vickyplum

Yes you'll be contacted by email. From what I can gather, the status on the immi account doesn't reliably update (mine has been stuck on 'received' for over a year now).

Hi @Corrina, have been reading this thread with interest and trying to think back to our actual costs when we moved in 2015. Not that it will help you reduce your costs, but may give you a realistic idea about setting up a home and $$ associated with that. Roughly we spent $4500 setting up home - ie, pretty much purchasing everything from scratch, apart from sofa, fridge, TV and a spare bed (gifted from family and since replaced with new - apart from the sofa which is on it's way out soon!!). This was buying nothing more fancy than Ikea - lots of Kmart, Target, Ikea, local Asian shops etc. Think iron, cutlery, clothes pegs, crockery, cleaning products, vacuum cleaner, washing machine, cooking pots and pans/utensils, kettle, toaster, beds/bedding, dining table/chairs, a few other bits of furniture and so on - all the things you would need to function in your home. Since then, we've replace some items with better quality, but this is what it was at the time. We rent, so had to put down a deposit of $3k ish. Moving costs of: visa GBP 2k for application, medical, police checks, etc /flights $3k ish / Move Cube for shipping of personal items $700 plus possible some extra $$ for actual delivery of the boxes to our door. So that's well over $10k with nothing special included. We stayed with relatives when we first arrived, didn't buy a car and I was working within a few weeks - so didn't have to fall back on other funds (just as well because we didn't really have any!!). However you cut it, migrating here isn't cheap, and being here isn't that cheap either - depending on how you live and what choices you make, will vary that of course. For reference, I'm in Sydney (from London before that, and Oxfordshire before that!).

You should be ok to renew the passport it after you've done the test... I think... It can get complicated when more than one of these things happens at the same time!

Oh that's good!!!!! Congratulations - and not too long to wait either. Now you just have to remember all the answers to the questions again

Refer to the posts from myself and Coquette above. Both of us have been waiting over a year, due to having our interview/test date scheduled for April, postponed. So at the moment, yes it's probably fair to say you're being impatient

@coquette I just called and was told all the information is on this page (https://covid19.homeaffairs.gov.au/citizenship) - ie, which offices are now open. I tried to get more info, asking if there was any rough timeframe for tests to recommence but was told all the information they have is the page above.

I did call today but it was just past 5pm and they were closed Will give myself a reminder to do it tomorrow. Will let you know if I get anywhere with the call or receive the golden invite!!

Yes, I'm in the same position. Applied for citizenship June 2019, received an invite to interview/test on 2 March 2020 (in Sydney CBD office for 27 April). Received a cancellation email on 7 April and I haven't heard anything since! I read on one of the government websites that both CBD and Parramatta offices are open again, so I would really hope applications are being progressed, and we'll hear something soon. I carried out some searching for more information on test dates etc, but everything just seems to say "don't contact us, we'll be in touch with you when we're ready". I could give them a call but really not sure how far that will get me. There's no email address or electronic way of getting in touch, as far as I can see.

Thanks @Fisher1! Mine is ready to be posted, just have to go back to the post office and get it sent off(after visiting earlier today for the photo part). It will take however long it takes, and maybe I'll be pleasantly surprised. In the meantime, I doubt I'll be going anywhere much at all

I think the issue is that self- isolating would mean starting work two weeks later than planned, and if it's a new employer (I took 'returning to UK for work' to be starting a new job) then that could be awkward. But sorry @lorkers - I don't actually have any advice or a real reply to your question!

@Rogers19 - have you sent yours off yet? I've just applied online and am feeling the same way as you about being 'passport-less' - particularly given that HM Passport Office have many disclaimers on the website, stating they can't guarantee when the applications will be processed/passports returned. Not that we can currently leave the country anyway I suppose!! @Ausvisitor - your comment was very funny! You're suggesting that (at a time when the Australia border is actually closed) any UK passport holder who needs to renew their passport, returns to the UK so they are "not in a foreign country without a passport". I understand you were saying (not very politely) that people shouldn't complain, but even so... I'd love to see my employer's reaction - I'd like some time off please. No I don't know how long I'll be, it could be a month, could be six months, and yes I'll probably have to quarantine for two weeks when I get back. And that's before I apply for permission to leave the country. Even before these times of COVID-19, this sounds like a costly and time consuming exercise

It would be very unusual to hear something in less than six months, particularly now that application processing has slowed down with COVID-19. There was a poster upthread (from WA I think) who heard back very quickly, but I fear that's an anomaly, rather than norm. Sometimes it's hard to see the logic or rhyme/reason behind the process!

TRN = Transaction reference number and should be on on any correspondence you've received about your visa/status.

Yes it's far too soon to hear anything - you only applied two months ago! See processing times: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-processing-times/global-visa-processing-times

Yes - both directions are being held up, in my experience.

My citizenship interview/test was scheduled for 27 April (Sydney). I've now received an email saying it's postponed, but not giving any details of a new date. So I have to assume that's on hold indefinitely for now.

This stuff can be difficult. Would your bank manager be willing to meet you in person and sign the form? Would only take 10 min of their day. I think medical practitioner can be your midwife friend but I suppose it's a bit of a risk, depending on how strictly the role titles are governed. Are there any legal or finance people in your workplace who might qualify?

Thank you! I am pretty pleased this is finally moving forward. Wollongong Council but test is in Sydney CBD.

Updating to say that I received my test invite/letter today (via email) for end of April 2020.

Yes i scanned the passport page with the stamp on it.

You can pay your NICs every year, or do a bulk top up. There's no reason to be in the UK for that!

Thanks! I am not in a mad rush but it would be nice to see some progress.

a) Wollongong. b) no, have just had two weeks outside of Australia since applying.

Yes me! Applied 18 June 2019 (not Sydney) and my account has remained unchanged since that day.

I'm in Sydney so not very helpful for you!