andrewajp002

9 hours ago, jpp said:

Yes at that time maximum people permitted for public gathering was 50 only. Currently it is just 10 and if everything goes right could move back to 50. It would need 18 ceremonies to clear backlog

Yeah, these numbers are a joke, it should be one of the greatest days and needs to be shared, there are 0 cases in Monash. Hope everyone gets their invites and ceremony done soon.

On 30/07/2021 at 20:04, jpp said:

Those from Monash, VIC I raised FOI about citizenship backlog and  as of 16th July 2021 there are 948 people whose application is approved and are awaiting for ceremony. Considering only 6 ceremony are planned for balance of 2021 and covid restrictions on number it does not look good unless council plans more ceremony to clear backlog 

• 2021 citizenship ceremonies (Monash)

• 16 August
• 13 September
• 20 September
• 27 September
• 11 October
• 6 December 

Hey, Had mine with Monash on 12/07, and there were no more than 50 in the theatre, it may be that we had just come out of covid due to the low numbers, but i say they couldnt fit more than 150 in there.

2 hours ago, don said:

Anyone got any recent update for Casey council Victoria citizenship. Could please update detail so it will helpful for us? Thanks 

Hi Don

I'm in Monash and just had my Ceremony, usually it ranges from 6-8 months after test, mine took 6 months from test to Ceremony. Hope that helps.

Thanks

Andrew

Hi All

Finally had my ceremony on Monday night in Monash, Vic.  Glad it finally happened.

Applied Oct 2019 and become an Aussie on 12 July 2021, took a while due to Covid, but finally got there.

Thanks to this site and everyone on there for their advise and support during this life changing process.

Andrew

On 06/07/2021 at 16:39, Tulip1 said:

Do you have landlord insurance?  Strangely many don’t bother getting this but if you have then contact them.  My friend had a tenant that wouldn’t move out.  It took her almost a year to get them out and they left a terrible mess (and stopped paying the rent) her landlord insurance covered everything and had a great legal department that helped with the process.  That was some years ago and even today my friend gets a small amount every month from the rent arrears.  The insurance covered the legal challenge for that too and eventually an attachment of earnings was put on the tenants salary. If you haven’t then sorry I can’t offer any other suggestions.  Hopefully others will.  Good luck. 

Hi,. thanks for the reply.

I did have insurance, but there was a mix up on the last renewal and I found out when I went to claim I wasn't covered anymore, doh.

I have accepted I have to evict the other person, even though they should not be there, so will take me a few months and the bills, but once thats done, hopefully not much damage and I can repair and then sell.

Hi all

I am letting my UK flat, I have done for the past 6 years, but looking to sell and buy over here as I get my citizenship next week, my agency in the UK has been quite poor and I am now in a position where I have a squatter in place of a tenant.  (S21 served and now expired, tenant on tenancy has moved out but his subtenant refuses to leave)

My query is "similar to the finance guru's on here are there any UK property legal types or can anyone recommend anyone they have had good experiences with"?  Not expecting free advice, just after recommendations as all I am being told in the UK is I have to take the squatter (unlawful subtenant) to court and evict them, even though they were never on the tenancy, this is lengthy and expensive.

Once I have them out I can make any repairs then sell, then look to buy over here.

Any and all advice is appreciated.

Andrew

On 22/06/2021 at 23:13, RoEire said:

I'm not too far behind you so @VicApplicant. Yeah, I directly asked the question and was told it was 'general' not specific. I've nothing to lose by throwing it in again - will let you know if I've any success!

Do you know if Port Phillip send the invites by post or by email by any chance - I may give them a call to find out. If you do find out about the waiting list - would you mind letting me know also please?  I think July may be a bit optimistic for me, since they said 6-7 months, but I can dream! Haven't been to Ireland to see my family in over 2 years, so we're hopeful of applying for an exemption to travel over there for 6 months, but waiting on the ceremony to be complete to go. 

Not sure if the councils send out their own or via a central system, this is the email address I got mine from - citizenship.letter@homeaffairs.gov.au

On 22/06/2021 at 10:44, VicApplicant said:

Oh brilliant you got word of your ceremony. When did you receive this was it just today? Delighted for you. There is one in my council on 22nd July and trying to figure out when I would hear about it (if I got it!)

I got told via email Monday night about 6pm, and the ceremony is on Monday 12th so maybe they release them 3 weeks prior. Hopefully if the one in your council is on 22nd you might hear something around the 8th  

12 hours ago, VicApplicant said:

That is unfair  I’m sorry things are such a mess with wait times. I’m similar wanting process to be over. Have you tried an FOI for your council? 

If I had waited 12 hours, night ceremony is on the 12th July, about 1 min walk from  my house 

So with Monash CC is had my test and passed 19th Jan 2021,  Ceremony 12th July 2021.  (Though I expect they will process quicker now the lockdowns are over )

This is so annoying, others in Vic in councils right close to me took their tests after and have got Ceremony dates already, Kingston which my house backs on to got theirs (and bayside), but technically is in Monash and I haven't got mine yet.

Soo unfair 

10 hours ago, Xavy said:

Hi everyone, sorry for the long shot but I have a question.
My two friends(A&B) and I passed the test and got approved on the same week last February. Earlier this week, friend A received her ceremony invitation for July while friend B and I are still waiting. We made sure that we unlinked each other’s applications. 
A colleague of mine(Friend C) applied for citizenship last March, I think he linked me and friend B to his application. But before his test on April, I told him to ask the officer to unlink our application from his. He then confirmed that he did tell the officer. Unfortunately failed the test and got re-scheduled for today  17/06. I’m not 100% convinced that we were actually unlinked thus resulting for Friend A and I not getting the invite yet. 
 

