Citizenship Invitation Letter and Council booking

[Shan77]

My naturalisation application was approved on 12th May 2017 (received 17th May 2017) followed by Citizenship invitation letter from the Home Office Dated 16th May 2017 (received 22 May 2017) advising me to book a ceremony with Redbridge council register office.

Redbridge council has online group ceremony booking system available on their website. It asks for Home Office Reference number and name to check if my record is available on their system in order to book the group ceremony. I tried several times with my details but system is unable to find my details. I called Redbridge register office and the lady could not find my details on the system.

My understanding is that the citizenship certificate should be with Redbridge Council Register office within 2 working days from the date of Home Office Invitation letter (that's what the invitation letter states). Since the Home Office invitation letter was issued on 16th May 2017, so Redbridge council should have the certificate by now (it's already one week).

I don't understand why the council do not have my record on their system. I would highly appreciate if any board member please advise me on this issue. Thanks in advance.

[CR001]

Did you state you want your ceremony at another council?

[astonished]

The only thing you can really do is to give them a call to get them to sort it out.

[Shan77]

Did you state you want your ceremony at another council?

No.
The Home Office invitation letter states the Redbridge Council Register office address for my ceremony.

[Shan77]

The only thing you can really do is to give them a call to get them to sort it out.

Thanks for your reply. You said to call them (them means council or the Home Office)?

[astonished]

The council. This particular issue doesn't sound like something that the Home Office would be able to sort out. Sounds like a bit of an admin error with your council.

See if you can take your approval + invitation letters to see them in person? Hopefully it's just an unfortunate glitch involving erroneous data entry!

[Shan77]

The council. This particular issue doesn't sound like something that the Home Office would be able to sort out. Sounds like a bit of an admin error with your council.

See if you can take your approval + invitation letters to see them in person? Hopefully it's just an unfortunate glitch involving erroneous data entry!

Thanks a lot.