Celebrate in Northamptonshire Northants 2018 | Page 37

Legal Matters What happens at the Citizenship ceremony? • The ceremony begins with a formal welcome • The hosting dignitary will address you and the audience on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen • You swear or affirm the oath of allegiance and then take the pledge to Her Majesty the Queen • On behalf of Her Majesty the Queen, the hosting dignitary presents the citizenship certificate and a welcome gift from the Northamptonshire County Council’s Registration Service to you The heart of the Citizenship ceremony involves new citizens making an oath or affirmation to Her Majesty the Queen and a pledge of loyalty to the United Kingdom. When an applicant receives their letter of approval from the Home Office they should contact the Northamptonshire Registration Service to obtain details of which Citizenship ceremony they may attend. Attendance at a Citizenship ceremony must be within 3 months of the date your application for British citizenship was granted. Under the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002, all applicants over the age of 18 who are accepted for naturalisation or registration as a British citizen are required to attend a Citizenship ceremony. CE N IA G The Home Office, which administers all applications for British citizenship, believes that all new citizens should be encouraged to feel and have a sense of belonging to the wider community. The Citizenship ceremony by virtue of being public and celebratory in nature helps to foster this. Everyone who applies for British citizenship is required to take an oath or affirmation of allegiance to the Crown, and make a pledge of loyalty to the United Kingdom. • You are then a British Citizen. Guests • For a Group ceremony you are welcome to bring up to 2 guests • Private citizenship ceremonies can accommodate a guest list of your choosing up to the maximum occupancy of the room • Access to citizenship ceremonies is by invitation only. Where is the Venue? • Group Citizenship ceremonies are held in County Hall in Northampton • Private Citizenship ceremonies are held in a Registration Office ceremony room. Can children of applicants attend? • Yes • Where an application includes your children, there is no legal requirement for children to attend a Citizenship ceremony • If children wish to attend their parents’ ceremony and take the oath and pledge they are welcome and encouraged to do so and make the ceremony a family celebration. Booking Once the Home Office has confirmed that you have been granted British citizenship, you will be invited to book your ceremony date. You will be advised of the date and time of your ceremony - if this is not convenient we will try to book another date and time. It is most important that you attend a ceremony no later than 3 months from the date you were granted Home Office approval. Further information • Information about applications for British Citizenship can be found at www.gov.uk • Alternatively our Citizenship and Nationality Checking Service team can be contacted at: [email protected] Please visit our website for fee and payment details. www.yourdaynorthants.com We look forward to hearing from you. 35