Chris N Lora

3 hours ago, imthedave said:

That’s great thanks. That’s pretty much what I needed to know.

Can I apply for my wife then within my own immi account? I.e both applications on the same account?

Hi Dave, Yes, When we did our application, it was on my wife's immi account. My application was done via the account I used all of her details etc ... you will see on the form the tick box ... Obviously your daughter will not need to attend the interview do the test etc being under 16 ..... I had to do mine via paper then uploaded it to the immi account so the JP signed my ID ... I think ( and hopefully will be corrected or verified) you just up load colour id to the account now. 

2 hours ago, imthedave said:

Hi all

I'm finally getting closer to being able to apply for citizenship! Phoned immigration and they checked my details and said we could all apply on 16th February

Couple of questions though if anyone can help.

It's myself, wife and (step) daughter applying. Daughter is 14 so needs to be included on one of our applications.

I looked at the immi page and applying online seems pretty straight forward.

1. I can see my wife has to apply in her own right however can I apply using my immi account?

2. Will my own application include her at some point on the documents and hers include mine on her documents? In other words, so they link together

3. Who should include our daughter? My wife (her natural mum), me (as the original primary PR holder) or both?

4. Can i START the applications now on line to get ahead of the game however not click submit until 16th February? Basic question but I'm assuming the lodgement date is when you lodge - not when you start the application!

5. All the above taken into account, is it better to apply via the immi account or via paper application? I see not everyones status updates. Is this because paper ones are done manually?

Applying in regional Victoria.

 

I'm taking some advice I got before on this forum and not using an agent. As has been said, Citizenship isn't migration. I think we should be able to manage this ourselves.

Thanks a lot

Hi Dave. 

In relation to the application, you can start to pre fill it and send once you reach the qualifying date .. in relation to the PR it is no longer relevant ... when you apply ensure you link your applications.  there will be a tick box somewhere. 

Our tests the beginning of December 2018 within a week received the letter to attend planned ceremony and will be done on Australia day ... from start to finish , 13 months, 2 weeks ... We applied in  December 2017 

On 11/01/2019 at 17:49, Nemesis said:

Many Spouse visas have been taking that long in the last couple of years.

Fact is, citizenship, like a visa, is a privilege not a right. If you want it, you have to wait for it.

You can state, it is a privilege, not a right, However! when people submit an application, they do so with a firm belief that the wait periods are accurate, it is not acceptable if a person lodges an application with a 11 month time scale then after 11 months it has increased to 22 months. every month it is increasing, you wouldn't see a bank saying it is ok, delay your repayments every month.  

4 hours ago, redheaven said:

Hi, just wondering if anyone in Sydney has their ceremony on Australia Day or in February - can you let me know when you got your approval letter and also when you received the letter of invitation to the ceremony?

Thanks in advance.

My Wife and Girls have there ceremonies on Australia day .. they were approved (letters dated the same day also)   and a week later ceremonies offered. 

7 minutes ago, ArsalanAhmad said:

I have read your first post and thought may be you are thinking of getting the citizenship together with your wife and kids. Therefore, I thought I should give you some info on that

My wife and daughter were approved within minutes of doing the test, they have the letter and invite for the ceremony dated the same day as the test ... a different part of the office are dealing with mine ... as said, I will not be able to attend this ceremony ....  therefore I will not be getting citizenship as I am not prepared to lose this new job... I will be returning to the UK and letting my PR lapse ... just my 2 kids and wife will be citizens. as said no one is skipping it .. the incompetent Immigration Dept decided to mess up the applications which were all linked etc...  

it appears, you have completely misread the post. we all did the test on the 4th of Dec 2 were approved instantly.  My daughter and Wife, have got the ceremony for a few weeks. I will not be able to attend as I have missed the cut off date. the next one is in May, therefore, my daughters and wife will be Citizens and I will not be. I am moving back  to the Uk prior to May. no one is skipping the ceremony. 

I recommend all persons still wait contact Canberra and speak to the Hon David Coleman MP and your local Federal MP... I have done just that if they are successful in getting immigration to actually do their job then so be it ... as said prior I am no longer fussed if I become a citizen or not ... I am not prepared to lose a good career to wait a few months. 

