RoEire

Ahhhhh it's finally happened. I've just received my email for my Citizenship Appointment here in Melbourne. Lodged originally on 15/05/20, but then everything hit the skids here with the lockdown. I honestly thought it would take much longer to get my interview appointment as I thought they'd have such a backlog in Melbourne, especially with the extended time it took for civil servants to come back to work. Appointment for 2 weeks time, on a Saturday - I didn't even realise they did weekend appointments which is amazing. Going to look through the booklet tonight to study up and if I'm confident enough, I'll try rescheduling for an earlier appointment. Quick one - do I need to learn the words of the National Anthem off by heart? It's in the testable section but I was just the pits at learning poems or lyrics off by heart in school, so it's giving me flash backs. I can mumble along fairly well, but not a chance of reciting the whole thing under pressure

Thanks Ken. You're spot on in how I was thinking. I thought to be a tax-resident, you had to be physically in the country for over 6 months of the year, so by us applying for an exemption to return to our native country on the basis that we were re-locating there for a year, I thought this would flag up issues with our tax residency status. Just very worried about losing our tax free allowance and ending up with a tax bill when we'll already be financially stretched!

Hello How are you all? I have a question re: tax residency that I was hoping someone could point me in the right direction of an answer for. We've recently found out that I'm pregnant (very early days!). It hasn't come at a great time, as we're both being made redundant in mid-January, so just trying to get all of the information we can get and put our ducks in a row. Financially - we're very worried, as it would mean it's unlikely I would find more employment before the birth in early June, leaving us with a large gap! In relation to Residency for Tax Purposes, as I understand it to qualify as an Australian resident for tax, we need to be in the country for 6 months as I understand it. OPTION 1: We're considering heading back to our home country for a year so we could get some family support, but don't want to wait until January 1st (to be tax resident) for that to happen as with the current COVID climate, I'd be very nervous flying at 5 months pregnant - we might not get our exemption to leave, or could be COVID complications on flights etc. etc. However if we leave earlier - does that mean we could end up with a massive tax bill if our residency status changes? We're due redundancy payouts etc. so our tax bill would be very large if that was the case I'd imagine, as it would look like we earned a lot in the first 5 months of the year. OPTION 2: Wait it out in Australia (which would be a struggle as I may not get another job, and we don't qualify for Centrelink), the baby is hopefully born in June and we may go home to our families in September. Again, this would throw up the residency issue, as I understand it. I would have been on PPL for 18 weeks, and my partner would have hopefully worked in that period. Would we again be likely to have a massive tax bill? How is it monitored? I'm not suggesting doing anything dodgy at all, but I'm wondering how exactly they are aware if you are in/out of the country in these circumstances? Do they have automatic ways of monitoring it? Is it a random audit? I'm just trying to understand. Any advice appreciated!! Ro

Exactly this. We wouldn't have qualified previously because you had to be on PR for two years before you could apply, but with the current pandemic, they waived the wait period which made us eligible. Thankfully with JobKeeper we didn't need to in the end. I don't know how long that they'll stay waived, but hopefully for the considerable future anyway until the job market becomes a little more stable.

Feedback seems to be at the moment that this will not be an option. The test goes hand in hand with an interview in which the department representative must see both you & your original documents in person, to ensure all is in order. There's no way for them to facilitate this online, so I think we just have to hold tight at the mo and wait for them to resume. Fingers crossed soon - I don't see how they can have people come in in person to centres like Centrelink but not hold similar meetings for other Departments - I think it'll probably depend on how they see citizenship applications as a priority or not. My sense is it's a low down priority at the mo.

Amazing! I was hoping this would happen. I know everything is all over the place at the moment, but do you have a source?

Heya! This is really helpful - can I ask has there been anything announced for those who are on PR, but can't access benefits because of the waiting period? We're 10 months into PR, here for 4 years, but have been told we can't access benefits for 2 years. We're losing our jobs here at the moment but cannot access services? Can we access our super? Thanks!

