Rach Brisbane

Also fyi I applied in march 2018 so people can see timeframes

Update for brisbane city council applications. I sat my test on 7 march and was told I would get approval in the post and my immi account wouldn't change. I obviously have been checking my immi account and my post box every day just in case (like a crazy lady). Today I logged into my immi and my status says approved!!! I am waiting on my approval for a job and they said before they would accept my approval letter as acceptance rather than doing my ceremony so hopefully the letter shows up in the post shortly.

I asked after my test and they said it's all snail mail from now on and my online status wouldn't change. It seems to be different depending on each council

I sat my test on 7 March (100%) and haven't had my approval letter yet. I know my police checks are clear (I'm very boring hahaha). Is it normal to not hear anything for this long after? Thanks guys!

I know!!! They told me that my approval letter would be by post, not email, so I'm checking my letter box every day

Thanks. That's what I thought. Appreciate the quick response

Hi! I sat my test a couple of weeks ago and am waiting for my approval letter. I have a possible job opportunity waiting for me but I need to be an Australian citizen before they can accept me. My question is whether the approval makes you a citizen or do you need to attend a ceremony first before you're considered a citizen. Does anyone have experience with this? Thanks so much!

Tell me about it! I've been living in Australia 8 years today and I cannot believe its taken this long. One of my friends has been here for over 8 years and due to her partner being made redundant on multiple occasions (mining jobs) still hasn't even got PR. Visa applications are a right pain but living here is worth it! Fingers crossed you get your test date soon.

Thanks! Hope yours comes through soon! It looks like they're getting to the ones applied for at the beginning of last year now.

Hi All, Update for Brisbane City Council applications:- Applied online- 9 March 2018 Acknowledgement by email the same day Test appointment email received- 18 February 2019 Test scheduled for 7 March 2019

Hi All, Date applied: 09/03/2018 City/Council area: Brisbane City Council Online / Paper:  Online Date received the acknowledgement email: 09/03/2018 Date of the Citizenship Test: TBC Approval online: TBC Date of ceremony: TBC I think I may be waiting a while with Brisbane City Council looking at other peoples timelines!

Thanks for your reply. For my citizenship I need to have 1 year PR and 4 years lawfully residing in Australia. I therefore will wait until next March (4 years after the grant of my bridging visa) to apply and hope the laws don't change in the meantime. Thanks again!

Hello. I wanted to know if anyone else has experienced a similar situation to me when applying for citizenship. I was originally on a 457 visa but left my job and applied for a partner visa instead. While waiting for my temporary partner visa to be issued the previous terms of my 457 visa applied and accordingly I could only work for the company who I had left. Therefore on 4 March 2014 I cancelled my 457 visa and became an illegal non-citizen for roughly 2 hours. On 4 March 2014 I then applied for a bridging visa E which was granted the same day and subsequently applied for permission to work which was also granted. I received my temporary partner visa in August 2014 and my PR last November. I understand that I meet the 1 year PR citizenship requirement. However I also need to have lived in Australia on a valid visa for the 4 years prior to applying. Does anyone know whether the 2 hours illegal (which are within in the 4 years) will result in my citizenship application being rejected? If so I will wait until 5 March next year and apply. However I am concerned that the government will bring in changes to the eligibility requirements prior to March and I will need to wait for 4 years on my PR before to applying. Any advice would be greatly appreciated but I understand that my situation is quite unusual! Thanks

Thanks for your advice! I'be been told that's the process over the phone with immigration but it's good to hear about somebody else who went through it. I think I'll go down the bridging visa e route as it seems quicker than waiting for my partner visa to be granted. Thanks again. Fingers crossed!

Hi, I first moved to Australia in 2011 on a working holiday visa and later obtained sponsorship on a 457 visa. However, I left this job in November last year as I was extremely unhappy. Since then I have applied for an 820 Partner Visa and have been advised that a valid application has been received on 10/02/2014. I have been granted a bridging visa A, however this does not come into effect until 2016 when my 457 expires. I have been advised that until my partner visa is approved my only working options are to either work for my previous sponsor or find a new 457 sponsor. Given that finding a 457 sponsor is extremely difficult at the moment (I blame all of the bad publicity in the papers!) I wish to work without obtaining a new sponsor. I understand that I now need to apply for my 457 visa to be cancelled meaning I will become 'unlawful.' I then I need to apply for a bridging visa E (which I cannot work or travel on) and if this is granted then apply for permission to work on financial hardship grounds. I am worried about becoming unlawful with the chance of a bridging visa E not being granted. However, my partner and I are finding it very difficult living from his wages alone so I really need to be able to work. Has anybody else been through this situation? I would really appreciate your advise. Thank you for your help! Rachel