A citizenship ceremony at Wokingham Town Hall has taken place with registrars welcoming twenty-five new citizens to the borough this month (August 2022).
All applicants aged 18 years and over who are accepted by the Home Office for citizenship by naturalisation or registration must take an oath of allegiance and pledge of loyalty whilst the national anthem is played, before they can become a British Citizen.
During the ceremony, which took place on Wednesday 17 August, new citizens were presented with certificates from the Lord Lieutenant of Berkshire Mr James Puxley, and a gift of a passport cover from Wokingham Borough Mayor Cllr Caroline Smith.
Since being elected as Wokingham Borough Mayor in May, Cllr Caroline Smith has attended three citizenship ceremonies (held in June, July and August) and presented certificates to 73 new citizens living in Wokingham Borough.
Cllr Caroline Smith said: “The citizenship ceremony is the final step in the process of becoming a British citizen for many people, including those who have lived in this country for years and those who have only arrived more recently. I am delighted to celebrate and share this special day with our new citizen residents.
“We are proud of our borough’s wide diversity and since attending these ceremonies, I have had the privilege and honour of meeting residents from all walks of life including different cultures and nationalities. So far, we have welcomed new citizens from the UK and all over the world including the United States of America, Ukraine, Italy, Syria, China, Greece, Pakistan, Mexico, South Africa and Turkey – to name just a few! Our new citizens bring skills, talents and culture which will enrich and enhance our communities.
“On behalf of Wokingham Borough, I would like to give you all a very warm welcome and congratulate you on becoming British citizens. We are delighted that you have chosen Wokingham Borough as your home as we continue to ensure the borough is a great place to live, learn, work and grow.”
The nationalities of the new citizens welcomed to Wokingham Borough since June to August 2022 are from the below countries:
- Italy
- Ukraine
- South Africa
- Romania
- India
- Mexico
- France
- Lebanon
- Pakistan
- Belgium
- Malaysia
- Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR)
- Ghana
- Barbados
- Nepal
- Turkey
- UK
- Spain
- Poland
- Hungary
- Latvia
- Zimbabwe
- Kazakhstan
- Kenya
- Vietnam
- Russia
- USA
- Moldova
- Portugal
- China
- Uganda
- Greece
- Syria
- Chile
- Netherlands
About our citizenship ceremonies
Group citizenship ceremonies are held each month at Wokingham Town Hall and each citizen can bring a guest to the ceremony. Private citizenship ceremonies are held at the Register Office and can be arranged quickly, if needed (extra charge applicable). Find out more by visiting our website.
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