Hello! I know earlier in the year, the rules were changed to introduce wait times for newly granted PR recipients before they could claim certain benefits from Centrelink. We've been in Australia for over 4 years now, with PR for 1, so unfortunately are still unable to claim Centrelink for another year. With all that is happening with Corona Virus at the minute, there's a very real possibility that we're facing redundancy, or at a minimum being asked to take 3 weeks unpaid leave. Our business is really struggling for cash, as I'm sure others are too. Do you think there will be any waiver from the Government on these wait times, assuming that the situation for everyone gets even more serious in the coming months? It's a serious source of worry for us at the moment! If we are let go, naturally we'll be trying to find new jobs asap, but with things as they are, jobs being advertised are few and far between at the moment.

Hello! I'm really struggling to get someone to sign my 1195 form. My dentist is on PR so can't sign. I'm thankfully healthy, so no steady GP who's willing to sign it. I asked my Bank Manager, who wasn't comfortable signing as we've never met in person (despite being with them for 4 years ) and we don't have kids in school. It's such a small thing, but is really tripping me up! I asked a JP, but they weren't comfortable as they don't know me 1 year. My last option is that our friend is a registered Midwife working in NSW who would sign it. My only question is that it lists 19. Medical Practitioner and 27. Nurse - a Midwife is not technically a nurse... it's a bit of an industry anomaly - I wouldn't have known that it was a difference before speaking to my friend. I've asked the Department helpline who just said to 'use my own judgement at my own risk' - very helpful! Anyone have any insight or opinion?

That number is only for 4 months though... if you round it up to a yearly figure, it'll be the same (slight increase) as last year... but still a drop overall, so fingers crossed!

Think it's mostly been covered off above but I'd also add that if you were to consider the NZ option definitely put some solid work your research beforehand. NZ solves the problem of you being closer to your family geographically, but the NZ economy is not the same as the Australian one. I did a lot of research in advance of a potential move down there when it looked like my PR wasn't going to work out here in Australia. The wages in NZ are not close to Australian wages, and rents in cities like Auckland are extremely high. I loved the country, but it did not hold the same benefits as being in Australia did, for me anyway Best of luck!

Hey everyone! I posted this a few weeks ago but didn't get any responses so thought I'd have one last try in case it was missed by someone who might have some advice I'm due to lodge my citizenship application in mid-May. There's an internal job opportunity coming up in work, which would require a move to our US office for at least a year. I wouldn't move until the application was lodged, and would fly back easily for the interview/test, plus a ceremony down the track. I know that it's asked that you list your overseas dates when you apply, but my understanding is that this is to facilitate the appointments, rather than needing to be in the country - or am I incorrect in the advice given so far? Works immigration lawyer tends to say whatever suits work! It's a dream job, but at the same time, I don't want to do anything to risk the application. Thanks!

I'm due to lodge my citizenship application in mid-May. There's an internal job opportunity coming up in work, which would require a move to our US office for at least a year. I wouldn't move until the application was lodged, and would fly back easily for the interview/test, plus a ceremony down the track. I know that it's asked that you list your overseas dates when you apply, but my understanding is that this is to facilitate the appointments, rather than needing to be in the country - or am I incorrect in the advice given so far? Works immigration lawyer tends to say whatever suits work! It's a dream job, but at the same time, I don't want to do anything to risk the application.

Thanks @Georgiegie, might give that a go. My bank manager wouldn't know me from Adam, but might be more inclined to help me out for my business than any of the other groups!

Perfect, that makes sense. I was working from the printed application just to see what was needed so I wasn’t thinking about that really. Did anyone have any trouble getting the identity declaration signed? I went through the list of professions who can sign but I’d struggle to find anyone willing to state they knew me a year. I’m thankfully healthy so I’ve never had a regular GP/dentist/pharmacist etc. Couldn’t think of anyone on the professions list I could ask...

Hello everyone! I'm getting ready to lodge for citizenship - not eligible for another 3 months, but super eager, so managing the excitement by lurking here in the background. I have a quick question around the certified documents. I have all mine certified going back to before our defacto visa that we completed when I added my partner onto my 457. I didn't bother to get them re-certified when doing the PR application, I just re-used them from the first time around (would have been over a year), on the basis that certified is certified, and they went through ok. I'm conscious that they're now quite old, circa 2017/2018! Does anyone know if there's an expiry on certified documents, or if the Department will only accept them within a certain timeframe? I'm down in Victoria now (as opposed to living across the road from a JP in Sydney) and it's not as easy for me to get them certified. Thanks!

