After Citizenship Ceremony, what's the next step?

[sevendust12]

Hi All,

Firstly, I would like to thank everyone for sharing their feedback and help during these past 6 months. I'm pleased to say that I've received a letter from the HO today (enclosed was the letter along with my supporting documents) and my citizenship application was successful. I'm just waiting for another letter in regards to the actual ceremony.

I would like to ask, after this has been done, can I apply for my British Passport? I am currently holding a BNO (british national overseas) passport.. Do I just apply for my "First" british passport? Or do I need to apply in a different way? Not clear on this. Also, what happens to the BNO passport?

Please note that I am not residing in the UK, my application was made overseas.

Thanks everyone.

[CR001]

I would like to ask, after this has been done, can I apply for my British Passport?

Yes. Passport applications from overseas take a bit longer to process, so be aware of that.

Do I just apply for my "First" british passport?

Yes

Also, what happens to the BNO passport?

Not sure about this one.

[zed.]

Congrats sevendust12. You can start your passport application here after you have received your certificate of registration.

Since you already have a BNO passport, the process should be fairly straight forward and quick. I got my BC passport within 3 weeks from posting the documents. It's a "Change of details" application, not a "First Adult Passport" application.

After you submit your passport application online and pay the fee, you will be asked to download a declaration pack. That will list all the documents you need to post with it. I had to send original certificate of registration, signed declaration form, 2 photographs, original BNO passport and a color photocopy of both sides of my Hong Kong permanent identity card.

AFAIK, BNO passport is cancelled when BC passport is issued. we can only keep one valid British passport at a time. However, we still retain the BNO status.

[sevendust12]

Zed,

Thank you for that detailed information, it was very helpful. I wasn't sure which route to take in regards to applying the BC passport.

It's been almost 1 month since the issue of the approval letter, so far, no ceremony invitation letter yet.

Did you get the invitation letter immediately? Or you had to wait? If so, how long?

Thanks again.

[zed.]

Did you get the invitation letter immediately? Or you had to wait? If so, how long?

I think I was approved sometime in June. I never received any approval letter or email. Received the ceremony invitation from my local consulate at the end of August.

AFAIK, Home Office delivers citizenship certificates to its foreign posts using diplomatic courier . It usually takes around 8-12 weeks for the local consulate to receive the documents. Yours should be on the way. Good luck.

[sevendust12]

Did you get the invitation letter immediately? Or you had to wait? If so, how long?

I think I was approved sometime in June. I never received any approval letter or email. Received the ceremony invitation from my local consulate at the end of August.

AFAIK, Home Office delivers citizenship certificates to its foreign posts using diplomatic courier . It usually takes around 8-12 weeks for the local consulate to receive the documents. Yours should be on the way. Good luck.

Thanks for that Zed.

I have received a letter from the british consulate yesterday regarding the ceremony. Booked for Jan 18th 2017.

All in all, it took around 8 weeks for this to be received.