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Had my ceremony this week at Sydney Town Hall. Nice and neat. The room was full of people, 200+ divided in two sections (bible bashers and Darlinghurst/Surry hills hipsters). First we heard (member for Sydney) Alex G's story about him being a Kiwi, his husband a German and parents American/Australian followed by Lord Mayor's short speech. Once she had made us promise to obey Australian laws (again bible people first followed by hipsters), the certs were delivered and city's photographer pictured each of us with the Mayor. Once all 200+ people got congratulated, we sang the anthem and sparkling wine started to flow. Throughout the event house band played Australian jazz. Regarding the passport application, I made a couple of mistakes. First, only one passport picture must be signed by an Australian (like for the citizenship application). I had both pictures signed and post man rejected them. He said that the writing shows on the other side and that's not good for the passport. Then, in the passport application the citizenship number is not the number in front of the citizenship certificate. It's the number on the back of the certificate. Someone could had said so - but no. Also, remember to take your existing passport with you since the passport office doesn't know the city where you were born or your sex so you need the old passport to show the city and whether you're a boy or girl. Honestly, in the era of computers you may think something's automated. All in all, once you get this far, hopefully this finishes the huge amount of paperwork and stamps we all had undergo from the first visa to PR to Citizenship. Good luck all! Sam

It was an email... You are warmly invited to attend your Australian Citizenship ceremony on Wednesday 24 August 2016 at 1:30pm. It is essential that you respond to say if you are able or unable to attend by replying to this email no later than 12:00pm on Friday 5 August 2016. If you notify us that you are unable to attend you will be allocated to our next ceremony and we can ask the next person on the wait list. We only send this email invitation we do not post you a copy. The ceremonies following August 24 are on Friday 23 September 2016 and Wednesday 19 October at 1:30pm. Time: It is important that you arrive to register on Wednesday 24 August by 1:00pm and bring photo ID, either a passport or drivers licence and a copy of this email either printed or on your phone. Venue: Lower Town Hall, Sydney Town Hall. Entrance is in Druitt Street, Opposite the Queen Victoria Building Dress: Smart casual or business attire Seating: Note you will be allocated a seat. If you have a baby or small child who is not receiving a certificate please let us know so that we can arrange to have them seated with you. If your child is also receiving a certificate please let us know if they are attending. If you have asked the Department of Immigration and Border Protection to be linked with a friend or partner who is taking citizenship you will be seated together. If we do not know you are together please let us know. If we have you registered as linked with another person who is attending this ceremony their name will appear here: Assisted Access: If you have any special requirements, such as the need for assisted access, please let us know as soon as possible before your ceremony. Guests: You are welcome to bring up to three guests. Guests will sit in a different section so do not require allocated seats and you do not need to let us know they are attending. Mailing address: If your mailing address has changed please contact the Department of Immigration and Border Protection on 131 880 or by posting form 929 to the applicable citizenship processing centre. We use this address to send you your photo after the ceremony and the Department of Immigration and Border Protection need it for administration. Passports: If you have any questions about passports please contact the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade by phone on 131 232 (8am to 8pm weekdays and 8:30 to 5pm on weekends). Timing: The ceremony is approximately 70 minutes (not including registration) and is followed by afternoon tea. You are not required to stay for afternoon tea however you are required to stay until the end of the ceremony and the singing of the National Anthem.

Applied online - 19/5/16 Email acknowledgement - 19/5/16 Test email - 21/5/16 Test date - 26/5/16 (originally 13/7/16. Managed to reschedule, but had to go to Parramatta) City council - Sydney city. Ceremony - 24/8

Approval letter came today...dated the same day as I sat the test. Super fast process so far...perhaps the wait starts now. :laugh:

Dont think it is mandatory as for example in my case in Finland they dont issue birth certs. I showed an extract of the population system (census) and it was ok. Used the same piece of paper for PR too few years ago.

Applied online - 19/5/16 Email acknowledgement - 19/5/16 Test email - 21/5/16 Test date - 26/5/16 (originally 13/7/16. Managed to reschedule, but had to go to Parramatta) City council - Sydney city. Officer said she will approve the application the same day after AFP check and computer citizenship test. So far no acceptance email. Anyone got an invite to the ceremony lately? When was your application accepted? Just a thinking how long is the wait in Sydney.

Ok, I can confirm now that it is ok to leave the country. I applied onshore, came home yesterday and got visa grant today!

I would say that you must enter Australia by the date that is stated in the visa grant letter. Does anyone know how many days you have time to enter after the visa grant?

Guys, I went to the DIAC office yesterday here in Sydney and the woman said that it's ok to leave the country while the SkillSelect PR is being processed. She also said that the cancelled BV A can be re-validated upon return by filling in form 1005 (no charge). -sam

Hola, well the Immigration website states quite clearly that I'm free to go home as I want: http://migrationblog.immi.gov.au/category/bridging-visas/ or http://migrationblog.immi.gov.au/2012/02/20/b-sure-you-can-return-—-for-bridging-visa-a-holders/ Their only concern seems to be that if an applicant wants to return AND didnt apply for BV B before departing, then there might be a problem if none of the existing visas are no longer valid. What do you reckon?

I have similar situation. I applied last week and going back home this Sunday. I can either apply for bridging visa B (and pay more than 100) or just do nothing. Since Im coming back in December I believe that my case is solved by then. And if not, the EU passport allows me to stay 3 months here anyway. So by that time the visa should had been granted at least... Can you come and go as you want or do you need a tourist visa? The bridging visa is quite easy...you probably got the A when you lodged your application by mail?