Citizenship Ceremony cancelled due to Covid-19

[baybars1]

Hi Everyone

Having the backlog cleared for up to the 7th August by end of this week is really great news!

However am just wondering what would be the situation for the late August, September and early October approvals; are they going to wait till 2021 to get their invitation letters???

Also am not sure why are councils reluctant to inform the callers if their certificates are received or not.

Here is my projection based on the information we have on this forum:

Approved on -- Letter date - - - ----Letter arrival, date range------------
08/08/2020 - - - 22/10/2020 - - - from 29/10/2020 - - - to 12/11/2020
15/08/2020 - - - 26/10/2020 - - - from 02/11/2020 - - - to 16/11/2020
19/08/2020 - - - 28/10/2020 - - - from 04/11/2020 - - - to 18/11/2020
29/08/2020 - - - 02/11/2020 - - - from 09/11/2020 - - - to 23/11/2020
01/09/2020 - - - 04/11/2020 - - - from 11/11/2020 - - - to 25/11/2020
08/09/2020 - - - 06/11/2020 - - - from 13/11/2020 - - - to 27/11/2020
10/09/2020 - - - 09/11/2020 - - - from 16/11/2020 - - - to 30/11/2020
22/09/2020 - - - 14/11/2020 - - - from 21/11/2020 - - - to 05/12/2020
29/09/2020 - - - 18/11/2020 - - - from 25/11/2020 - - - to 09/12/2020
01/10/2020 - - - 19/11/2020 - - - from 26/11/2020 - - - to 10/12/2020
08/10/2020 - - - 24/11/2020 - - - from 01/12/2020 - - - to 15/12/2020
15/10/2020 - - - 26/11/2020 - - - from 03/12/2020 - - - to 17/12/2020
22/10/2020 - - - 01/12/2020 - - - from 08/12/2020 - - - to 22/12/2020
29/10/2020 - - - 03/12/2020 - - - from 10/12/2020 - - - to 24/12/2020
01/11/2020 - - - 04/12/2020 - - - from 11/12/2020 - - - to 25/12/2020
08/11/2020 - - - 09/12/2020 - - - from 16/12/2020 - - - to 30/12/2020
15/11/2020 - - - 12/12/2020 - - - from 19/12/2020 - - - to 02/01/2021
22/11/2020 - - - 16/12/2020 - - - from 23/12/2020 - - - to 06/01/2021
29/11/2020 - - - 19/12/2020 - - - from 26/12/2020 - - - to 09/01/2021
01/12/2020 - - - 21/12/2020 - - - from 28/12/2020 - - - to 11/01/2021
08/12/2020 - - - 24/12/2020 - - - from 31/12/2020 - - - to 14/01/2021
15/12/2020 - - - 29/12/2020 - - - from 05/01/2021 - - - to 19/01/2021
22/12/2020 - - - 31/12/2020 - - - from 07/01/2021 - - - to 21/01/2021
29/12/2020 - - - 05/01/2021 - - - from 12/01/2021 - - - to 26/01/2021
02/01/2021 - - - 06/01/2021 - - - from 13/01/2021 - - - to 27/01/2021
08/01/2021 - - - 11/01/2021 - - - from 18/01/2021 - - - to 01/02/2021
15/01/2021 - - - 15/01/2021 - - - from 22/01/2021 - - - to 05/02/2021

[024601]

I got nothing today either.

I contacted my council (again!) and they yet again said nothing has been received. Although I think they are just copying and pasting the same response because they are getting tired of my emails rather than actually checking if anything has arrived.

Hopefully it's true that the councils will be getting the certificates by the end of the week but with the way the HO has been dealing with the whole backlog, I highly doubt this will turn out to be true.

[BoyTed]

Looking good guys got email from my council without me emailing them.

Dear Xxx

I am emailing to confirm we have received your certificate. Please may you send us your contact telephone number to call you on to book in a ceremony.

 

Kind regards,
Xxx

[Soo123]

Congratulations boyted

If you can post your approval date and name of the council.

Apologies if you have posted them in the past

[BoyTed]

Hello Everyone,
Any update from H&F council?
Any one that asked them if they received batch please update us.
I can also smell trouble the Home Office are not sending invitation letter and the council's threatening to cancel the booking if you don't receive your letter.
This looks like catch 21

I'm on H&F as well, but my last update from them is from mid-September. They didn't reveal the dates of the last certificates nor how often they were receiving them. I asked twice, apparently they don't like sharing that information. They don't do virtual ceremonies and they don't book ceremonies without the invitation letter from the Home Office. Thus, I'm stuck waiting for the H.O. =(

Hi there,
Update for you H&F They have now email them please read my post.

[BoyTed]

Congratulations boyted

If you can post your approval date and name of the council.

Apologies if you have posted them in the past

Hello soo123,
My council is Hammersmith and Fulham got the letter via post on 2nd July 2020 but letter date was 29 june 2020.

[Soo123]

Congratulations
My approval date is 4 August will call the council tomorrow

[jayzone1]

Approval 7 July 2020, just received a call from my local council for a Ceremony this coming Tuesday

[antti]

Hi,

I have been following this forum for quite a while now and thought I'd share this.
Approved: July 16
Council: Westminster

I haven't received the letter yet, but I tried today to book the ceremony online anyway and it worked! So they have my certificate at the Council.

6 ceremonies are available to book: Nov 4 and Nov 10 (3 per day)

Hope it helps!

[CheshireKnight]

Approval 7 July 2020, just received a call from my local council for a Ceremony this coming Tuesday

Congrats

Have they mentioned anything about the invitation letter?

