Zet01

8 minutes ago, mangel83 said:

Quite a speedy turnaround! Thanks for the information, however I'm still thinking about postponing it to try to be in a ceremony with my wife.

 

I agree, I've already spent enough as it is, but I guess  it's no a whole lot more in the grand scheme of things.

Understand your point. Better to celebrate the ceremony together with your wife. All the best.

Did you put all the travel dates you're away from Australia? That will count if you have a substantial amount of absences in the country.

On ‎31‎/‎08‎/‎2018 at 22:25, Bristle said:

Received our test date on Tuesday, 8 months and 1 day after application.

Date Applied: 27/12/2017

City/Council Area: City of Cockburn, WA

Online/Paper: Online

Date received the acknowledgement email: 27/12/2017

Date of Citizenship Test: 08/10/2018

 

Good luck on your test! Most likely, your ceremony will be Australia Day.

On ‎31‎/‎08‎/‎2018 at 17:38, kirsty160990 said:

Hi Everyone,

What is required to be taken to the test/interview? My partner has his test on Monday 3rd September and is stressing as he can't find the paperwork for his 417 visa from 2012.

He has his: expired passport (with entry stamp in it dated 16/08/2012), his new passport, the signed 1195 form, signed passport picture, driving licence, household bill, tenancy contract.

Is there anything else he should take with him?

Applied online.

Any advice greatly appreciated.

You just need the documents you uploaded on your citizenship application. No need to show the 1195 form.

Good luck on his test.

We used our Company work address initially when we got our health insurance. We rang them the moment we got here and used our temporary accommodation's address after that.

1 hour ago, mangel83 said:

Ceremony invitation received!

Date applied: 05/12/2017
City/Council area: Melbourne
Online / Paper: Paper
Date received the acknowledgement email: 29/01/2018
Date of the Citizenship Test: 25/06/2018 *Passed
Date of ceremony: 27/09/2018

However, most likely I'll postpone the ceremony for 2 reasons:

- My wife and I applied together (although she applied online) and she just got the invitation today to take the test in November, even though we both nominated each other to be together for the ceremony. Funny how it (doesn't ) works. Although this post above  explains a bit!

- I have an upcoming trip to NZ for work on the 31st of October and I'm worried I might be cutting it too fine getting a passport on time. Allowing for 2 weeks after the ceremony to apply for a passport, that leaves 2 weeks for me to get the passport, which I guess the "Urgent" service should do the trick with a week to spare, only other issue is tickets have already been booked with my current passport details.

Any thoughts on the passport issue? Any experience using the urgent service?

Good luck to everybody still on the wait!

Congrats on your ceremony! We (my husband and I) had our ceremony last August 9 and we applied passports the next day after the ceremony (August 10) directly to Australian Passport Office. We were allowed to schedule directly in their office since our holiday to NZ is August 16, and we only have 4 working days to apply passports.

We got our passports the same day (5 hours to be exact).

 You still have 4 weeks before your trip, just apply for passport right after you get your certificate.

It is just a breeze going to NZ immigration with AU passport on hand.

I used my own email address for both applications, so not sure if that helped to get the same date of test invites.

Just be positive that your test invite will arrive soon. Good luck!

That is right.

Just wait for a week to see if your invite will come soon.

Check your spam mails as well as sometimes it goes there too. I have colleagues who missed their test invite because of that.

17 minutes ago, Afanso said:

Soooo frustrated! Can anyone tell me what to do now?

It has been more than 17 months since the lodgement, still no approval! ( Applied online in Mar 2017, tested in Jul 2017 at Sydney CBD). Called, emailed and sent feedback (complain) to DHA many many times but doesn't help at all. FOI has also been conducted and the records show "nil concerns", however the records also tell that the case hasn't been touched since Oct 2017. What should I do? Feel so bad!

That is really frustrating to know that it has not been touched for 10 months.

I hope you hear something soon, as you are already past the published timeline.

Did you link your application to hers? There is a portion in the application where you will put the citizenship application number of your wife in the form, and same with her.

1 hour ago, rammygirl said:

Hi, Just hope they get his signature sorted and certificates printed ASAP.  We did not enrol to vote, we expected to do this on the night but were told that the forms would be sent out along with our certificates.  I assume you need the certificate details to enrol.  Fingers crossed they sort it soon as we need to apply for our passports.  I have contacted the council as requested on the night, i will see what they say.

We had our ceremony last August 9 and once we entered the room and were handed out of the pledge documents, we were asked to enlist in the electoral roll. This is before the actual ceremony.

