leanie

Regional can be very slow especially WA. I applied late June 2016, finally got my ceremony 2 weeks ago.

The other info they wanted was my kids expired passports that we had originally applied with (just scanned and added them to the online application), Medicare card and for me to confirm my name as on some documents my middle name is there but it's not on my passport etc. I think the reason my application took so long is because the regional WA dept seems to be very slow, must be very busy.

At last an update for me! Here's my timeline: Date Applied: 28/06/16 City council: Broome shire but it gets sent to regional WA Perth office Online Acknowledgement received moments after applying More info requested: 01/11/16 Form 1195 posted to regional WA office as per CO request: 02/11/16 Citizenship test date received via email: 25/11/16 Date of citizenship test: 08/12/16, passed 100% Approval received via post 24/01/17 (sent 16/01/17) Citizenship ceremony invite received via email: 28/04/17 Ceremony date: 12/05/17 Am so pleased to finally be getting my ceremony!

I was not sure whether to contact citizenship dept or local council to let them know I'll be overseas for a few weeks. I contacted my local council in the end and am so glad I did, I got a response to the email I sent asking my return date, they replied saying they were going to have the ceremony the Friday before I get home, but they will change it to the Friday after I get home so I can attend. I love my small town

Hi I'm waiting for my ceremony but going overseas for a holiday soon, do I need to advise my local council or the citizenship line?

thanks Sapphilor. I suppose it was because I passed my test in early December that I'm disappointed as back then there would have been enough time to add me but unfortunately the regional WA dept seems to be really slow. The next ceremony is likely to be in June I've been told.

I posted just above as did my test on 8th dec, approval letter dated 16th Jan received today. Ceremony here in my remote town in two days but I have no invitation. The wait continues.

I did my test on 8th December, passed 100%. Just got back from a holiday crossing my fingers my approval letter would be waiting for me. Sadly not. 6 weeks of waiting, hopefully they'll approve me soon. Regional WA seems to be very slow.

I got mine via email, no letter ever arrived.

I just assumed the person that emailed from diac country was my case officer but maybe not. I'll hopefully have some news over the coming weeks. The lady over the phone was so unfriendly, I thought it was pretty reasonable to ask how my application was going a month after passing the test, she seemed to think otherwise! Have you got a date for your ceremony yet Tooz?

Can you email your case officer for an update or is that not allowed/a waste of time?

I had my citizenship test on 8th December. I've since heard nothing so called the dept. My application has not been approved yet and no time frame can be given. No hope for the Australia Day ceremony then and the wait continues :sad:

It must be a bit different when you have the test at Centrelink! There was no mention of approval just discussion on when the ceremony might be.

How do you know if I got apporoved? I was just reading the brochure thing the lady gave me and wondering this!

I brought along passport of entry and current passport for each person, birth certificate for each, marriage certificate, drivers license, Medicare card and the bank statement I had used when I applied. All fine. The lady thought it should be fine for Australia Day ceremony but wasn't sure. I think Centrelink have only recently started doing the tests not sure if they are involved with the ceremonies.

My NZ born hubby born in the 1970s his birth certificate was also like this. Before we applied for pr he applied for a new one, problem solved. It should be easy enough to do you can apply online from what I can gather (I thought I had lost my uk birth certificate some years ago and looked into the process of getting a new one). Good luck.

Yeah it has gone quickly, where are the rest of the march 2012 gang?!

Yay passed my test 100% now the wait for the ceremony.

you only need to provide a marriage certificate if you have changed your name because of marriage. It's the link between your maiden name and your married name. If you haven't changed your name no need to provide it.

If if has gone to the regional WA office and think there must be a delay with processing the applications. I'm sure you'll hear from them really soon though.

Thanks Tooz and Evets, I too have done many of the free online tests and that's why I'm a little worried, even though I've studied quite a bit every now and again I come across a question I'm sure wasn't in our common bond and I find myself reading it again to check! Hopefully it's straightforward questions without answers that want to trick you! All of our birth certificates are not laminated although one kid has one with pictures on it but it is their only birth certificate (it's from NZ) and is a legal document. My aus born kid has 2 birth certificates but the one with pictures cannot be used as a legal document.

Citizenship test tomorrow, please could somebody confirm what documents I need to bring? I've got drivers license, Centrelink card, passport, birth certificate, marriage certificate, bill/bank state to confirm address, passports fo kids, birth certificate for kids. Id form was already posted and received. Am I missing anything? Tests make me nervous but I've studied so hope I'll be fine.

That's good to hear. I sent an email to my CO to let them know I had uploaded the form, I received a reply saying it had been changed. I live in a small remote town that doesn't do ceremonies very often so hopefully they have space for aus day.

Hi Chandan, you've alerted me to the fact I too have done this. I called them and she said to fill in form 1023 and upload to my online application. I will also bring a copy to my test later this week. Not sure why I ticked that box, I don't want to be on tv but I'll be waiting for many months if I can't do an Australia Day ceremony!

Hi Naburn have you heard anything yet? I applied online at the end of June , it went through to regional WA. I only heard from them recently and have my test this week at Centrelink!