Citizenship invitation

[kofimensah200]

I have been a silent participant in these board. I read people's situation but never contributed any information.I will like to brief every member about the process of my citizenship application. Brief story, I was deported from the UK in December 2006 back to Ghana for working illegally ,i agreed to go voluntarily which i did.My spanish girlfriend visited me in Ghana and we got married in May 2009then i applied for spanish residence in 2009 and was granted and was living in spain. In 2010 we decided to move to the UK which i applied for EEAfamily permit and it was issued, we travelled down to the Uk and after 2 months applied for the residence card which was issued as well. I got my permanent residence in february 2016 cos i didnt apply for it early and I decided to apply for British citizenship in August 2017.I applied thru NCS and within a month biometric was done then in end of October i received a strange letter from UKVI saying their record shows i was present in the UK from August 2007 till 20 May 2009.The letter sent shivers thru my body as i was scared of losing the application fee. I was told to fill a form of how i survived in the country,whether i worked or collected benefit.I picked up a pen and wrote a letter to the caseworker that something is wrong with the information they have as according to my SAR i was deported in 2006 and i had a copy of my flight ticket and letter given to me by the immigration so how could i have been in the uk. I also pointed out that while in Spain, my wife gave birth in Spain on 20 may 2009 so its not possible i was in the UK, I provided marriage and birth certificate and within 2 days of me sending those information my application showed decided online, i was kinda scared cos it was so fast and when the decision letter came on thursday, it was an approval letter and told to wait for citizenship invitation before contacting the council.
Can anyone advise if i can contact the council with the approval letter alone and get my ceremony booked and also if i opt for private ceremony cos my council says its 145 pounds do i have to pay the 145 pounds or i just need to add the difference since i already paid ukvi 80 pounds along with my application.

[baddy]

You have to pay ceremony fee of the type you choose ... The £80 you paid with the application fee is for the certificate and not for ceremony. And the certificate will be sent to your council.

[CR001]

You have to pay ceremony fee of the type you choose ... The £80 you paid with the application fee is for the certificate and not for ceremony. And the certificate will be sent to your council.

Please dont give incorrect advice. The £80 is the ceremony fee, i.e. the group ceremony.

If the OP wants a private ceremony, they have to pay the full £145 for it and this is set price by the each council.

The £80 group ceremony fee is set by HO.

[kofimensah200]

Thanks CR001, I also will like to find out if I can book and attend the ceremony without the Citizenship invite received yet as I only received the approval letter. Thanks

[CR001]

You can try, but the Council might want the reference number on the invite letter. It usually takes a few days/week after the approval letter, be a bit patient.

[kofimensah200]

Hi All,
I really need help on who to contact regarding my Citizenship invite, I received a letter back with my documents informing me that my application has been successful and later was dated 14 nov and received 17 nov. I was told to expect the invitation but I haven’t received it yet and don’t know if it’s lost in the post . Please advise on what to do. Thanks

[CR001]

Have you contacted the council yet to ask them??

[kofimensah200]

Council not picking up calls

[hussainfarhad]

Give it about 2-3 weeks as the approval letter states. If not email them on the address provided in your approval. Most probably the letter is printed there but not yet dispatched which has been happening recently according to some posts here.

[AdInfernos]

Hi All,
I really need help on who to contact regarding my Citizenship invite, I received a letter back with my documents informing me that my application has been successful and later was dated 14 nov and received 17 nov. I was told to expect the invitation but I haven’t received it yet and don’t know if it’s lost in the post . Please advise on what to do. Thanks

My approval letter was received on 11 November dated 7 November. Still waiting for invitation letter. Yesterday I contacted the Council and they haven't got my certificate so I have emailed home office.

Probably the relevant department has a backlog. Or their printer run out of ink...