 We had to rush our passports as we were booked for a holiday less than a week after the ceremony. We got our passports the next day after the ceremony in 5 hours the same day.

I hope you get your certificate soon in time for your trip.

15 hours ago, ahad12 said:

@Zet01 i already have received approval letter dated same as on interview . Now just waiting for my husband's approval letter.

Wow, that was quick. Mine was 2 days after the test and hubby got his 20 days after. Hope your husband gets his approval soon.

On ‎26‎/‎08‎/‎2018 at 21:42, Elliot Tsao said:

Hey Ana,

 

I'm also Melbournian. Applied: 16 Apr 2017 and passed 22 Jun 2017 then still waiting~~

@Elliot Tsao, been wanting to know your citizenship status. I hope you hear something positive soon.

On ‎21‎/‎08‎/‎2018 at 18:54, ahad12 said:

I have appeard for the exam last week, waiting for the approval. The caseofficer  took only few documents, medicare, s.s.c certificate, rental contract and old and new passport, drivers lisence and marriage certificate. I applied through agent and he school leaving certificate is enough for birth proof.

@ahad12good to know you are done with your exams now. Approval is next

My friend applied November 2017 and got his test invite on October 24, 2018.

1 hour ago, rockinteddy89 said:

Hello everyone! I received my ceremony invite yesterday. And I am over the moon.

Here's my timeline:

Date Applied : Feb 2018

Online/Paper : Paper

Date received the acknowledgement : Feb 2018

Test appointment received : April 2018

Citizenship Test : May 2018 

Date of Approval : May 2018

Ceremony Invitation : Aug 2018

Date of Ceremony : September 2018

 

Good luck to everyone. It's kinda a bit frustrating but you'll all get there.

Congrats @rockinteddy89! 7 months processing is really fast!

9 minutes ago, european.lady said:

 

Congrats on your approval. Which state are you from?

19 hours ago, hjq83 said:

Hi All. I received my ceremony invite yesterday so here is my updated timeline. One month short of 12 months end to end. Best of luck to everyone still waiting - it's frustrating but you'll all get there in the end

Date applied: 21 Oct 2017

City/Council area: Bayside Council, NSW

Online / Paper: Online

Date received the acknowledgement email: 21 Oct 2017

Test invite email: 

Date of the Citizenship Test: 01 Jun 2018

Date of approval: 16 Jun 2018

Ceremony invitation:  13 Aug 2018

Date of ceremony: 25 Sep 2018

Congratulations @hjq83!

3 hours ago, ahad12 said:

congratulations!  Did you took your visa copy also along with you for interview.

You don't need to. 

10 hours ago, Dons_30032017 said:

Thanks Zet01

For the time being, until the bill comes up on the parliament, are new applications being accessed as of before July 1st?

Personally I will be able to apply after September 19th so hopefully no changes until then.

You will still be processed under the current rules. September is just around the corner. Crossing fingers that it will be implemented late.

Current processing times is around 14-17 months as per the website.

12 minutes ago, Dons_30032017 said:

Hi all,

Do you know when is it going to come up on the parliament?

Spring session started yesterday. As per the article, this was put on priority, so it will likely come up in a month or two. Hard to guess really.  

15 hours ago, rockinteddy89 said:

First called Department of home affairs about the citizenship ceremony, they told me to call the local council. Called the City Council and they told me to ring the Department of home affairs . Seriously, none of them could give me a bloody answer when the next ceremony is in Brisbane. Guess I'll just have to wait.  

Does your local council post any ceremony dates in their website?

Our local council usually post the upcoming ceremony dates, and that gave us some idea when to have the ceremony.

47 minutes ago, kirsty160990 said:

Hi everyone,

For those that have already received their test invites how did you receive these?

Were they through the mail, email or just in the immi account under messages or all 3 methods?

Thanks in advance  

Thru email. Please check your junk mail also, as some test invite emails go there.

I agree with you @Areyousure. Making it 4 years PR will hurt those staying here longer such as work visa, student visa holders. 

This will still need to pass again, so it might not happen this year.. I hope. 

Just now, ahad12 said:

Very happy for you I have my citizenship test on 17th Aug.  A bit nervous. I have arranged all my documents. 

@ahad12 thank you.

You'll do well, just read the booklet plus do some online test and you'll be fine.

Here is the link that I used in case you might need it, http://www.aussiecitizenshiptest.com/free-test/1

All the best