Citizenship ceremony in Sydney - any experience with wait for Woollahra and Waverley Councils?

[LondonerinSydney]

Hello all

I'll soon be applying for citizenship and was wondering if anyone had any experience / heard of others with how long it takes for ceremonies in Woollahra or Waverley Councils in Sydney? I have lived in both so may have a choice as to which to nominate. Many thanks!

[LojaChica]

5 months for us.............which eventually turned into seven! Rockdale/Kogarah due to long waiting lists and then we didn't get a proper ceremony just a 15 min appointment at Parramatta...............

[northshorepom]

Seems to be taking ages everywhere in Sydney....two colleagues had their ceremony on Australia Day. One passed his test in May 2012 (Hornsby shire), another in June 2012 (Warringah)

[LondonerinSydney]

Thanks for the responses! Looks I should be preparing for a 7 month wait then. Not the end of the world. I was on a bridging visa for an eternity before PR. Are there any restrictions on travel between being applying for citizenship and the ceremony? Presumably, as long as I make sure I'm in the country for the ceremony, that's all that matters? Many thanks again.

[boganbear]

im in Queensland and it is taking over 6 months so far to get a ceremony. I have enquired at 2 councils how I can transfer to another council and both are saying different things. To date it has stopped me from applying for 2 federal jobs, and the uncertainty of when i am going to have it means I cannot travel abroad for work and have had to postpone a holiday abroad. I cannot praise DIAC for their speedy and quality service. The time from applying to being approved was 9 days - an incredibly fast time. However, this last stage is just a complete shambles. My local council clearly does not use venues big enough to cope with demand or run them often enough. I run events regularly for 300-400 people and can sort them out in a matter of days yet my council only does them once a month for 50 people a time. Surely it is not that hard to run multiple sessions on a Saturday!

[LojaChica]

I transferred my Daughter from Sydney to Perth within 2 days...............keep persevering with another Council.........it can happen...........hope all goes well and I agree.........it is a shambles this last part having recently gone through it ourselves

[kempster23a]

Having applied and been approved on February 12^th 2013 for Citizenship. My wife and kids applied on the same date and were approved 3 days later (21/01/213). This could have been due to a change in Minister?

I am also awaiting a ceremony date, which I have been informed possibly April, worst case June. Can anyone that has applied in December 2012 confirm if they have been notified with a date yet (Brisbane Council area)?

 

 

Citizenship Application- Australian Citizenship by Conferral - General Eligibility (On-line) 03/12/2012, Application received 03/12/2012, Interview and Test 18/01/2013, Application approved 12/02/2013, Ceremony Date....Waiting

[LondonerinSydney]

Thanks for all the responses - sounds like a long wait ahead! Will update this thread with any other experiences I hear about.

[kempster23a]

Ceremony has been confirmed - 22/03/13, even thhough it's at DIAC offices in Brisbane

[flag of convenience]

A bit less than four months from time of approval (for my OH) to the actual ceremony here in Perth. The City Of Vincent, here in inner city Perth is arranging a ceremony on the local oval this Sunday as part of the St Patricks Celebrations.

 

Have been told some 40 people to be in attendence. Great idea to combine it I think.

[LucyQ]

Hi there, just wondering how long did you actually wait for the ceremony after you sit the test. I live in Woollahra too and just past the test on Tuesday. Now waiting for the ceremony invite. Thanks! Lucy

[Freesia]

4months for my daughter

[LucyQ]

Thanks! 4 months since passing the citizenship test. That seems a long waiting period ...

[sjb1980]

Thanks! 4 months since passing the citizenship test. That seems a long waiting period ...

 

Hi LucyQ,

 

I just wondered how long you waited for your ceremony in the end in Woollahra council. I had my test on Friday so just trying to gage rough waitlist times. Thanks

[LucyQ]

My ceremony was in June and I got the approval letter from DIAC in Feb (after passing the test), so it took 4 months.