Citizenship Ceremony cancelled due to Covid-19

[Cost Manager]

Thanks to everybody on this thread. The journey has been rough and tough BUT I got there in the end.

Ceremony finally done today this morning at 10am. Jusy about 15mims in total.

See yoh all in the passport thread.

Thanks to baybars, and everyone who has contributed...

You are welcome. A quick question: had you received your invitation letter prior to attending the ceremony and what was the date on it, if you can share?

I never got the letter.. just went with my approval email printed out.

what council? Did th they say anything when you cant provide the letter

[FreshFromTheGrave]

Well I phoned Brent council today to see what was happening since all they told people was "your ceremony is cancelled" and literally no other information. They aren't rescheduling any ceremonies until the lockdown is lifted. So just gotta wait until it's lifted and then phone again to make a new appointment.

[Belle01]

Does anyone know how reliable the information from the citizenship support mailbox is? I have received the same generic response below twice today for 2 separate emails that I sent to them 2 months ago and 2 days ago. All received today simultaneously to the separate emails.

'Good Afternoon,

I refer to your application for British Citizenship and your email enquiry.

Upon investigation I can confirm that your citizenship ceremony documents have not yet been printed or despatched to the local authority. Your citizenship paperwork will be generated in coming weeks when current restrictions due to Coronavirus are eased.

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).

Kind regards

UKVI'

I wonder if they actually check or send this out in response to all emails? Because it will be shocking to hear that the documents will be printed off after the current restrictions when I have been waiting for 12 weeks now. Not sure how long after such an email anyone got their invitation/certificate?

I got exactly the same template 2 weeks ago [email was sent in August]. I don't think they check it tbh.

Ok thanks, we'll just have to wait and see!!

[toombs]

I think at the moment it's just a cat and mouse game. I'm afraid we won't see any letters coming due to the second lockdown(or most of us especially August approvals like myself). What the should do is not rocket science, just make official statement and feedback so we all know where we are. In my case, it will be 12 weeks on the 19 of November. And it looks like that will be extended for another 4 weeks...I lost my hope to attend the ceremony this year.

[VulgarisMagistralis]

For H&F Council:

Applied on 26/03/20
Approved on 30/07/20
Invitation letter never arrived
Private ceremony booked for 10/11/20

They are conducting both group and private ceremonies and not asking for the invitation letter as long as they confirmed they received your certificate. Just make sure you have your approval letter with you.

Good luck everyone!

Interesting. I was approved on 13/08/20, but my certificate didn't arrive. Hammersmith and Fulham did not disclose the dates of the latest certificates (I asked thrice), but based on your information the cut is between 31/07 and 13/08.

[baybars1]

I never got the letter.. just went with my approval email printed out.

what council? Did th they say anything when you cant provide the letter

You can refer to the member's post from 6 November (page 132 on this thread):

"Re: Citizenship Ceremony cancelled due to Covid-19
Post by axeman85 » Fri Nov 06, 2020 9:47 am

Good news for me. Just got a call from Manchester council. My certificate arrived yesterday and they wanted to book me for a ceremony 17th November. I asked if they had any ones sooner or private one for today or next week. THey confirmed they have a booking for Tuesday at 10am private one @ £100

Applied June 28 2020, approved 31st July 2020 ceremony booked for Tuesday and they said i should just come with the approval letter.. very nice lady i spoke to."

british-citizenship/citizenship-ceremon ... l#p1957721

[baybars1]

Interesting. I was approved on 13/08/20, but my certificate didn't arrive. Hammersmith and Fulham did not disclose the dates of the latest certificates (I asked thrice), but based on your information the cut is between 31/07 and 13/08.

Based on what we have read on this forum so far, I very much doubt that there is a specific cut-off that you seem to refer to. More likely, the Home Office had printed the remaining certificates for July, August, September and October, combined those with all the other they hadn't sent yet and they have been sending hefty stacks of certificates from that (mega) pile since the third week of October.

We have already seen late September and even late October approvals whose certificates had arrived at their local councils.

In other words, I would keep checking with the local council regularly, as I don't think that there is a specific date order anymore.

[awaismalik1234]

guys does anyone know if homeoffice is still sending certificates to the councils or they have stoped because of lockdown??

[baybars1]

guys does anyone know if homeoffice is still sending certificates to the councils or they have stoped because of lockdown??

The Home Office seem to be sending the certificates despite the new lockdown. In fact, they appear to have accelerated the process.

