Change of ceremony council

[Shakj00007]

Hello experts,

I have applied for naturalisation 2 months back and awaiting decision. I mentioned Hounslow as the council for ceremony in the application. Currently for personal reasons, I have travelled to india and will not be able to come back to Uk at least for next 4-5 months and hence I will not be able to attend ceremony if the application is approved.

I need answers for the following

1. What should I do to change the ceremony council ?
2. Which council provides online ceremony and is there a list / link available to see all councils with online ceremony.

Thanks
Shak

[secret.simon]

Keep in mind that

(a) online ceremonies were only brought in because of Covid. They are not the norm and as Covid becomes normalised/we learn to live with Covid in the long term, the online option will likely disappear.

(b) Even for online ceremonies, you are expected to be in the UK and you will likely be asked to confirm that before the ceremony. You can't do the online ceremony from overseas, if that is your plan. And if you lie, that naturalisation can be withdrawn as being based on deception.

If you applied for citizenship in the UK, you cannot have your ceremony abroad.

(c) Changing councils can take a few months in itself. The certificate would be returned to the Home Office and the Home Office will then liaise with the new council to transfer the certificate to them and make the necessary arrangements with them.

(d) If the Home Office becomes aware that you are absent from the UK for a significant period of time (6 months or more), they will treat it as a failure of the future intentions requirement and refuse the naturalisation application.

(Page 36)
If the applicant is abroad or is about to go abroad for a continuous period of more than 6 months, you should normally refuse the application and advise the applicant to re-apply, on their return to the UK, for permanent residence