Sorry but are we just being impatient or is the delay the result of this linking applications? Is there anything I can do to have this fixed? Thank you everyone🥺

Hi Xavy

It really depends in which State / Council you applied for to how long the wait is, I took and passed in Jan 2021 and still waiting (Monash,Victoria), generally based on timelines most are taking 6-7 months from pass date to ceremony.   

On 02/06/2021 at 17:35, Been said:

Anyone here waiting for citizenship ceremony (whitehorse city council victoria)?

Im in Monash, Applied Oct 2019, Test 19/01/2021 (thanks covid), still awaiting ceremony invite (thanks Covid and Dan Andrews) 

7 minutes ago, Melbournian said:

https://www.aph.gov.au/e-petitions/petition/EN2535?fbclid=IwAR16KpSbyzr_cNc03saib2VAQ_uAAKwdYnIrc0BmsAQ-G6CeWwwO1fGfwD4

Petition Reason

Australia is a multicultural country where many of it’s citizens and permanent residents (PR) migrated from overseas. Therefore, thousands of Australian’s and PR have parents living abroad. Currently parents are unable to to travel to Australia to be reunited with family because they are not classed as ‘immediate family’. Parents are essential and connection with family is equally as important to migrants as it is to families living in Australia. Australians and PR have not seen their parents for a significant amount of time due to the travel ban and a strict exemption criteria which prevents people from obtaining exemptions unless they have a ‘compelling reason’. Covid-19 has impacted many Australians, however, being apart from parents for an extended period of time without an indication of when they will be reunited puts unrealistic expectations on those desperate to see family. This has had a profound impact, mental health has significantly declined, children have not met grandparents, people have had to give up work due to limited support and families are having to re-evaluate their lives in Australia and have had to leave despite being here for many years. Citizens and PR have jobs and responsibilities with they cannot leave for 3 months or more.

Petition Request

We therefore ask the House to add parents as an exemption category. If exemptions cannot be obtained for parents coming to Australia please consider allowing exemption for people with family overseas to travel. Reunification with family should be a compelling and compassionate reason.

Thanks for the link, have signed and sent on to some others. 

As for my Citizenship, I got approved on 19th Jan and still waiting, hopefully not too much longer.  (Melbourne)

On 19/01/2021 at 19:07, VicApplicant said:

Congrats @andrewajp002!! Good to hear. I’m hoping for an interview soon! Applied in April 20 so still a while to wait yet!! Fingers crossed for your ceremony. Is there an online ceremony option for vic at the moment?

Thanks, I just checked and it is now approved on my immi account, took a few days, not sure what the hold up was

As for the ceremony, as far as I know it will now be an in person one either in the CBD or local (Monash)  I'm surprised you haven't had a date yet, they must have had loads to get through.  Its easy, you'll pass no worries.

The Melbourne office was very well organised and I was in and out in 30 mins

They didn't ask for any more paperwork, just reviewed what I had uploaded, checked my driving Licence to check address and took a photo.

The questions were easy, 2 trickyish ones but got 100%

Now awaiting date of ceremony 

21 minutes ago, Hex said:

@andrewajp002 I had my interview / test on the 10th December and they asked for the following of all applicants (my children were included): 

1. Passport

2. Birth certificate 

3. Drivers license (which needed to have my correct address, else I needed proof of address)

I took an entire file of certified documents (to be safe) and that's all I was asked for. 

Good luck! 

Cheers 

Got my interview tomorrow morning  Only thing I dont have is a record of when I first landed in Australia (Visa Record), will this be an issue?  (I have all other paper work)

On 17/12/2020 at 18:07, VicApplicant said:

awesome @andrewajp002 when did you apply? Great to see people getting through. I only applied in April 2020!

I applied in 18th October 2019, so 6 months after application to first interview date.  Hope that helps.  

I am guessing they will fast track some to clear the backlog, so may be quicker for you than that.

23 hours ago, VicApplicant said:

Does anyone have any updates on Melbourne /VIC office? Any indication of what date of processing they are up to now? Would be nice to think that there is additional focus but I don’t think so

My original date was 9th April and just got my new invite yesterday for 19th jan, feel free to use that timeline as to when you should get yours.

Finally got my interview date in Melbourne for 19th Jan, cant wait to get through this now and finally become an Aussie

On 17/11/2020 at 11:35, flatwhite101 said:

Just noticed Melbourne testing office has been added back to the list 

Great news, I'm expecting a call quite soon as mine was one of the last to be cancelled 

On 09/11/2020 at 10:40, flatwhite101 said:

Really wish we can get an update soon. 10 days with 0 covid cases and travel restrictions now lifted, so there is nothing stopping testing being conducted in a covid safe way. 

I'm in the same boat, should have had mine originally on 9th April,  I just want to get this done now.  Hopefully now restrictions are relaxed they might start them again in the Melbourne CDB.

Hi all

Originally had interview scheduled for 08/04, then was pushed back until 12/08, not postponed.  Disappointed, but it will happen at some point.

2 hours ago, millski88 said:

Yep

All the app questions available online for free: https://citizenshiptests.org/australian-citizenship-test/

(you can even do 'marathon' tests of all the questions in one go)

Also an Android version of the app available: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.northpole.world.citizenshiptest.australia.free&hl=en

many thanks for that, though looking at the processing times I have plenty of time to practice  

I submitted my application just now, hopefully it wont take long

As for the app for the test, does anyone know if there is a similar one for windows or android?

https://apps.apple.com/au/app/australia-citizenship-test/id543949259

Thanks

Andrew