[MannyWarrior]

I never got the letter.. just went with my approval email printed out.

what council? Did th they say anything when you cant provide the letter

You can refer to the member's post from 6 November (page 132 on this thread):

"Re: Citizenship Ceremony cancelled due to Covid-19
Post by axeman85 » Fri Nov 06, 2020 9:47 am

Good news for me. Just got a call from Manchester council. My certificate arrived yesterday and they wanted to book me for a ceremony 17th November. I asked if they had any ones sooner or private one for today or next week. THey confirmed they have a booking for Tuesday at 10am private one @ £100

Applied June 28 2020, approved 31st July 2020 ceremony booked for Tuesday and they said i should just come with the approval letter.. very nice lady i spoke to."

british-citizenship/citizenship-ceremon ... l#p1957721

I'm the same council, however, I was the opposite. She insisted I have the letter. Luckily, I received a call from my solicitor 5 mins prior confirming the arrival of the letter. I posted earlier the timelines.

The ceremony was very quick it took max 10 minutes. I was never told to send my BRP back within 5 days like this forum suggests but I've asked my solicitor.

[naimo4]

Here is my time-line:
Application: 16/06/20
Approval Email: 14/09/20
Invitation Letter: 05/11/20 (Dated: 24/10/20)
Private Ceremony: 11/11/20.

[Szrsrts]

Here is my time-line:
Application: 16/06/20
Approval Email: 14/09/20
Invitation Letter: 05/11/20 (Dated: 24/10/20)
Private Ceremony: 11/11/20.

Hi What Council is it?

[3262]

For H&F Council:

Applied on 26/03/20
Approved on 30/07/20
Invitation letter never arrived
Private ceremony booked for 10/11/20

They are conducting both group and private ceremonies and not asking for the invitation letter as long as they confirmed they received your certificate. Just make sure you have your approval letter with you.

Good luck everyone!

Interesting. I was approved on 13/08/20, but my certificate didn't arrive. Hammersmith and Fulham did not disclose the dates of the latest certificates (I asked thrice), but based on your information the cut is between 31/07 and 13/08.

I emailed them twice. First on 2nd of November when they just told me that they don't have the certificate and asked me to inquire again in about two weeks.
Second email was yesterday afternoon when they confirmed the certificate arrived.
They replied to both emails within hours and called me to organize the ceremony about10 minutes after sending them my phone number.

If I were you, I would try again either on Friday or Monday.

Good luck!

[JanisZiemelis]

I never got the letter.. just went with my approval email printed out.

what council? Did th they say anything when you cant provide the letter

You can refer to the member's post from 6 November (page 132 on this thread):

"Re: Citizenship Ceremony cancelled due to Covid-19
Post by axeman85 » Fri Nov 06, 2020 9:47 am

Good news for me. Just got a call from Manchester council. My certificate arrived yesterday and they wanted to book me for a ceremony 17th November. I asked if they had any ones sooner or private one for today or next week. THey confirmed they have a booking for Tuesday at 10am private one @ £100

Applied June 28 2020, approved 31st July 2020 ceremony booked for Tuesday and they said i should just come with the approval letter.. very nice lady i spoke to."

british-citizenship/citizenship-ceremon ... l#p1957721

I'm the same council, however, I was the opposite. She insisted I have the letter. Luckily, I received a call from my solicitor 5 mins prior confirming the arrival of the letter. I posted earlier the timelines.

The ceremony was very quick it took max 10 minutes. I was never told to send my BRP back within 5 days like this forum suggests but I've asked my solicitor.

@MannyWarrior, I would strongly suggest you refer to the following GOV webpage on this topic (which is where the 5 day rule comes from):
https://www.gov.uk/apply-citizenship-sp ... 20citizen.

You must send your biometric residence permit (BRP) back to the Home Office within 5 working days of getting your certificate of British citizenship.

Cut your BRP into 4 pieces and put it in a windowless envelope.

Include a note saying you’re returning your permit because you’ve become a citizen. Include your name, date of birth and the document number (found on the front of the card) in the note.

Naturalisation BRP Returns
PO Box 195
Bristol
BS20 1BT

You’ll be fined up to £1,000 if you do not return your permit within 5 working days.

Better be safe than sorry

[MannyWarrior]

what council? Did th they say anything when you cant provide the letter

You can refer to the member's post from 6 November (page 132 on this thread):

"Re: Citizenship Ceremony cancelled due to Covid-19
Post by axeman85 » Fri Nov 06, 2020 9:47 am

Good news for me. Just got a call from Manchester council. My certificate arrived yesterday and they wanted to book me for a ceremony 17th November. I asked if they had any ones sooner or private one for today or next week. THey confirmed they have a booking for Tuesday at 10am private one @ £100

Applied June 28 2020, approved 31st July 2020 ceremony booked for Tuesday and they said i should just come with the approval letter.. very nice lady i spoke to."

british-citizenship/citizenship-ceremon ... l#p1957721

I'm the same council, however, I was the opposite. She insisted I have the letter. Luckily, I received a call from my solicitor 5 mins prior confirming the arrival of the letter. I posted earlier the timelines.

