Dreaming_when

Hi @Qball, We moved interstate from a more regional town to the capital city of another state. Updated out details via the portal and our application did seem to move along quicker after the move. good luck to you!

Hi, When we moved interstate, I filled in the form to inform the Department of the change in address. That’s all I had to do on my part, but it appears the case was then transferred to the state office that I had moved to. The transfer process didn’t seem to delay any further that it already was.

Hi @DD2000, check the post from March 20 above. It may answer your question.

#citizenshiptestscam ? Hi PIO mates, My partner got a call yesterday from someone claiming to be from the Dept of Home Affairs South Australia office, who asked to confirm her particulars and told her to “study and prepare” for the citizenship test and that she could be called with 2 days notice to present for the citizenship test. She was given a list of documents to bring and was asked if she’d downloaded the COVIDSafe app. Has anyone received a similar phone call? I was a little surprised that it wasn’t via email and that she was advised that they’d give her 2 days notice to appear for the test. Could this be a scam?

Citizenship Tests and Interviews Looks like WA are restarting their interviews and testing. It obviously will not happening yet in Vic. Any news about testing in other states that have the COVID issue “under control”?

Thanks for the input @wrussell It certainly isn’t straight forward and them being stuck overseas due to the border closures just complicates it further. I will advise that he seek some professional advice as suggested. kind regards...

(asking for a friend) Hi, My friend, his spouse and first child hold PR visas. As he runs his own business, they decided it would be best for the spouse and first child return to the country of origin to be with family for the delivery towards the end of 2019. The 2nd child was born and they applied for a Child Visa. It’s still pending approval at the Australian High Commission and it’s been now close to 6 months without an answer. With the border closures due to COVID-19, his family is stuck overseas awaiting the visa approval for the newborn. In the last month or so, my friend has also qualified to apply for citizenship by conferral. The question is, can he include both children in his application as dependents? Correct me if I’m wrong, but is it only the main applicant that needs to meet the eligibility criteria? And also, can he include the kids who are currently “stuck” overseas in his application while they are overseas? Is there a requirement that the kids have to be in Australia when applying? Thanks in advance.

Congrats @Cubiscus

The paper version of the form only requests your travel details in the last 10 years. That’s what most of us hv done. But yes, every overseas trip in the last 10 years. Used old passports, emails of e-tickets, frequent flyer activity details etc. It is said that you need to be as accurate as you can but some errors are acceptable(not sure

Congrats @millski88 and partner! I like the subtle “green and gold” effect under the table in your photo!

Wohoo! Congrats @millski88...are you both having the ceremony together?

Hi @Leo2020 Yes, anyone above the age of 16 needs their own application. So even your children if they are above 16yrs and your wife will definitely have to submit a separate application. But there’ll be a section in the form where you can link the applications so your ceremony can be done together as a family. Just remember that if your wife hasn’t qualified on her own right yet, let’s say because she’s not met the residency requirement, linking both applications may delay your ceremony too(remember everyday is counted and if she has spent less time in the country eg due to longer overseas holidays/travel, you may not both necessarily meet the residency requirements at the same time). You can use the same immi account(your account) to submit your wife’s application too. Easier to keep everything in one place. Good luck. And to those who’ve recently completed their visa, PR, citizenship journeys, congrats!!

@Warrat I was told processing is still proceeding. It’s only the face to face interview/testing that’s been put on hold. it comes through speedily as there’s probably more people to do the work now that tests/interviews aren’t happening.

I’m not 100% sure but I think at this stage it’s still only Dept of Home Affairs that’s conducting virtual ceremonies. They are trying to roll it out to councils. So best bet would be to email requesting a virtual ceremony.

What I did was get a friend to install the app and call me/ then I called them. Just to make sure I know what to do.

Yes..just click on the button. But you’ll need to do some test calls on webex to set the system/app up before your actual ceremony. congrats and good luck!

Hi @Adeel78 You will have to login at the given time and the officer will be there to start the session. If you don’t login and “join” the meeting, they won’t be calling you. If there isn’t a green button at the end of the email, there should be a link with a “meeting access code” and “meeting password” that you should be able to key in to the webex app to join. It is important to remember that they won’t call you and you’ll have to join the meeting. As suggested, make some test calls to your friends to test out how you’ll join meetings on webex. Good luck and congrats!

@Teelo Either your Driver’s Licence or Passport(or other identity document). You only need 1 document.

Woohoo! Congrats @07Nov2017 When is the date? I think people who are keen for a virtual ceremony should just write in requesting for one. It might just aid the department as it then reduces their burden of having to sift through the approved applicants to find those that most likely would be suitable for virtual ceremonies(just my take on this). No harm in putting your hand up!

Congrats @07Nov2017!!

Hi everyone! The deed is done! We are Australian Citizens!! The presiding officer was very pleasant...the whole process was very quick and efficient. Had to hold my ID up to the camera and move it back and forth until the name and number was clear enough to be read by the officer. From what the officer said, it appears they are still ironing out issues and that soon the daily ceremony numbers were going to be picking up. It’s taken us 12 months and a bit from application to ceremony. Wishing everyone the best of luck with their applications. So many people have been so helpful with advice and support(a big shout out to all the migration agents on here whose advice and guidance have helped clear up so many concerns/queries). Thank you all...we’re in this together and I’m so glad that we have PIO!! Hang in there everyone...

My invite states that we’re invited to the “TEST virtual citizenship ceremony”. Perhaps this means they’re still ironing out issues. But I suppose it doesn’t hurt to write in requesting or stating that you wouldn’t mind taking part in a Virtual Ceremony as not everyone would be comfortable doing this especially if they are looking for Internet savvy “guinea-pigs” to iron out issues. But the email does say that the Citizenship Cert will be posted after the virtual ceremony(so it’s for real). Hopefully everyone waiting gets an invite soon.

@Rvee City of Burnside, SA.

Hi everyone, I emailed asking for a virtual ceremony and received an auto-reply shortly after emailing. Just a short while ago (on a Sunday)received an email offering me a virtual ceremony on Wed 29/4. The email states that only I can be visible in the video while others may be outside the view of the camera. I have a question to ask, my children are listed as dependents on my application. Will they be required to take the oath as well or only me(both below 16yrs)? Wish me luck...it’s been a long journey getting here. Location: Adelaide, SA.

It’s good to know that they are being responsive to requests. Again, congrats!