Ding

May I ask how can I update the address after application got approval? Do I need to provide proof of address? Thanks.

Once you leave Australia (offshore), your citizenship application will be paused essentially according to my previous experience, the processing team won't touch your application until you are back (onshore). 

But don't worry about it, as soon as your application has been submitted, there is no concern of residency requirement anymore; just to remember to get the Resident Return Visa before your departing. 

Dear all, 

My son was just born in the UK last month, and I'm Australian living in the UK currently. I've submitted the citizenship application for my son, with the Form 1195 signed by one midwife who has known him since birth (6 days only when signing the form). 
The form 1195 only have years as the unit about how long you have known the applicant, so the midwife had to fill 0 year. 
Then yesterday I just received the courtesy email from HomeAffairs saying that we can fill how many days/weeks/months as the time knowing the applicant. 
So do I need to ask the midwife to re-sign the form will filling 2 weeks? 

Has anyone had the same experience of applying Australian citizenship for newborn overseas? 
Looking forward to hearing any comments. Thank you so much. 

Hi guys, 
I've been away from this thread for a while since I've became official Aussie-:)

Now one of my friends has some issue of her application, I'm coming here to ask for advice. She has been away and living in UK since the application submission in early 2021, not test arranged yet. Now she's planning to go back soon. Just wondering once she's onshore, how long should we expect to be invited to the interview & test? Is there any tips that could help to be the luck guy who'll be invited as soon as she's being onshore? 
Thanks. 

20 hours ago, Kezzles said:

Applied in Melbourne in Jan 2021. No news yet. I don't have my UK passport either as I have sent it to UK to get a new one so hoping I don't get called for test before I get new passport. Guessing i need to show it at the test?

Driver license is enough, also to bring with your medicare card, your old passport. 

11 hours ago, Narito87 said:

By the way, does anybody know which email for virtual ceremony request in NSW is valid? I sent it to:

virtual.ceremony.nsw@homeaffairs.gov.au

a couple of times, however absolute silence. Neither automatic nor actual reply.

Thanks!

Yes, this is one-way communication. They will assess your case and make the decision whether give you the fast track of ceremony arrangement, if not, no response will get. 

6 hours ago, Mustung said:

I have quick question. 

I got new born and she got her AU Citizenship and  Passport.

i am applying for Citizenship with my kids now and just wanted to confirm do i need to include new born anywhere in the application?

 

Yes, you should always include the information related to all your family members. 

5 hours ago, ZULU2000 said:

Finally test taken today passed

WA so the wait for virtual ceremony now

Have you checked status of Immi account? Is it Approved?

A quick question , how long it'll take average to receive the approval letter after the status changed to Approved in Immi account? I'm in NSW. Thanks. 

12 minutes ago, Narito87 said:

Congratulations! 

Plot twist - DHA is reading this forum 

Now welcome to our waiting club. I have a feeling due to constant lockdowns they will eventually resume virtual ceremonies, however the question is when and at which capacity.

I do really hope that it will be less than 6 months for most of us (since approval). Sincerely hope.

For NSW things do not look very optimistic though unfortunately.

Let's see...

Thanks!
Is it possible to send email to virtual ceremony team to request?

Exciting Morning! I got approved, having checked immi account just now!

It's really a long journey, but ultimately appreciate all mates in this forum and the DHA!

2 minutes ago, Narito87 said:

Ding, I fully understand your frustration, however here is my advise:

1. If DHA tells your case in processing, there is nothing much you can do but wait. I had a similar situation with my PR which took over a year to process. Sometimes you just really get unlucky with an officer, which causes you much more delays than it should be. I've been there. Yes it is unfair, but nothing to do about it.
2. Even if you get approved right now, I doubt things will go fast - my friends who had their ceremonies cancelled a day before it supposed to be (due to COVID) are still waiting for any information.
3. Good strategy right now is just unwind your mind and forget about the process until they notify you. 

I attached the processing time at this moment, and as you can see from the date of application to decision it is 15 months. Considering your overseas case you are most likely in that 10% which can take longer. I also bet you are not alone, and there are thousands of people stuck just like you, not aware of this forum to share same story.

 

Thanks Narito87!

I really need some support here. 

I've been frustrated and depressive of my long and unpredictable waiting time.  After my test/interview on Dec 2020, I've been waiting for 1 month, but still no approval, then I have been offshore for 5 month, now back in June. 
I've contacted with DHA, and they told me that my case is progressing. But until now, still no approval. 
I haven't had any criminal history, but don't know why my case has been hold for such an unreasonable time. 
From this forum, I've seen most of applicants got approval on the same day of test/interview. 

I don't know what's the reason behind to decide whether the applicant can be approved on the test day, and what's the F*K reason that some checking has taken such a long time. And there is no any transparency at all to let me know what had happened behind the scene. 

Someone who knows about the details of case processing please help me and share your experience. I really appreciate your kindness. 

