Citizenship Ceremony cancelled due to Covid-19

[Jefymum]

Hounslow offered free ceremony.... earliest date was April. I requested for earlier date and was told that was the earliest I could get. Then I asked what about those who are paying? I was given date for late next week £125(virtual).

Good luck. Request the registrar if you can collect the certificate the same day after virtual ceremony (if that is something you would like to do). Otherwise you will get in post.

Thanks I live 5 mins away. So I'll request that...it's always good to know that you have that option too because sometimes they don't let you know...thank God for this forum.

You must know the feltham area well then where Hounslow Registrar office is located. But if not, the registrar office is just on the main Harlington Road. I kind of missed it first when I passed through it.

PS: Hounslow Council is charging £125 for virtual ceremony whereas many other councils charging no money or only for postage of certificate. Since I am have attended mine, I am thinking to make a complaint about the fees charged!!

Yes I live in Feltham area. I agree it appears most councils are offering the virtual ceremony for free, with Hounslow I guess unless you are prepared to wait for another 3 months. Also wanted to ask were you given link/code to join in the ceremony email?

[jasmine89]

Has anyone had any luck with Manchester City council?

I have today received my Invitation Letter.

Council - Manchester City Council
Application Date - 14th Sep 2020
Approval Date - 5 Nov 2020
Date on Invitation Letter - 14/01/2021
Date invitation letter received - 20/01/2021

I have just tried calling the registrar office on the number provided in the invitation letter. Apparently the phone number is not in use anymore due to Covid 19. All requests should be emailed.

I have now emailed them and will update as soon as I have received a response.

Any other numbers that people may suggest for Manchester City council.

Thanks

Unfortunately you cant ring them. Its email only. They said that they will be holding virtual ceremonies and that they are in the testing phase. Once that is completed they will update the booking system and notify us. I really hope that they notify us soon. I cant wait to get over and done with this process. If i hear anything further i will let you know. And if they give you an update can you please let me know as well.

[CULLINAN]

Yes I live in Feltham area. I agree it appears most councils are offering the virtual ceremony for free, with Hounslow I guess unless you are prepared to wait for another 3 months. Also wanted to ask were you given link/code to join in the ceremony email?

Yes. The lady sent me an email when she booked me in for a virtual ceremony? Did she not send you one?
Also she called me 1 day earlier to take the payment but sometimes they take payment on the same day also.

[CULLINAN]

Yes I live in Feltham area. I agree it appears most councils are offering the virtual ceremony for free, with Hounslow I guess unless you are prepared to wait for another 3 months. Also wanted to ask were you given link/code to join in the ceremony email?

Yes. The lady sent me an email when she booked me in for a virtual ceremony? Did she not send you one?
Also she called me 1 day earlier to take the payment but sometimes they take payment on the same day also.

email with a link to join meeting that day/time**

[myukqueries]

Has anyone had any luck with Manchester City council?

I have today received my Invitation Letter.

Council - Manchester City Council
Application Date - 14th Sep 2020
Approval Date - 5 Nov 2020
Date on Invitation Letter - 14/01/2021
Date invitation letter received - 20/01/2021

I have just tried calling the registrar office on the number provided in the invitation letter. Apparently the phone number is not in use anymore due to Covid 19. All requests should be emailed.

I have now emailed them and will update as soon as I have received a response.

Any other numbers that people may suggest for Manchester City council.

Thanks

Unfortunately you cant ring them. Its email only. They said that they will be holding virtual ceremonies and that they are in the testing phase. Once that is completed they will update the booking system and notify us. I really hope that they notify us soon. I cant wait to get over and done with this process. If i hear anything further i will let you know. And if they give you an update can you please let me know as well.

Have you received your invitation letter yet?

[Jefymum]

Yes I live in Feltham area. I agree it appears most councils are offering the virtual ceremony for free, with Hounslow I guess unless you are prepared to wait for another 3 months. Also wanted to ask were you given link/code to join in the ceremony email?

Yes. The lady sent me an email when she booked me in for a virtual ceremony? Did she not send you one?
Also she called me 1 day earlier to take the payment but sometimes they take payment on the same day also.

email with a link to join meeting that day/time**

No link/code to join in the email she sent. There is just a link to download Ms teams. I'll email her and ask...thanks for your advice on this...much appreciated

[jasmine89]

Has anyone had any luck with Manchester City council?