The ceremony was very quick it took max 10 minutes. I was never told to send my BRP back within 5 days like this forum suggests but I've asked my solicitor.

@MannyWarrior, I would strongly suggest you refer to the following GOV webpage on this topic (which is where the 5 day rule comes from):
https://www.gov.uk/apply-citizenship-sp ... 20citizen.

You must send your biometric residence permit (BRP) back to the Home Office within 5 working days of getting your certificate of British citizenship.

Cut your BRP into 4 pieces and put it in a windowless envelope.

Include a note saying you’re returning your permit because you’ve become a citizen. Include your name, date of birth and the document number (found on the front of the card) in the note.

Naturalisation BRP Returns
PO Box 195
Bristol
BS20 1BT

You’ll be fined up to £1,000 if you do not return your permit within 5 working days.

Better be safe than sorry

Yep I stumbled on it today too!

Sending it off tomorrow for sure

[ASRC]

Has anyone received the invitation letter or had the ceremony at the West Sussex County Council?
If so what was your timeline?
Thanks

[naimo4]

Here is my time-line:
Application: 16/06/20
Approval Email: 14/09/20
Invitation Letter: 05/11/20 (Dated: 24/10/20)
Private Ceremony: 11/11/20.

Hi What Council is it?

Hi Szrsts,
It’s Luton Council.

[mfq16]

Hello guys
Just a quick question
Application made on 24/08/20
My citizenship approved on 23/09/20
Just wondering what do I’ve to do to get the certificate early as I’ve a plan to go abroad during the Christmas holidays?
Thanks for your help

[alterhase58]

Hello guys
Just a quick question
Application made on 24/08/20
My citizenship approved on 23/09/20
Just wondering what do I’ve to do to get the certificate early as I’ve a plan to go abroad during the Christmas holidays?
Thanks for your help

I don't believe there is a way of getting your certificate early - it's normally handed to you at the ceremony when you are formally British.
You can still travel with your current national passport and BRP.

[snuptz]

heya!

I've been lurking around for quite a while and wanted to post an update based on my situation.

I've been approved on 27th July and I still didn't receive my invitation letter. I contacted yesterday Lewisham council to check if they received my certificate and they said they did last week but I can't book the ceremony until my invitation arrives. So I'm keeping my fingers crossed it will arrive soon as I noticed quite a few already got theirs and have been approved much later than me.


Application: 03/05/20
Approval Email: 27/07/20
Invitation Letter: Not received yet (Council received the certificate)

[Tirinti]

I've finally won in the games of chances

Applied 10/07/2020
Biometrics 10/08/2020
Approved 14/08/2020
Invitation Letter 11/11/2020 dated 31/10/2020.
Ceremony: suspended because of the lockdown
Council: Croydon

Good luck to everyone.

[fanta]

I've finally won in the games of chances

Applied 10/07/2020
Biometrics 10/08/2020
Approved 14/08/2020
Invitation Letter 11/11/2020 dated 31/10/2020.
Ceremony: suspended because of the lockdown
Council: Croydon

Good luck to everyone.

Congrats mate. This gives the mid-august approvals like me some hope!

[baybars1]

I've finally won in the games of chances

Applied 10/07/2020
Biometrics 10/08/2020
Approved 14/08/2020
Invitation Letter 11/11/2020 dated 31/10/2020.
Ceremony: suspended because of the lockdown
Council: Croydon

Good luck to everyone.

Congratulations and hope you have your ceremony soon.

[korben555]

HI, arselers.
I am from Hounslow council too.
Being exited that your Certificate was received by our council- I've written an email again to them.
My approval was on 18.08.20.
When I've asked about it the lady, who called me about my Certificate, mentioned that September approved one is already with them- she told me in very strict voice , that that's the lies- they only have received Certificates for those approved till July....
How can they treat us like that - we are almost theirs compatriots ?

[Virk89]

I've finally won in the games of chances

Applied 10/07/2020
Biometrics 10/08/2020
Approved 14/08/2020
Invitation Letter 11/11/2020 dated 31/10/2020.
Ceremony: suspended because of the lockdown
Council: Croydon

Good luck to everyone.

Congrats mate. This gives the mid-august approvals like me some hope!

Hi fanta congratulation
The update for you Croydon council booking for ceremony you have to give them call as I’ve booked mine for coming Monday