VIC-WAIT-GAME (NO WAY HOME)

Finally received the ceremony invitation today. Out of all the stages, the approval was nerve-testing as it took 21 days after the test and waiting for the ceremony was the real wait-game. After the approval it was becoming quite painful and frustrating as no one from the department or the council helped. 

From application to ceremony, exactly 18 months. 

All the best to all those who are waiting. Sit tight, do not lose hope, your day is not too far.

And this marks the END OF VIC-WAIT-GAME... I am going home

17 hours ago, Kiwifruit said:

Attached is the list of people waiting for a citizenship ceremony in Australia as at 27 May 2022 by state and council. The backlog at some councils is simply astonishing so unless DHA organises mass ceremonies for citizenship day (17 September) many people will be waiting for a year or longer to become citizens after being approved. Unfortunately I live in one of those councils.

fa-220501033-document-released (1).pdf

This is a very useful information. Thanks for sharing. 

6 hours ago, microstarba said:

Hope things go smoothly for you too and look forward to hearing your update. FYI, rocked up at 6:30am this morning at the passport office and the line was already out of control and we spent most of the queuing time outdoor on the street (freezing). So if you are to pick it up in person, be prepared as we're heading into winter

Thanks Microstarba.  
I will keep you posted.
And thanks for the passport update. Our queue outside the test centre was nothing compared to yours outside the passport office. You did the right thing to have turned up early. Wait time will be the real test on the day (specially outside). Lets hope that the passport office manages to hire more staff. 
Congratulations once again!
 

14 minutes ago, microstarba said:

My final update as I got my passport today. From start to end for me was a c.20-month process.

Region: Melbourne, VIC

 Number of applicants: 1

Citizenship application: Oct 2020

 Appointment letter received: Jan 2022 (15 months from application)

 Test: 7 Mar 2022 (16.5 months from application), and passed

 Application approval: 10 Mar 2022 (3 days after the test)

Ceremony date: 11 Apr 2022 (1 month from approval, c.17.5 months from application).Ceremony in Manningham (VIC) council

Passport application: 20 Apr 2022

Passport collection: 23 Jun 2022 (9-10 weeks from application). I collected in person in Melbourne, spent 4 hours at the passport office

Congratulations champ. Spending 4 hours at the passport office must have been a nightmare, one can only imagine. I am happy that you finally got the passport. 

City of Whittlesea organised one ceremony in May and one in June 2022. According to the old update, City of Whittlesea council had scheduled only 1 ceremony for the month of July 2022 and that was on the 12th. Based on the updated schedule, they will be conducting 3 ceremonies in July, and 1 each month till January 2023 afterwards. The pressure is on the councils now to conduct more ceremonies to accommodate as many people as possible to clear the backlog. More frequent ceremonies and accommodating larger population would help the department to come back on track. Current wait times are simply ridiculous.

2 hours ago, Gee! said:

Finally got my invite to the Citizenship Ceremony. Here is my timeline:

Applied: 1st September 2021

Application Approved: 18th March 2022

Ceremony Invitation Received: 17th June 2022

Ceremony Date: 8th July 2022

Council: North Sydney Council, NSW

Exactly 3 weeks to go!

wow, amazing... congratulations. Sydneysiders are lucky to have their applications processed within a year. 

4 hours ago, Ken said:

"To the best of my knowledge, the department and all the councils are working to their full capacity"? I can't see how that can be true.  Your own schedule shows they are only holding ceremonies on Tuesdays and not even on every Tuesday. That's an awful lot of spare capacity once you realise there are 6 other days of the week.

I couldn't agree more. More should be done to clear the backlog. But were they doing ceremonies every week in normal times? I am sorry but what I meant was post-covid time, when I said they are working to their full capacity (that too in my best knowledge) because I have seen things get speed up a little, lately. Whittlesea (my council) is even worse, doing 1 ceremony a month. 

Hume city council's schedule I shared was for someone who has been inquiring frequently as they wait for the ceremony. He was not getting a response so I thought I can share some information. 

6 hours ago, R-M said:

Anyone From Hume Council got invited for Ceremony?

Your friends or Family? anyone you know of have recently got invited for ceremony in July?

