September 2019 I lodged my application from Australia. At this time I met all the requirements for citizenship.
At the end of September I left Australia and have been overseas since.
2nd of March 2020 I received a "Citizenship Appointment
Letter" for the 13th of May.
20th of March I emailed the Parramatta Office(PO), the office processing my application, requesting an exception that would allow me to sit my interview and test in an overseas embassy (this is generally only reserved for offshore applications). I requested this due to the difficulties of travelling to a Australia because of covid.
24th of March 2020 I received an email from the PO saying: "All citizenship test appointments have been suspended for the time being. You will be advised in due course as soon as interviews and testing resumes."
A week ago I decided to write to PO again as I haven't heard anything from anyone since March 2020.
Here is my email followed by their response below:
Dear Ma'am/Sir,
It has now been over a year since I last heard from you informing me that my citizenship test appointment had been suspended. (See below)
I have heard nothing through the online immigration portal either.
As per my previous email, I understand that only offshore applications are entitled to sit their interview and test at an Embassy overseas. However, due to the exceptional circumstances that we find ourselves in and the difficulty to travel back to Australia at this time, I am again requesting an exception to be made that would allow me to sit the interview and take the citizenship test at an Australian Embassy closer to where I currently reside, specifically the Australian Embassy in Dubai as borders have opened between Tajikistan and Dubai.
I look forward to hearing from you,
Yours sincerely,
Their response:
Generally, it is expected that if an application for conferral of Australian citizenship is lodged onshore, the entire process will be carried out onshore. The Department recognises that some applicants may depart Australia at some point between lodging their application for Australian citizenship and before the application is finalised. Most of these applicants depart for only a brief period, such as for a holiday or to visit family. However, some applicants may depart Australia for an extended period, and this may affect their ability to meet the requirements for Australian citizenship.
Overseas tests are reserved for offshore conferral applicants only. Timeframes for facilitating a citizenship test at an Australian Embassy or Australian Consulate abroad, will vary depending on the availability of delivering citizenship services at these locations. You have an option of withdrawing your application and re-lodging once you arrive back into Australia.
Offshore citizenship ceremonies may be conducted in limited circumstances for which applicants must have a compelling reason to warrant a ceremony outside of Australia. If an applicant does not have an exceptional compelling or compassionate circumstances for a ceremony outside of Australia they will be expected to attend a ceremony when they return to Australia. If they applied for citizenship in Australia they are expected to attend a ceremony in Australia.
Generally, conferees have 12 months from their notice of approval to attend a ceremony in Australia and make the pledge of commitment to Australia. During the COVID-19 period, citizenship approval may not be cancelled if a conferee cannot attend a ceremony within this 12 month period.
Position Number: xxxxxxx
Citizenship Program Delivery Branch I Citizenship Division
Social Cohesion and Citizenship Group
Department of Home Affairs
......
I am not really sure what their response means and not sure what to do next...?
Any thoughts, suggestions, advice?
Thanks in advance.