32 minutes ago, CaptainR said:

I asked our local council about my wife’s ceremony for Australia Day and she said they hadn’t received the list from immigration yet. Not sure if they just send a list once it’s full? 

I think it depends on the local council, our one said in the email she needed to know asap so that they can get the certificates from the DHS for the day ... I contacted the Federal MP over the handling of my case the DIAC have proved yet again to show the incompetency of their working capacity and functioning .. still, we are now able to move back to the UK in March   I suggest all people whom are having the wait or incompetent case managers contact the local MP asking tehm to contact the Hon David Coleman.... 

9 hours ago, Waitingawhile said:

Sorry to hear that -  i hoped it would be the same for you, we were so confused by it as nothing was clearly spelt out!

Yes,  they claimed it was linked. However, my partner and kids have been approved and have the ceremony on the 26th of Jan ... I have decided the new employment is too important to wait for citizenship and will not be waiting until may for the next ceremony etc. TBH, I am no longer fussed just over Australia and looking forward to joining the NCA. 

18 minutes ago, Waitingawhile said:

6 hours ago, Chris N Lora said:

my family and I did the tests on the 4th dec 2018 , my kids and wife have the ceremony on Australia day, I do not know when mine will be so we have decided they will get citizenship and I will not as it will cause me to lose employment back in the uk .. 

My partner didnt get a seperate invite but i had indicated on our applications we were linked and expected to be invited together. When I phoned and checked the invite did include him too.

Yeah I called immigration, and htey said ours is not linked. 

my family and I did the tests on the 4th dec 2018 , my kids and wife have the ceremony on Australia day, I do not know when mine will be so we have decided they will get citizenship and I will not as it will cause me to lose employment back in the uk .. 

Had my test today, 100% pass now just ceremony

I was paper based. 

39 minutes ago, kirsty160990 said:

current processing times updated 21/11/2018 

 

 

We waited 11 months to get a test, we do it in December, however, it is disgusting the time periods people are waiting.  I think it is reasonable to wait for Police checks verification etc. but some checks are silly, they have the passport details and know exactly when you leave and enter the country. Sadly immigration is a cash cow for all countries. All we can do is suck it up and wait. but every month it goes up. 

3 minutes ago, Tecnik said:

Excellent, Always good to get it just in case something happens in the future and you want to come back. Hopefully the dates etc work out for you. Seen a few poor people on here wait 12 months AFTER their tests. Where about in the UK have you accepted the Job?

With Brexit happening etc I think the next few years in specialized jobs will be very well paid in the UK.

yup, that is her attitude. I am going to be moving back to the Southeast, I have a role with the National Crime Agency. It is supposed to start in April time ... so I will hope to delay our return.

1 minute ago, Tecnik said:

 

@Chris N Lora I thought you guys had given up and were headed back to the UK?

we are, but we leave in April so my wife decided to.

11 hours ago, jimmy2621 said:

Today is the 1st year anniversary for my citizenship application which i applied this day in 2017....

Status is still RECEIVED and no test invitation, i am from Brisbane.

Call them and politely ask how the application is getting on .. 

33 minutes ago, ArsalanAhmad said:

Currently the website mention the processing times and I can not find any information that it will be updated on the 10th of November

 

no. the site, I believe was updated (upgraded).. when i was looking in the site, all be it via an ipad I could not see any update. 

10 minutes ago, Rameshwar said:

Thanks for your reply Chris N Lora, but as per my understanding CO only asked for one particular document and I have attached Medicare.

In letter he said: 
“Please provide an official additional Australian Government-issued identity document.
 For example, Driver licence, Proof of Age card, Centrelink card, Medicare card.”

What you guys think? It’s not enough? Any suggestions will be appreciated.

thanks in advance 

No, if you only need to provide one it will be ok, but never harms to provide the two, it is only an upload. IMO, if you did give the medicare card and the TFN letter from the ATO it gives them less reason to ask for more. 