Kinley share details please



Thanks

If its Hume City Council, according to the information available on Immi tracker, someone who applied in March 2020, took the test in March 2021 and got approved in April 2021. They attended online ceremony in October 2021 (6 months after the approval) - 19 months from submission to ceremony. 
backlog backlog and lots of backlog - no idea when things will go back to real-normal. 
To the best of my knowledge, the department and all the councils are working to their full capacity. 

As far as I know you should hear about the ceremony at least 1 month in advance. 

Find attached the upcoming ceremonies in this area (you might already have this information) -  don't know if the above information applies to you but things have geared up since then:

6 hours ago, R-M said:

Anyone From Hume Council got invited for Ceremony?

Your friends or Family? anyone you know of have recently got invited for ceremony in July?

Kinley share details please



Thanks

How long have you been waiting for the ceremony after the approval?

On 06/06/2022 at 22:58, microstarba said:

I have been waiting for the passport for 7 weeks...checking online the website still say 'under assessment'

Application can be created online but eventually you still have to go to Auspost to lodge your application.

hey @microstarba, good to hear from you. I thought you must have received the passport by now. wow, 7 weeks... I saw news on 7news today, long queues outside passport office in Melbourne, more than 100m long. This is insane. It just tells how desperately people are trying to get hold of a passport. It is going to be very difficult to get a passport I guess. Previously the pressure was on the department to process the citizenship applications, then on the councils to organise the ceremonies and now the passport office is under pressure. 

I am still waiting for the ceremony. Hopefully I will hear something soon. But these queues outside the passport office have really got me wondering what will happen as we head towards the end of year. This is only June and the passport office is this busy. I believe the backlog will only get worse as new citizens continue to apply for the passport.

2 hours ago, Ken said:

ABC news report today says that there's a backlog at the passport office. Renewals are taking 6 weeks and new passports and child passports are taking longer.

Lengthy passport delays cause anguish for expectant travellers - ABC News

Thanks for your response. 
I saw that today. Someone waiting for over 10 weeks for the passport in QLD. 
It is going to be a busy/messy/crazy end of year.

Could someone please suggest if online passport application is better or paper application? 
Which one is less time consuming?
And how long is it taking to get the new passport these days? (Passport office says allow up to 6 weeks)

Thanks

23 hours ago, benthomas010 said:

For those in Wyndham… I received invite today for citizenship ceremony on June 26th. 
 

Citizenship was 8th Feb, Approved 20th Feb - so roughly 4 month wait from test to ceremony. 

Applied Nov 2020 - all up around 20 months from application to ceremony. 

Congratulations 

33 minutes ago, Crazy 4 said:

Approved Mar 2022

You might already have following information (attached) but still sharing from melton council's website.

After approval it can take up to 6 months for ceremony but things have picked up pace recently. So you should hear something soon. You can check with council if you like but I am not sure if they will have an answer for you. It depends on who answers the phone and whether they are willing to help with your enquiry. You can probably ask a general question that which month (approved applications) they are covering currently. That way you will have a better idea. 

I could only find 3 approved applications on immi tracker awaiting ceremonies. 2 applied in Jan 2021 and 1 is from october 2020.

 

2 minutes ago, suhailayaan@aim.com said:

Hi, 

We applied for Citizenship in Aug 2021. We are in Dandenong, Victoria

Anyone, from Victoria or Dandenong with same wait time, please advise. Those who got their interview and citizenship done from Victoria recently, please share your timeline. Thanks

victorians received invites in april-end for tests in may. most of the invites were for the ones who had applied in march 2021. 
hope this helps.

14 minutes ago, Crazy 4 said:

It seems, there is no waiting  except me for ceremony at Melton, Vic. No one is replying 

could you please share your timeline?

UPDATE: got the approval this morning

wait game begins for the ceremony.
probably another couple of months....

10,951 new applications (by conferral) submitted in the month of April 2022. Somewhat 14000 applications were processed (about 5000 less than the ones processed in March 2022). Currently 129,861 in hand. 

Things have slowed down a little. 