It's 4 years living in Oz, one of which must have been a year of PR. You'll qualify for that in 2020 from the timeline you gave. The only thing to watch out for is the travel before you apply. You'll more than likely be fine unless you've been going home for a very long time when you've been home. You can't have been outside Australia for more than a combined year in the 4 years, and in the year before you apply, you can't have been outside of Australia for more than 3months total. "away from Australia for no more than 12 months in total in the past 4 years, including no more than 90 days in total in the past 12 months" https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/citizenship/become-a-citizen/permanent-resident#Eligibility

We did ours straight away, but only because we were so focused on getting the visa ASAP and I was of the opinion that if we had our visa completely decision ready, it would get approved ASAP when opened, which thankfully was the case. If you're not in a massive rush, I would hold off - would be a pain to have to do them twice! Also good to remember that the results come through quickly, so shouldn't hopefully hold up much to wait until requested.

I'd agree with this wholeheartedly - I initially was made use my works migration agent. My work had sponsored over 30 people with this MA, who was my CEO's childhood friend. They were 100% acting for my employer, not what was best for me (full disclosure my company were paying them so they should have been). Long story short, they screwed up one thing too many, and I insisted my employer let me use my own MA for the application who was to act for my benefit - a bit of a gamble but I honestly would have been happier to leave if my company had said no than deal with the stress of the visa process through a medicore MA, and my company were so worried I would they were happier to agree. Made all the difference getting that independent advice, so may be really beneficial for you.

Hey Trudie I can completely understand that this is emotional for you at the moment - it's your life after all! I would have been so upset if my employer had done the same thing to me so close to my PR. But that being said, objectively, it is within their rights to do so. They are not obliged to sponsor you for PR, but it would be disingenuous of them to NOT sponsor you after saying that they would. Which does seem to be the risk here - they've shifted the goal posts once & could do so again another few years down the line. I think it's important to remember that the cards are unfortunately in their hands, they do not have to sponsor you & its their choice what way they want to do it if it is to go ahead. Be angry & upset today, but then go and put together a solid, objective (not emotional) list of reasons why you feel that it would be to their benefit to sponsor you for PR now. Then try to calmly negotiate it with them... easier said than done I know, but what will give you the best shot at getting what you want in the end. For them, 18 months employment is not a long time and it's not bullying for them to make business decisions that aren't based on the personal. Not an easy situation I know.

Thanks AJ! Will do some research on that one.

I say this very hypocritically because I was the same as you but the one thing I learned was as hard as it is to stop, it goes much easier if you try to not check every day. At first, I was checking twice a day, every day. Guess what? It didn't make me feel any better - trust me! I would just get depressed when I'd look and nothing had changed. I promised my fiance I'd stop & check once a week and it really helped me relax a little more. Trust me, when there is an update - they will find you! When we did get our nomination & visa granted, we heard within 10 minutes! Like I said, easier said than done, but it's something I really regret not trying until much further into the process.

Hi Guys! Wading in on this one as well. We're in the same situation - were awarded our PR in May, I was here on a 457 before, so all in all have been paying taxes here for nearly 4 years. I understand this new rule was to target people coming straight in through direct entry & claiming benefits without contributing beforehand but surely they could add a clause excluding people who have paid tax for X amount of years! We're in the process of trying for a baby & I'm bewildered as to what (if anything!) we can apply for. I'm the main income earner, so I'm not sure how we can afford it if I have to be off work for maternity leave. No family here, so would end up having to put the poor tot into childcare early, which again makes it probably no better off financially! Centrelink have been no help, are just as confused themselves & I seem to get a different answer anytime I ask. Has anyone been able to get any further light shed? Thanks so much!

VISA Granted!! Nomination came through 6 months to the day from lodgement and then visa went from Received to Finalised in about an hour. So, so, delighted. It's a horrible slog and for those still in it, just stick with it and try not to drive yourself too crazy in the process.

Hi All Been watching for awhile - mainly in the middle of the night when the visa fear hits me! Have to say this forum has made me feel better sometimes, worse others We finally got our nomination approved today, 6 months to the day it was lodged. Immi Gov is still saying Received as our status for the rest of the application, but fingers crossed it changes in the next short while. We're going through redundancies in work at the moment, so I've just been on edge so much wondering would the visa ever come through so we were secure, looks like we're finally underway. FYI - I did get the famous email along with everyone else, not that that seems to actually have meant anything!