Brummygirl

I am a returning uk citizen (born in the UK moved to oz 10 years ago) and also early pregnancy. I have been back in the UK about 7 weeks now, 7 weeks too long if you ask me but anyway! all your wife will need to do is register ASAP With your GP and fill out a form with your hospital of choice, you will then receive a midwife appointment and that will get the ball rolling. The main thing I have noticed is The NHS are very slow, I registered when I was 8 weeks pregnant and they didn’t arrange my important 12 week scan until I was 14 weeks along... this was then to late to do any 12 week screening, so I am very disappointed up to now when I compare the services I had in Melbourne with my first baby. I moved back to Birmingham with my 15 month old and husband, leaving my family still in Australia, my husband wanted to spend some time with his family and old friends, however each day gets harder for me, hopefully with your wife she will settle in ok as her family will be around her and the support she will really appreciate being a first time mom, wishing you the best with your move, it’s never a easy ride :)..

Yep I really hate change I think thats probably the most scary part! I also always see the negative side of a situation, and you are right you never know until you give it a try which is what my hubby keeps saying to me. everyone we meet or speak to also think we are mad for returning to "shitty Birmingham" is most peoples quote, however these people have never actually left the UK, never mind lived in a completely different country, so I try and take their opinions with a grain of salt! Please keep us posted on your adventure

Your situation is similar to mine. My husband and 1 year old daughter have been back in Birmingham for 3 weeks - Leaving my parents and brother in Melbourne! The reason for our move back was due to my husband missing his family, despite 1-2 trips back to the UK every year. The UK has definitely changed from when we left in 2009 & I am finding it extremly difficault to slot back into life after 10 years in Melbourne. Finding a car, renting a house, buying furniture again is very stressful and you feel like you are bleeding pounds! lol We also kept our jobs open in Melbourne and said to each other we will allow 12 months and see how we go. In my situation, I wish 12 months would be over so we could just go back to Melbourne - my husband, however is loving life reconnecting with his family while I grieve leaving mine. finding out I was pregnant 1 week before we left also did not help with the emotional side of the move, baby is due December and I dread what will happen in 12 months if we can't agree on which country we want to raise our children up in.... the move will be challenging emotionally and financially, its great you both have your families for support - I wish you well with the move and hope you find what you feel is missing. x

Finally my letter for Citizenship has arrived! Melbourne - Casey Council time line... Applied: 4 October 2016 (Online) Council: City Of Casey (Melbourne) Original test date: 9 Feb 17 (but managed to change to 4th November 2016) Test date: 4th November 2016 (Passed 100%) Approval: 4th November 2016 Ceremony: March 22 2017 Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thats strange..... Though my birth certificate is not from The 70's it is only the short version as well with no parents names listed - I never had a issue, my application was approved and I'm now awaiting a ceremony date. Im not sure if they already had a full one of mine on file from my Perm Residency Visa. If they still demand a full one you can purchase online from UK Registry & pay extra for express shipping as you won't want to delay your process Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hey! I honestly would call as many times as you like there is no limit... the test booking system is live data so they will tell you on the phone to be quick with saying yes or no to a available appointment because other calls could take them while your thinking about it.... I would suggest requesting a call back instead so you don't waste your day . But yep I would call as many times as you like, you never know let's hope you can change the date! The wait times for visa are just ridiculous at the moment Jem x Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Oh yeh you might be able to then, give them a call on Monday Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

****! I did that aswell which means no Australia Day ceremony for us!!! can't believe i did that.... I doubt very much we can change it now because the application has already been approved Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yay! Congrats Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I have not herd officially that they keep track, I suppose that every time you call they will take notes and add to your file... but I wouldn't let this stop you! if your innocently trying to change your appointment I suppose that's the only way.I remember when my husband had applied for a partner visa a few years ago I called immigration everyday for a update [emoji23] so I probably pissed them off but hey ho! I was quite fortunate with my test, melbourne based applications can change appointments online so I was literally checking at work every 15min! But if I didn't have that option I would deffo be calling DIBP to check availability everyday, Good luck! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Keep calling DIBP everyday and request a call back so your not waiting on hold...fingers crossed you can change it! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Ye I definitely got lucky with changing my test date! When I got my first test date for February I was quite upset as we were naively expecting the entire process to take 3 months [emoji51]... we are heading back to Birmingham, West Midlands - just not looking forward to the cold winters! Yep I know feeling, we have been here 7 years & how time flys...At least you held it out for 5 years which is a very long time and gave it a good go! As citizenships are individual based I would guess it wouldn't be a problem him continuing the application process alone, especially if he is staying in oz for the next 12 months he might as well. Yep I also had to get the resident return visa which is not cheap it's around $450 per person, but lasts 5 years... Wishing you all the best with your move and new adventure back to blighty! Check out the moving back to the uk topics on this forum, I have found it so informative and useful. Jem x Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Wow! I knew Casey council are one of the busiest but that is a ridiculous wait time! I think I am being slightly optimistic with my thoughts of Australia Day ceremony... Did you have any delays or was it a straight forward application.... Thanks for the feedback x Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

HiGoldyshell! I would recommend waiting till Feb to see if you atleast can do the test and be "approved". Once you are approved you can leave the country and return at a later date for you Citizenship ceremony. Seems a shame as you have spent a lot of time & money for the process already - dept of IMMI also do not refund. My husband and I are moving back to the Uk in february 2017 (If we get our ceremony by then)....We wanted to ensure we had our ozzy citizenship before we left to not cut ties with Australia! We applied in October with Melbourne, City of casey council with our application as "Joint" - This is my timeline if any help for you, If you are from Melbourne check several times a day to try and chnage your test dates! Applied: 4 October 2016 (Online) Council: City Of Casey (Melbourne) Original test date: 9 Feb 17 (but managed to change to 4th November 2016) Test date: 4th November 2016 (Passed 100%) Approval: 4th November 2016 (Just called DIPB & was told approval granted on same day as test, and to keep eye out for snail mail letter)! Ceremony: ???

WOW! Congrats on your Citizenship Ceremony so quickly after your approval

Updated time line! Applied: 4 October 2016 (Online) Council: City Of Casey (Melbourne) Original test date: 9 Feb 17 (but managed to change to 4th November 2016) Test date: 4th November 2016 (Passed 100%) Approval: 4th November 2016 (Just called DIPB & was told approval granted on same day as test, and to keep eye out for snail mail letter)! Ceremony: ???

Melbourne Time Line.... Applied: 4 October 2016 (Online) Council: City Of Casey (Melbourne) Original test date: 9 Feb 17 (but managed to change to 4th November 2016) Test date: 4th November 2016 (Passed 100%) Approval: ?? Ceremony: ??? * Told by immi officer at my test appointment that Melbourne has a long wait time for citizenships - He had been advised to expect wait times of 4-6months for a ceremony date post test appointment! - Let the wait begin.....