14 minutes ago, Kuwind said:

Thanks.. hoping u get it soon.. fingers crossed  

Thanks Kuwind :)

17 minutes ago, Danish Saleem said:

Council: Blacktown - NSW

Citizenship Application Submission: 29 August 2021

Original Test/Interview date: 8th April 2022

Test Rescheduled date: 11th March 2022 

Approval: TBA

Ceremony: TBA

3 minutes ago, VIC-WAIT-GAME (NO WAY HOME) said:

Every state and individual's application/case is different. 
First of all do not panic and please avoid comparing your case with others. 
As long as its within the timeframe mentioned on the department's website, its all good.
I myself am waiting for the approval for 6 days. It can take from few hours up to 1 month after your test (based in immi tracker and close circle info) for approval. This is just for guide. Could take longer as well. What matters is the timeframe mentioned on the website (that keeps changing every month btw).
According to the department's website, from application to decision/approval, it can take from 8 to 10 to 17 to 18 months. 
It is stressful and annoying, but I guess we can not do anything. 

You are well within that timeframe. 
Keep an eye on your emails and immi account. 

Moreover, I just did a little research on your behalf and looked up immi tracker....
Someone who took test on 25 Jan 2022 got approved same day (application 6 Jul 2021).
Someone who took test on 21 Feb 2022 got approved 16 Mar 2022 (application 16 mar 2021).
Someone who took test on 10 March 2022 got approved 24 March 2022 (application 27 Jun 2021).
5th Jan 2022 test and approval same day (application 15 May 2021)
24th Jan 2022 test and approval same day (application19 April 2021)


BTW its just for blacktown city council.

2 minutes ago, Danish Saleem said:

Council: Blacktown - NSW

Citizenship Application Submission: 29 August 2021

Original Test/Interview date: 8th April 2022

Test Rescheduled date: 11th March 2022 

Approval: TBA

Ceremony: TBA

Every state and individual's application/case is different. 
First of all do not panic and please avoid comparing your case with others. 
As long as its within the timeframe mentioned on the department's website, its all good.
I myself am waiting for the approval for 6 days. It can take from few hours up to 1 month after your test (based in immi tracker and close circle info) for approval. This is just for guide. Could take longer as well. What matters is the timeframe mentioned on the website (that keeps changing every month btw).
According to the department's website, from application to decision/approval, it can take from 8 to 10 to 17 to 18 months. 
It is stressful and annoying, but I guess we can not do anything. 

You are well within that timeframe. 
Keep an eye on your emails and immi account. 

1 hour ago, Danish Saleem said:

Hi Khan12, any idea why it took so long, i am on the same boat and every day is very stressful its been two months now after my test and still waiting for approval

Do you mind sharing the timeline along with the state and council info?

14 hours ago, Kuwind said:

Yes u do get email for approval..done with test yesterday..recieved mail in half in hour 

Congrats on approval Kuwind :)

I am still waiting on approval. Hopefully should get that soon. 

1 hour ago, Kezzles said:

Hi

when you say all documents does that include form 1195 and passport photo that someone had to endorse? I can’t find originals as I’ve moved twice since application!! I’ll look

this weekend but wanted to know what documents did you present please? 
Thanks

kerry

 

Hi Kerry
Hope you are doing well

Following will be required:

==> Birth certificate (that has your birth name, DoB, gender)
==> Evidence of change of name (if required)
==> Document with photograph and signature (passport and australian drivers license)
==> Utility bill (could be electricity/ gas/ internet or water) to confirm your current address

Please make sure that you have updated the department of any address changes.

Rest should go well, no stress.
Enjoy your weekend :)

PS: I had with me form 1195 as well and as endorsed photograph but they did not ask for it. They have that in their system already, so relax. 

35 minutes ago, microstarba said:

Hi there, hope you are keeping well

I'm still waiting to receive the passport, and can provide the update once i get it. But basically:

- Ceremony on 11 April,

- The instruction mentioned wait for 10 business days before applying for passport, but I tried online (passports.gov.au) and it allowed me to apply after 3 days (i.e. the website managed to validate the certificate number)

- Given Easter break, I only went to lodge it at Australia Post on 20 April and now still waiting. On the website, status is "under assessment"

Hope it helps

Thanks for getting back quickly.

I am keeping well, thanks, just excited these days as I wait for approval and ceremony.

Glad to hear that you have applied for the passport. Hopefully you will get it soon.

Please keep us posted.