9 hours ago, Rameshwar said:

Hi guys,

Please kindly help me out.

I applied my citizenship on 10 March 2018 and got email today for additional information. They asked for following “Please provide an official additional Australian Government-issued identity document.
 For example, Driver licence, Proof of Age card, Centrelink card, Medicare card.”

I have attached my Medicare as I don’t have any other document. I attached it in additional documentation section in my immi account? Is that right? Or should I attach it in other section? Please help.

 Thanks in advance 

do you not have the official letter from the ATO with your TFN?

2 hours ago, ArsalanAhmad said:

congrats

Thanks, it is such a tedious process. I just wanted to give hope to others who have been waiting 12 months or more with no information. 

2 hours ago, ArsalanAhmad said:

https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/citizenship/become-a-citizen/permanent-resident

75% in 16 months and 90% within 19 months

Nope, I looked last night, I noted it was updated on the 10th of November. It seems it has a glitch. 

We have had official confirmation, that we have testing in Dec 2018.  This being near 12 months to the day. it is in Parramatta. then  just  ceremony to go.

On 07/09/2018 at 10:34, rachel smith said:

Hello everyone,

I have just joined this forum and have found it very helpful. My current issue is that my desire to return back home in the uk is overwhelming. I went over in 2014 after a 33-year absence. I could not believe the effect it had on me. The moment I landed at Heathrow I felt 'complete' and since returning have thought of nothing else. But I have told myself numerous times that I have left it too late. Then a couple of weeks ago I thought 'left what too late—I am still alive'.

I am 63 years of age and have been on the Disability Pension for the last 10 years. Centrelink advised that I could return to the UK and continue receiving my pension indefinitely. But (there is always a but) it means I could lose my DSP and have to reapply all over again if I failed. They said most people decide to go no further due to all the hassle and paperwork involved. But I am so unhappy where I live (Social Housing) and the thought of 'this is it' for the rest of my life sends me to a very dark space. I do have family and relatives in the UK and very close to my brother who lives in Cornwall and is a great support.

My question is does anyone know of a free legal service of some kind who can help people like myself to go through all the paperwork and reapplying (I presume I will need to) for the DSP as I cannot claim the UK pension as I have not worked there for such a long time. I am aware I have a long road ahead and it is not going to be a cruise but need someone I can turn to when unsure what is required. So if there is anyone who knows of a possible advocate/lawyer type person and could lead me in the right direction I would much appreciate it.

Cheers - Rachel

Where in Australia are you? ... there are disability advocates who help people ..  if you put in Disability advocates in a google search .. also, please call the law society in your state they will sometimes give legal aid for lawyers to help you.  

On 23/10/2018 at 14:03, CaptainR said:

My wife applied on the 22nd December 17, test on the 22nd August 18 and now still waiting for an approval and really hoping it doesn't turn into a 12 month wait. 

I applied 19th July and waiting... Based on my wifes experience not holding my breath until March next year for a test.

We applied before you, We were advised by Immigration, that there is no logic to waiting times, we were advised very unlikely we would get a test prior to next July which would be 19 months. However, with waiting period going up month by month, we were advised it could take longer ... We were Low risk applicants. Therefore we have decided to not both as said before, and moving back to the UK without taking citizenship.  we cant be bothered to wait two years as job offers we have will pass. Also, my wife was not required to sit a test. we were in NSW. 

21 hours ago, Nemesis said:

UK passport holder or not, eventually your ability to get a RRV may no longer exist. The longer you stay away from oz, the harder it will get to prove the ties necessary to go back.  And the rules may change. Last time the RRV rules changed it was done almost overnight. Honestly, if there is any chance you will want to return to oz, get that citizenship 

To be fair, the only reason I ever wanted citizenship was to take up new employment with a federal dept here, I have now accepted a position within the UK.  I have my daughter who is staying and we have decided to not sell our Aussie home for her to stay in. a RRV is valid for 5 years, if it expires and I/We are not permitted to return so be it.  I know it sounds callous but I dont like living with the what if in life .... we are not going for a few months yet so we will see.