rachandkev Posted January 15, 2015 Share Posted January 15, 2015 Hi there I have been in Australia for just over 2 years as permanent residents. We can apply for our citizenship next November (Nov 16). we are thinking of going back to the UK next November/December for a few reasons. This move may not be a permanent one and we may return to Australia within a few years. Can anyone confirm if we would be able to apply for our citizenship from the UK and immigration would accept our application even though we wouldnt know exactly when we would be returning to Aus? . Citezinship seems the most sensible and secure thing for us to do?. I am aware that we would have to fly back to Perth for the citizenship ceremony. Thanks in :hug: advance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VERYSTORMY Posted January 15, 2015 Share Posted January 15, 2015 Yes, provided you meet the resident requirement that is you have not been out of oz for more than 90 days in the 12 months upto the application. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rachandkev Posted January 15, 2015 Author Share Posted January 15, 2015 Thanks for that. So, basically if we left for the UK Nov 16, we would have 90 days to apply?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJ Posted January 15, 2015 Share Posted January 15, 2015 Do you have 4 years residency? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rachandkev Posted January 15, 2015 Author Share Posted January 15, 2015 We will have in Nov next year. No planning on leaving the country until then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rachandkev Posted January 15, 2015 Author Share Posted January 15, 2015 I guess I am concerned and confused really as to what our chances are of being granted Citizenship whilst we are living in the UK?. Also, say if we are granted Citizenship how on earth do we get an Aussie Passport from the UK to be able to return to Australia without an Australian address??. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozmaniac Posted January 15, 2015 Share Posted January 15, 2015 If you meet the residence and other requirements for citizenship, the fact that you're applying from the UK won't affect your application. You need an address for a passport application but it doesn't need to be an Australian address. http://www.citizenship.gov.au/_pdf/lodgement-changes-faq.pdf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rachandkev Posted January 15, 2015 Author Share Posted January 15, 2015 Thanks so much Ozmaniac. I think I was concerned that immigration would question our commitment to Australia and therefore citizenship whilst we are not sure of when exactly we may return to the country after next November. The link was very useful too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozmaniac Posted January 15, 2015 Share Posted January 15, 2015 When you're at the stage of applying, you should ask Australia House if they ever have citizenship ceremonies in London. I've hunted everywhere for info on that point and can't find anything but I'm sure I recall from somewhere a few years ago that ceremonies are sometimes held in the UK and USA. Apologies if it turns out to be a red herring but it would be worth asking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lawlere1 Posted January 16, 2015 Share Posted January 16, 2015 (edited) Hello, excellent thread which I have read with great interest as I am pondering the same dilemma as rachandkev and was euphoric when I read the link provided by Ozmanic to the Applying for Australian Citizenship from Overseas FAQ's. However having read this I have carried out some further research as it does not give any guidance about having to be onshore in Australia when the decision is made on your application which is a well known requirement at the very least, for applications lodged onshore in Australia. I read a 2011 thread on another forum where 'Nette' found after lodging her application and sitting the test in the UK that her application couldn't be processed/decision made unless she went back to Australia: As far as I can see this requirement defeats the purpose of having the luxury being able to lodge your application from overseas as in reality as soon as you've taken the test you need to hightail it back to Oz to await the final decision. In addition current citizenship policy guidelines state that overseas citizenship ceremonies should only be granted in exceptional circumstances (See section 6.2.3 - Citizenship ceremonies at overseas posts): http://www.citizenship.gov.au/_pdf/acis-july-2014.pdf I really wish it was possible to go through the whole citizenship applocation and approval process right through to the citizenship ceremony stage whilst being based overseas but until I can find incontrovertible evidence that this is possible and a straightforward option I will lodge my applcation here in Oz and await the outcome before going back to the UK. Edited January 16, 2015 by noworriesmate removed link to other forum as per forum rules Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lawlere Posted January 16, 2015 Share Posted January 16, 2015 (edited) If you meet the residence and other requirements for citizenship, the fact that you're applying from the UK won't affect your application. You need an address for a passport