Dreaming_when

On 25/01/2022 at 15:40, Qball said:

Question - I guess, like me, everyone on this thread is waiting for citizenship, so you may not know the answer. Worth asking though!

I'm currently in Melbourne and would be potentially moving soon to a different state with (probably!) less of a backlog on their testing centres. My application shows as "received" - I don't have any date for a test/interview yet.

I chatted with IMMI service line today. I asked about change of address.

The representative directed me to change my address in the online portal (under "update details" inside the application). 

I did note that changing the address doesn't change the assigned test centre or council, and asked him how the process follows from there.

The representative told me that I will contacted according to the closest test centre to my new address.

However, he didn't say whether the application would be processed sooner than it would be in Melbourne. I guess that's a complicated question to answer.

So I'm asking you - does anyone here have experience  of changing the address to another state's (or know of someone who did)?

Has that shortened your wait for an appointment?

 

Cheers :) 

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. 

On 23/09/2020 at 15:05, DD2000 said:

Question - after approval can you be in another country and get invited to a ceremony or do you need to be in Australia for this to happen? We’re currently outside of Oz right now and still waiting for ceremony details as we got approval back in Feb 2020.

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

On 31/07/2020 at 14:57, MarkyMarc said:

Hey Guys,

Just an update.  

I got a text message from IMMI yesterday stating that my Citizenship interview (that was cancelled back in March due to COVID), was now being scheduled for 24th August.  So they are starting them up again here in Perth.

I got straight on the website to re-schedule and luckily enough there was only one other appointment available for the next few months, and it was for today!

So i managed to book that in and happy to say the interview and test was all very straight forward.  Now just hoping and waiting to get approval and a ceremony date.

My timeline: 

Arrived: 01/03/2012

PR: June 2015

Citizenship Application: 02/12/2019

Interview & test: Scheduled for 15-03/2019 (cancelled).  Passed 31/07/2020.

Approval: TBC

Ceremony: TBC

 

 

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”? 

20 hours ago, wrussell said:

Children aged 15 years or under may be included in their responsible parent’s application at no charge when applying at the same time and on the same form. Note that a child cannot be added to a responsible parent’s application after it has been lodged.

Under policy, the child is expected to be residing in Australia with the responsible parent who included the child in their application.

 

It might pay your friend to seek professional advice.

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.

11 minutes ago, Cubiscus said:

All done for us too.  Email received on Monday asking if we were interested in a virtual ceremony, booked in for Thursday (Brisbane City Council) and over and done with in 5 minutes.

Now just need to wait for the certificate.

Congrats @Cubiscus

On 04/06/2020 at 21:52, rossco2810 said:

Hi

We are beginning the Citizenship application & have reached the request for travel section where we are asked to detail everywhere that we have lived since the age of 18. As we are originally from the UK we travelled in Europe a lot - do we need to detail all of these holidays?!? Also where you detail travel to other countries, do you have to enter that between each holiday you were living in the UK? Losing the will to live trying to remember/search for details of all our holidays

 

Ross

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 

5 hours ago, millski88 said:

After a 7 year immigration journey, this isn't exactly how i'd imagined my citizenship ceremony. But alas, it's done... we're dual citizens of Australia and the UK!

Thanks to everyone for all the help over the years, i hope i've been able to help others too throughout the 457 & 186 processes. It's been great to be a part of the forum through all the stress and elation!

All the best to those still waiting, your time will come really soon!

Disclaimer: photo was taken after our ceremony for comedy effect, no recordings were taken during the ceremony itself!

 

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

2 hours ago, millski88 said:

We got our expression of interest emails for virtual ceremonies today!

Both me and my partner. I was approved 29th October, partner approved 25th October. Emails from Victoria Ceremonies Team.

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

On 16/05/2020 at 12:53, Leo2020 said:

Hi Folks,

I am new to this forum and seeking any pro advise. i am in the process of applying citizenship online, we are married couple with a kid and i did include my kid in my application and have completed my process so far but didn't submit it yet.

So here my question is, do i have to start a new application process for my wife? and does it matter if i start the application under my log -in OR does she have to apply under hers?

Please advise. Thank you.

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!! 

On 19/05/2020 at 08:57, Warrat said:

Hi. Just wondering if anyone can advise on my citizenship experience? I applied in July 2019 and sat my test about a week before Christmas 2019. I have myself and daughter on my application and we are UK citizens. I passed 100%. My husband sat his test a month later and also passed. He has already received a letter saying he’s approved awaiting ceremony. I’ve still not even had a letter confirming I passed the test and it’s now around 6 months since my test. I did call before Covid restrictions kicked in but the operative was quite short and said I’m well within processing times and shouldn’t chase it. I’m assuming things are now frozen due to Covid and I’m unlikely to see any further progress for the foreseeable future. Looking at other timelines the 6 months to letter post test seems long? Any advice appreciated.

@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. 

23 minutes ago, sud said:

Hi fellas i contact to immi. I asked whether Townsville council is doing any virtual citizenship ceremony or not? The guy on other side just read media release that’s it. He didn’t say yes or no, he just go through media release statements even i asked second time. I asked him another question Covid-19 restriction are easing, there any possibilities of announcement of face to face citizenship ceremony after month or couples of months, this time also he just go through the media release statements. Even he feel that I didn’t get relevant answers he didn’t say more than media release statement.  I talk to Townsville Council, they don’t know about virtual citizenship ceremony and the staff told possibly get news about citizenship ceremony on Wednesday/Thursday but it’s not. Guys anyone know anything when they restart or do face to face citizenship ceremony coz the government 3 months restriction easing plan is already out. Up to now i heard the news of virtual citizenship ceremony of only big cities I didn’t heard story of regional Australia. TIA Take Care Be Safe 

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. 

1 minute ago, Rockshanks said:

Thanks for you reply . Can you please tell me how to do test calls ? I have never used this app before . 
Thanks 

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. 

8 hours ago, Rockshanks said:

Hi Guys 

I have just recieved my virtual ceremony Date for Tuesday 19/05/2020 . Just a quick question to people who had their ceremony done did you Guys just click on the join meeting link which is sent by Department at the time of meeting . I have downloaded the application just want make sure .

Thanks 

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! 

5 minutes ago, Teelo said:

Hi those who have had or are scheduled to have a virtual ceremony. 
 

What ID and other documents were you required to show for the ceremony?

@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! 

23 minutes ago, 07Nov2017 said:

Hi Guys,

 

I just received an email from Home affairs VIC asking if I'm interested in virtual citizenship ceremony. I replied to them with yes.

Hopefully they will organise a ceremony within next few days.

Applied: Nov 2017

Test: Oct 2018

Approved: Oct 2019

 

 

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. 

9 hours ago, Rvee said:

Wooo. Congratulations 

could you please let us know which council?

@Rvee
City of Burnside, SA. 

On 24/04/2020 at 10:40, 07Nov2017 said:

@Dreaming_when @Lasanga Herath

to those who emailed for virtual ceremony. Have you guys heard back?

what was the compelling reason that you mentioned??

 

thanks 

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. 

42 minutes ago, DrNi said:

Thank you!! 

I did ask for an online ceremony due to compelling reasons. 

Northern Beaches Council, NSW 

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