4 hours ago, Narito87 said:

I'm very curious why does it take so long for majority of people from approval to ceremony. It is not the first year of COVID, and considering the process takes 10-15 minutes overall per person, it could've been redesigned to be a digital option by default. It is understandable to have a long wait time for all background checks, definitely. However when you receive an approval letter and still have to wait up to 9 months - there is a feeling something is not really right. Especially during COVID the pledge should be accepted at any facility such as Centrelink, Post office etc. Just bring your approval letter, do a pledge in front of a personnel, receive your certificate - 10 minutes fast-track. We are going to have lockdowns and spikes in the next 2-5 years, so having traditional approach may not be the right strategy. I could be wrong, but just some thoughts...

I agree with you. I'm also curious about why for someone (including me) it took such a long time from test to approval, while others got approval on the test day. There is no transparency at all. Every time I called DHA, always told me to wait. Compared to other countries as I know (UK, Canada, New Zealand), it's the longest waiting time for Australia citizenship application.  

4 hours ago, Nemesis said:

Virtually all public servants in roles such as visa processing have the capability to work from home, its been tried and tested for both State and Federal departments. 

Thanks Nemesis. Hopefully my case could be processed quickly. 

I've a concern that due to the tighten restriction in NSW, there'll be big impact of the application processing speed. Not sure whether the DHA processing team are working from home, or they still need to go to the office for data access? 

2 hours ago, APR said:

Hi Guys any idea how long it will take them to finalise on  test date  once they request to upload Birth Certificate   I still see further assessment in my immi account it's almost 3 weeks . 

Yes, it's very frustrating. I have the similar scenario with you, got back on June, and ring the bell to let them know I'm back. Still in progressing. 
I think for the applicant via skill migrant stream, in most cases, application is not complex. Don't understand why it takes such an unreasonable time. 

Dose anyone have any idea about how long the integrity & security checking will take? DHA told me that due to my offshore more than 3 month, the previous check has been expired, and they are processing it again. Just want to have a time estimate how long I have to wait for my approval. Thanks. 

I have a question, during the time between test and approval, what kind of checking is on-going? National security, integrity checking? I've seen bunch of guys got approval on the same day of test, but someone have to wait for 1-2 month to get approval. Don't know what's the difference behind the scene. 

4 minutes ago, AlmostOZ said:

Hi @Julies450, 

I, too, am in the same boat. Tested and Passed at Centrelink last month but no approval so far. Hopefully it comes soon!!!

Regards, 

From my perspective, it's a boring waiting game. 

16 hours ago, SunMoon said:

Thanks!

No, I had not received any message nor invitation. All these 14 months offshore I had been in limbo, thinking they'd cancel my application for being offshore for so long. Finally, I bite the bullet and bought more or less affordable ticket for covid era, came in Australia, did 2-week quarantine. I had not had a clue what was happening with my application. So, I decided to make it look active. I changed my phone number, some other details, in order to ring a bell that I am back. Suddenly I received the invitation for the test  Was happy to the moon and back. After passing the test started begging them by emails to grant me a virtual ceremony. And got the invitation! Persistence is the key :-)))

May I ask how many days between your end day of quarantine and the day you received the test invitation? 
I've just completed my 14-day's quarantine this Monday, so need some insight about time expectation. Thank you.

1 hour ago, SunMoon said:

Yay! I'm Aussie ))

PR granted: January 2014
Moved to Australia: November 2016
Citizenship application lodged: January 2020
Went overseas: March 2020
Returned onshore in Sydney: May 2021
Test invitation for: 22 June 2021
Test Rescheduled for: 11 June 2021
Approved: 11 June 2021
Requested virtual ceremony on the basis of job
Virtual ceremony: 6 July 2021
Inner West Council NSW

Cong! 

A question, did you received any message from the department to ask you to be onshore in 2021, then you came back; or you came back by your own decision? 
And how did the DHA know you were onshore in May 2021, did you notify them? 
My case is similar with yours (being offshore for a period), appreciate your answers. 

Does anyone sent emails to processing team? I've sent to them for my new documentations (due to immi doc reached 60 limit) and status update (onshore again), but never got response. 
I'm wondering can they see the email communications? 

50 minutes ago, robmac said:

Received some FOI stats about waiting times for ceremonies in Melbourne and Manningham (VIC):

• As at 18 June 2021, there were 343 people whose applications for Australian citizenship (conferral) had been approved and who were waiting to attend an Australian citizenship ceremony at Manningham City Council (VIC).
• As at 18 June 2021, there were 749 people whose applications for Australian citizenship (conferral) had been approved and who were waiting to attend an Australian citizenship ceremony at Melbourne City Council (VIC)

When did you apply for the FOI? I just want to know how long it'll take to get response. I did apply for another FOI in 17 June

7 minutes ago, Zare said:

I have my citizenship test on Wednesday. I have submitted my police clearance certificate online. I dont have original hardcopy of that certificate since it was sent to me online. Today I  received an email from department saying you need to bring original police clearance. Will taking a print out of that be enough?

Questions:

1. Which country does provide online police certificate?

2. Today? Do you mean some COs of DHA are still working on Saturday?