good luck.

[Gonzo14]

Hi all

For those awaiting citizenship ceremony from Barnsley council I spoke to them and they said that they are conducting ceremonies on an individual basis and allowed 1 guest . They have been receiving certificates regularly from the home office. I was approved on 24 July after making my application in September 2019. So hopefully I don’t have to wait long for the ceremony

Hi all

I contacted my local registrar and they informed me that they received my certificate and that they have booked me in for my ceremony on 1 December, they didn’t ask me to bring anything but am allowed to bring one guest. I haven’t received my invitation yet but I will keep the forum updated when I do. My approval was 24 July 2020, applied September 2019.

[nnn15]

Westminster council updated their website this morning - "We are not currently taking bookings for citizen ceremonies due to the national restrictions. We will provide more information as soon as it becomes available".

Hopefully there is a chance that private ceremonies will be allowed..
In case all in-person ceremonies are suspended there should be a way to do virtual ceremonies as the government stated they introduced it in July.

Westmister is the most archaic council ever. They will never do virtual ceremonies. They even stopped coming office this week as soon as they heard about national restrictions.

I found the people from registrar office very nice and helpful, they always responded to me (unlike the HO) and shared some information. And some other members posted that Westminster council allowed them to attend the ceremony without the invitation letter if the certificate was with the council.

The problem with the virtual ceremonies conducted in the UK is that it's a half-baked solution because the certificates are physical. Nothing can progress fast if the HO has been unable to print the certificates in so many months. If the certificates were digital instead, registrars could do virtual ceremonies from home and the backlog could be cleared a lot faster.

My certificate hasn't been printed in over 6 months and I can't see how it can move forward now with the new lockdown. I'm going to send an email to my MP and ask them to advocate for a solution that could allow successful applicants to become citizens (virtual ceremonies, digital certificates). I don't have my hopes high, but a try is better than nothing.

[oxana777]

Asked Bristol council if they received my certificate but got a generic response. Dont think they even read my email properly. Im extremely angry. Why some councils carry on with ceremonies and others just cancel?? So fed up with this crap

Good morning,

We are very sorry to inform you that, due to the current Government restrictions, all citizenship ceremonies have had to be cancelled from 5th November to 2nd December.

Anyone who has booked a private or group ceremony will be contacted as soon as we are ready to start taking bookings again.

Thank you for your patience at this difficult time.

Kind regards


Ceremonies Team
Bristol Register Office
The Old Council House
Corn Street
Bristol BS1 1JG
Tel: 0117 9222800

[Szrsrts]

It is not clear that these September approvals, they may have learned about their approvals in September, but the date when their approval was communicated is not necessarily the date when the decision was made.

For example, I have noticed that people who were told about their approval in September and whose certificates have already arrived would have applied well before the lockdown whereas most September approvals are those who applied between June and August this year.

Now, given that that the communication of the approval decision separately from the ceremony invitation is a recent addition to the process, there is a good chance that many people who learned about their approvals in September had actually been approved way earlier, but the Home Office hadn't got round to informing them.

Hi Baybars1,

I think you are right, as I applied for BC in March, and got approval in Sep. My certificate has arrived at Maidstone council, but no ceremony conducted during lockdown.

Thank you again for your time, help and support for all of us here.

Cheers,

Tamera

Did you get any updates from Maidstone Council? I was approved in early August. Thank you

I just posted an update abt it. Basically, the council will not conduct any ceremonies during lockdown. If you have not yet received yours, you may want to try to phone them now as I just phoned and spoke to a very nice lady at 9:45am this morning. She went through the list to check whether my name was there. Mine was received a week ago. Good luck.

May I please have the number? Thank you

[baybars1]

In this case yes, their biometrics date was in July just.

Indeed, the biometrics submission date is probably a better predictor of the approval date than the approval email itself, with the actual approval date being somewhere between the two dates.

Take for example this member (a "July" approval whose citizenship ceremony took place in early September):

UKapplicant
Method of application: Online
Date of application: 25 Feb 2020
Payment method: Credit Card
Date of acknowledgement: 27 Feb 2020
Date of debit of fees: 25 Feb 20
Date Bio metrics enrolled: 2 Mar (paid £75, as no free appts avail in London)
Date mentioned on Approval letter: 28th July
Date of receipt of approval: 7 Sept by letter, I never received an email
Date of receipt of ceremony letter: email 8th Sept
Date of Ceremony: 23rd September
british-citizenship/naturalisation-appl ... 11400.html

[Ailed]

hello
is there anyone from slough council? are they doing ceremony or they have stopped? and if you call them will they check if the have the certificate or you have to wait for invitation letter?

Hi,
I’m with Slough council, I have called them last week and they have received my certificate (July 2nd approval), but I’m still waiting for the invite letter. They’re saying no ceremony without the invitation. Tried to plead with the nice lady, explaining that other councils in the country are doing ceremonies without the invitation, but unsuccessful.
Maybe if you give them a ring and say the same thing she might believe us.