[Waitingagain]

Hi all, spoke to my council, they confirmed that they received a big batch yesterday and was told by HO that they’ll receive another big batch next week, which they think will include up to end of August.

It might actually be happening.....

[Ccouture]

Good afternoon. My council is Newcastle Under Lyme. Rang HO I was told I will receive IL by the end of this week, Friday or Saturday. Loool. Would be nice, but certainly not holding my breath. But I will let you guys know if and when I do.

[nnn15]

Hi,

I have been following this forum for quite a while now and thought I'd share this.
Approved: July 16
Council: Westminster

I haven't received the letter yet, but I tried today to book the ceremony online anyway and it worked! So they have my certificate at the Council.

6 ceremonies are available to book: Nov 4 and Nov 10 (3 per day)

Hope it helps!

Congratulations!
I've just tried now, unfortunately got "Your records cannot be retrieved". I'm just hoping my application didn't get lost as I was approved in spring during the lockdown...

[antti]

Hi,

I have been following this forum for quite a while now and thought I'd share this.
Approved: July 16
Council: Westminster

I haven't received the letter yet, but I tried today to book the ceremony online anyway and it worked! So they have my certificate at the Council.

6 ceremonies are available to book: Nov 4 and Nov 10 (3 per day)

Hope it helps!

Congratulations!
I've just tried now, unfortunately got "Your records cannot be retrieved". I'm just hoping my application didn't get lost as I was approved in spring during the lockdown...

Thank you!

I think it is worth trying again this evening and tomorrow. Maybe it takes time for them to update the system? I tried this morning at 8am and had the same results, then tried at lunchtime and it worked.

[jayzone1]

Approval 7 July 2020, just received a call from my local council for a Ceremony this coming Tuesday

Congrats

Have they mentioned anything about the invitation letter?

She mentioned that she would be posting a letter to me but they did not say anything about bringing it with me. I was just too excited at the news and we both said bye and see you on Tue, No guests allowed. I will be taking my driving licence, travel document, bank cards, biometric card and the Home-Office PDF that I printed out. Hopefully it all goes well

[justaquery]

Called Bristol council today, they said they had received a batch of certificates yesterday. She said they are expecting another one on Wednesday next week and to call and check on Thursday. Things are picking up pace now.

[Soo123]

Ukba reminds me of Pakistan’s Cricket Team one minute down next minute up

[Small]

I wonder if anyone know about my question. My friend got approved in February when restrictions were not imposed. He was out of country. he came back and found his invitation post on door. He rang the council and it was too late. Council already sent his certificate back to HO. He rang HO and explain the reason. Today After 3 weeks he got call from council today that his certificate has arrived. The council told him he could have either choose private ceremony ( £140) or virtual cermony on zoom. He is not sure which option is quicker to get a certificate. He reckons he will go for virtual cermony as he is going out of UK again. His question is how would he get the certificate after having online ceremony. Would he get certificate by post or by email. If by post how long it would take he gets it in UK please

[oxana777]

Called Bristol council today, they said they had received a batch of certificates yesterday. She said they are expecting another one on Wednesday next week and to call and check on Thursday. Things are picking up pace now.

Amazing, did they say what approval date they received, also what is their number? Can you share please? I can only find the email address and i prefer to just call them instead

[fanta]

The certificate is a paper document and will be sent by post. I think there is a requirement that the person has to be in the UK for the zoom ceremony. The most sensible thing for your friend is to do the ceremony on zoom in the UK, wait for the certificate to arrive at this home which is usually sent by special delivery, apply and wait for the passport before travelling out of the country again.

I wonder if anyone know about my question. My friend got approved in February when restrictions were not imposed. He was out of country. he came back and found his invitation post on door. He rang the council and it was too late. Council already sent his certificate back to HO. He rang HO and explain the reason. Today After 3 weeks he got call from council today that his certificate has arrived. The council told him he could have either choose private ceremony ( £140) or virtual cermony on zoom. He is not sure which option is quicker to get a certificate. He reckons he will go for virtual cermony as he is going out of UK again. His question is how would he get the certificate after having online ceremony. Would he get certificate by post or by email. If by post how long it would take he gets it in UK please

[Small]

Thank you Fanta, but what incase of he chosen private ceremony. Would he get his certificate on same day hand over to him please

[024601]

Thank you Fanta, but what incase of he chosen private ceremony. Would he get his certificate on same day hand over to him please

In Southampton, the private ceremony is the exact same as a group one with the only difference being that it's just you and the registrar (and your guests if allowed) no one else would be there. They make you repeat the oath, sing the anthem and then hand you your certificate. So technically in a private ceremony you would get your certificate the same day.

I'm pretty sure private ceremonies are the same everywhere so I think the above would be accurate and applicable for your friend as well.

[Small]

Thank you 024601. I think pvt ceremony is good option for him

[deoliveira]

Anybody from Greenwich here and waiting? I called today and spoke with a helpful chap who looked on the system but my name hasn't been logged on the system yet. There also seems to be some form of division of labour where phone enquiries are dealt with by general Registrar staff rather than those who have direct dealings with the Citizenship side of things. My approval date was 31/07 and this week marks the 12th week "upper limit" according to Home Office.

[Nat23]

Hi everyone

I also contacted my local (Slough Borough) Council yesterday and was told HO has sent them an email confirming that they will receive the certificates for July approvals by next week. I was approved on 31st ofJuly so let’s hope for the best

Thanks for the update. I’m with Slough Council too. 2nd of July approval. I’ll ring them tomorrow (Friday) and check if they’ve arrived. Will keep you posted.

Yes please. I will be waiting for the update. Good to know someone here is with the same council.