I have today received my Invitation Letter.

Council - Manchester City Council
Application Date - 14th Sep 2020
Approval Date - 5 Nov 2020
Date on Invitation Letter - 14/01/2021
Date invitation letter received - 20/01/2021

I have just tried calling the registrar office on the number provided in the invitation letter. Apparently the phone number is not in use anymore due to Covid 19. All requests should be emailed.

I have now emailed them and will update as soon as I have received a response.

Any other numbers that people may suggest for Manchester City council.

Thanks

Unfortunately you cant ring them. Its email only. They said that they will be holding virtual ceremonies and that they are in the testing phase. Once that is completed they will update the booking system and notify us. I really hope that they notify us soon. I cant wait to get over and done with this process. If i hear anything further i will let you know. And if they give you an update can you please let me know as well.

Have you received your invitation letter yet?

Yes i got it last week.

[Sanaazim]

Just an update
Received my invitation today approved on 27 Oct
Now need to chase Ealing council hope it will be over soon

[CULLINAN]

Yes I live in Feltham area. I agree it appears most councils are offering the virtual ceremony for free, with Hounslow I guess unless you are prepared to wait for another 3 months. Also wanted to ask were you given link/code to join in the ceremony email?

Yes. The lady sent me an email when she booked me in for a virtual ceremony? Did she not send you one?
Also she called me 1 day earlier to take the payment but sometimes they take payment on the same day also.

email with a link to join meeting that day/time**

No link/code to join in the email she sent. There is just a link to download Ms teams. I'll email her and ask...thanks for your advice on this...much appreciated

The link email is sent separately. So you receive two emails. Maybe she will send later. Best to email her though. At the virtual ceremony date/time you have to click on the link yourself. She will not call you. Lets say if your ceremony is 11am, click the link 10:59am. She will let you in the meeting at 11am.

[imz2020]

Hi All,

I finally just received my ceremony letter.
Applied on 1 Sept 2020
Approved on 26 Oct 2020
Date on ceremony letter: 4 Jan 2021
letter received via post on 20 Jan 2021

good luck everyone!

[Sanaazim]

Does anyone has private paid ceremony in Ealing in the month of January??

[Hello5]

Has anyone had any luck with Manchester City council?

Council - Manchester City Council
Application Date - 14th Sep 2020
Approval Date - 5 Nov 2020
Date on Invitation Letter - 14/01/2021
Date invitation letter received - 20/01/2021

We have almost identical timeline, hopefully my invite is making its 2nd class journey now

[Register again]

Hi everyone

Just wanted to ask, is anyone is currently waiting on medway council for a ceremony? It appears previously scheduled ceremonies for Jan have been cancelled at least until Feb/March? There is no option of virtual ceremony either.

Naturalisation was approved on 23 October and invitation letter was recieved via RM( Post) 16 January dated 30 December.
Thanks all

[askmeplz82]

Just an update
Received my invitation today approved on 27 Oct
Now need to chase Ealing council hope it will be over soon

Ealing council is closed. i got the invitation on 9th December and still can't book the ceremony. They are not responding to emails or calls from 20th December. LET ME KNOW if you hear anything

[Sanaazim]

Just an update
Received my invitation today approved on 27 Oct
Now need to chase Ealing council hope it will be over soon

Ealing council is closed. i got the invitation on 9th December and still can't book the ceremony. They are not responding to emails or calls from 20th December. LET ME KNOW if you hear anything

That’s really sad I don’t know why they need to stop everything I will try tomorrow let’s see what happens and I think we should write an email to mayor of Ealing to look in to this matter and start virtual ceremonies what’s the use of technology? There should be end to this long waiting

[russn]

Just an update
Received my invitation today approved on 27 Oct
Now need to chase Ealing council hope it will be over soon

Ealing council is closed. i got the invitation on 9th December and still can't book the ceremony. They are not responding to emails or calls from 20th December. LET ME KNOW if you hear anything

That’s really sad I don’t know why they need to stop everything I will try tomorrow let’s see what happens and I think we should write an email to mayor of Ealing to look in to this matter and start virtual ceremonies what’s the use of technology? There should be end to this long waiting

Yea... I don't know why they're doing this... I have sent them an email yesterday to ask if they even have any paid ceremony slots... not keeping my hopes up tho

[tkp]

Good news for me today. I've just received the brown envelope. My timeline as below:
---
Applied: 23 August
Approved: 19 Nov
Letter received: 19 Jan (by post), letter date: 29 Dec.
Council: Southwark
Good luck everyone waiting.

