Melb2016

Anyone rcvd their citizenship certificate via post following a virtual ceremony? Had the virtual ceremony nearly 6 weeks ago - still no certificate…

An update. Our council in Melbourne organised a virtual ceremony a few days ago. We were notified a week before by email (no changes/messages on our Immi accounts). We attended from a car park in Gold Coast as we were on holiday (technology!). The ceremony lasted about 30 mins. Although we don’t have any paperwork to prove it, I think the ceremony means we are now Au citizens. We were told that we will receive a certificate in post in the next 3 weeks. Post that we can apply for a Passport. We applied in mid April 2020, so the process lasted exactly 15 months. 12 months from application to approval and 3 months from approval to ceremony. Hang in there all. 

You have to wait till after the ceremony to apply for a passport. Not a citizen until the ceremony. 

Mine was exactly 12 months from application to approval. However, I have noticed that gap is getting smaller more recently. Good luck. 

Hello All,

I applied for citizenship in April 2020, my application was approved in April 2021. So far so good. Have been waiting for a ceremony invitation for just under 3 months. Haven’t called the department as I know it is within the waiting times (6 months). 

Question - Has anyone in Maribyrnong council (VIC) recently been invited to a citizenship ceremony or attended one? Trying to work out wait times for the council.

Thanks. 

A quick update. Applied in April 2020, Approved in early April 2021, still no ceremony invitation. Maribyrnong Council. 

Ok, some further movement. Applied April 2020 in Melbourne. Test and interview April 2021. Application approved a week after the test. Incidentally, took exactly 12 months between application and approval. Next step is the wait for the ceremony I suppose. 
 

By the way, there was no email to inform me of the approved status. I happened to check Immi and noticed that the status had changed....

Does anyone know if the virtual ceremony option is available in VIC?

Thanks. 

32 minutes ago, Melbournian said:

Basically speaking, MNB is bit behind for ceremony, as compared to person who attended test/interview on same day - and got approval on same day - depending on council list.

Just remember, people from different councils, come for test on same location and then get dispersed/segregated for ceremony based on councils . 

 

Thanks, so I need to look out for my council and their planned dates for ceremonies...

Once the case is approved, is it then handed to your council and they get in touch with you with an invitation?

MNB,

Thanks. Ok, so with the approved status do you now have a ceremony invitation, or is that another step that will happen sometime in the future?

1 hour ago, MNB said:

Finallyyyyyyyyy........Status changed to Approved.......2 months wait is over

MNB, 

Good to hear. To confirm, you had a 2 month wait post test/interview before the status was changed to Approved? Was there any additional doc requirements that they were waiting to assess?

1 hour ago, Zare said:

What was your date of citizenship application in april 20.

Zare - we applied in mid April 2020.

2 hours ago, pearplumpie said:

It's such a relief isn't it. I just had my interview and test today - also applied in April 2020  in Melbourne.

Hi Pearplumpie, 

Yes it was great to see the application progress. Not worried about the test. As regards the interview- did they expect all documents that you have lodged with the application and is the interview just to confirm identity?  
 

Also wondering when we may be able to visit the UK. Although your situation does sound very difficult. Hope things are ok with your father. 

Ok, some movement. Applied in April 2020 and received an invitation for test and interview for early April 2021. Applied from Melbourne. 

Hi Georgiegie,

Been over 10 months since I applied. No progress yet and application still ‘received’. Soled in Melbourne...Looking at the Immi website the total applications in progress remains around 160000. That number doesn’t seem to be coming down :(. 

5 minutes ago, pearplumpie said:

yes children aged 16 and above have their own application which is why he has already been approved separately to us. 16 and 17 year olds do not have to do the test or interview which is what makes it speedy. Thrilled for my son as it now means he has access to the loans for university. Our applications were linked bu was soon as he was approved I unlinked them so that he could proceed to a citizenship ceremony (online) on his own to get it finalised.

Nice, good to hear about your son. Ok I suppose we should just wait for longer in VIC. Hopefully things speed up this year....

3 minutes ago, pearplumpie said:

I also applied in April 2020 in Melbourne. 17 year old son approved and citizen in 2 months as didn't need to do test or interview. Great for him with uni coming up. Husband and I are still waiting.

Thanks for the response. So some applications are being assessed. Did your son apply on a separate application then? We have our 2 year old on mine. Clearly she won’t be doing any test or interview either. 

Hi all,

Applied from Melbourne in April 2020. Still no news, status is received. Anyone in VIC got through over the last few months?

Thanks. 

Hi Everyone,

Applied mid April for wife, baby and I. British. No updates on Immi. Application status is still ‘received ’. Based in Melbourne. 
 

It’s going to be a long wait...

A lot of opportunities in Melbourne.

Well he's the opposition leader. It's his job to not like what comes from the other side..[emoji12]

A steady budget in a difficult (Brexit) backdrop.

42k GBP lifestyle in UK would be better than a 79k AUD lifestyle in AU. Rent costs itself in Mel would be high compared to the UK (unless you are coming from London).

I can understand that a low sterling is causing a low conversion for you. I would suggest aim for closer to 84k AUD.

Depends on your spending power and the type of person you are ofc.

I would say AUD50k sounds much fairer than GBP70k. I know people who have done it for a lot cheaper...