Congrats. Can you please let us know the earliest date Southwark offers you for the ceremony and how much they charge?

Thanks! I've sent an email to ask for the ceremony. Will keep you guys posted.

@MALCOM2, @lc42: just got an email from council today. They offer me Friday 29 Jan. I did ask about the cost when sending them the email, but they didn't mention anything when replying me. So I guess it will be free

[myukqueries]

I have today received my Invitation Letter.

Council - Manchester City Council
Application Date - 14th Sep 2020
Approval Date - 5 Nov 2020
Date on Invitation Letter - 14/01/2021
Date invitation letter received - 20/01/2021

I have just tried calling the registrar office on the number provided in the invitation letter. Apparently the phone number is not in use anymore due to Covid 19. All requests should be emailed.

I have now emailed them and will update as soon as I have received a response.

Any other numbers that people may suggest for Manchester City council.

Thanks

Yes i got it last week.

Manchester council Reply -

“We received a large batch of certificates for October decisions at the end of last week and the certificates have been uploaded onto our system.

Please do not worry about the date on the letter or the stated 21 days.

We have finalised plans of how we will deliver the ceremonies during this lockdown.
This will be a virtual ceremony, which we are currently in the testing phase.

If your certificate is amongst them, then we will be sending out an invitation beginning of next week.“

[Sarzefa]

Hi’ I’m in Croydon too, approved on 13th October, no invitation letter yet.

Hi all,
Is there anyone who was approved around 19th Oct but still hasn't received any letter. Also can you please send me the email to contact HO.
I'm with croydon Council and looks like they have started virtual ceremonies. Has anyone attended one yet in croydon?

Have you received your letter? As I'm still waiting for mine.

[zeetee]

My Journey ends here. Thank you all for the support. Your timelines helped me a lot.

Applied:26 Sept 2020
Approval:19th October
Invitation received: 14th January
Virtual Ceremony booked: 9th Feb
Council: Redbridge (Redbridge is not offering private ceremonies)

The ceremony is bit late but I am happy to wait. Good luck all ))

[jasmine89]

Yes i got it last week.

Manchester council Reply -

“We received a large batch of certificates for October decisions at the end of last week and the certificates have been uploaded onto our system.

Please do not worry about the date on the letter or the stated 21 days.

We have finalised plans of how we will deliver the ceremonies during this lockdown.
This will be a virtual ceremony, which we are currently in the testing phase.

If your certificate is amongst them, then we will be sending out an invitation beginning of next week.“

That is amazing news. Fingers crossed we get the invite on time and if it is a virtual ceremony, hopefully they will be able to arrange soon.

[lonmarctba]

Hi’ I’m in Croydon too, approved on 13th October, no invitation letter yet.

Hi all,
Is there anyone who was approved around 19th Oct but still hasn't received any letter. Also can you please send me the email to contact HO.
I'm with croydon Council and looks like they have started virtual ceremonies. Has anyone attended one yet in croydon?

Have you received your letter? As I'm still waiting for mine.

Hi there! Nothing yet! Do you think it might be related to some disruption with Royal Mail on our region?

Let’s keep in touch.
Thank you.

[Teedee]

Is there anyone from Hampshire council? Are they currently doing virtual ceremonies? My application was approved on the 3rd of December but I’m still waiting for my invitation.

[Teedee]

Just an update
Received my invitation today approved on 27 Oct
Now need to chase Ealing council hope it will be over soon

Did you receive it via email or post?

[Missi]

Is there anyone from Hampshire council? Are they currently doing virtual ceremonies? My application was approved on the 3rd of December but I’m still waiting for my invitation.

Hi! Home office has cleared approvals of October and sent all invitation letters on 14th of January now they working on November so you need to wait little more