application but it doesn't need to be an Australian address.http://www.citizenship.gov.au/_pdf/lodgement-changes-faq.pdf Hello, I've been reading this thread with great interest as am in similar position to OP. I was overjoyed when I read the information from Ozmaniac about overseas lodgement arrangements and decided to do further research. However if you read Nette's story on another forum she was told after lodgement and test in the UK that she would have to return to Australia before the final decision could be made: ***Link to forum removed per forum rules*** I also spoke with an immigration lawyer who specialises in citizenship applications this evening and she urged caution re lodging an application overseas as her firm have also heard reports of late of people having to return to Oz before a decision could be made. If this is correct one wonders what is the point of having a facility to lodge from overseas as you'd be better off just applying immediately when you meet the residency requirements as the Immi customer charter advises that 80% of citizenship applications are processed within 80 days. I am going to try calling the UK Australian Embassy for clarification and will report back if I can get any concrete information (contact details here): http://www.uk.embassy.gov.au/lhlh/Immi_contact_london.html Edited January 16, 2015 by Ozmaniac Removed link per forum rules Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lawlere Posted January 16, 2015 Share Posted January 16, 2015 Correction to last post: Nette went back to the UK and phoned the Australian embassy to arrange lodgement and they told her it couldn't be done while she was outside Australia so she went straight back to Oz and did the whole thing there. What she is saying us that she received conflicting advice from officials at the embassy on a number of occasions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
janlo Posted January 16, 2015 Share Posted January 16, 2015 Correction to last post: Nette went back to the UK and phoned the Australian embassy to arrange lodgement and they told her it couldn't be done while she was outside Australia so she went straight back to Oz and did the whole thing there. What she is saying us that she received conflicting advice from officials at the embassy on a number of occasions. Thanks for the heads up....that's a shame. I guess I wouldn't take the chance, I'm in a similar position so will do it before I go back to the UK. It's a really easy process anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozmaniac Posted January 16, 2015 Share Posted January 16, 2015 (edited) Strange as some of DIBP's policies and actions can be on occasion, I find it hard to believe that they would have an Overseas Citizenship Unit which 'processes applications for Australian citizenship, evidence, resumption and renunciation by applicants who are outside Australia' or that they would issue a fact sheet saying that citizenship tests can be done overseas if it was in fact impossible to do either. http://www.citizenship.gov.au/news/lodgement_changes/ The situation in the post by @lawlere occurred over 3 years ago and 3 years is a VERY long time in DIBP. We're now on the FIFTH minister since then! Edited January 16, 2015 by Ozmaniac Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lawlere Posted January 16, 2015 Share Posted January 16, 2015 Just rang the UK Australian Embassy - they advised that they only follow the directions of the Australian based OCU case manager who asks them to host the test and under "special" circumstances arranging an overseas citizenship ceremony but they are not involved in processing the applications for citizenship by confer real and in fact only process citizenship by descent applications. They basically said that the OCU were the best people to advise - but I can't find a direct number for them and from past experience I wouldn't depend on the advice provided by the Immi general citizenship helpline. I really wish the OCU option was 100% watertight but I believe I have heard and read too much conflicting information to take the risk of going down this road at this stage. There is not enough clear guidance about the whole process particularly in respect of where you need to be when the grant/decision is made on that fact sheet. However, I intend to drop in to my local Immi office in Sydney to see if I can get more info and will report back if I obtain any new relevant information. It would be really great if we could get a firsthand account from somebody who successfully completed the entire application process from start to finish whilst based overseas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lawlere Posted January 16, 2015 Share Posted January 16, 2015 Strange as some of DIBP's policies and actions can be on occasion, I find it hard to believe that they would have an Overseas Citizenship Unit which 'processes applications for Australian citizenship, evidence, resumption and renunciation by applicants who are outside Australia' or that they would issue a fact sheet saying that citizenship tests can be done overseas if it was in fact impossible to do either. http://www.citizenship.gov.au/news/lodgement_changes/ The situation in the post by @lawlere occurred over 3 years ago and 3 years is a VERY long time in DIBP. We're now on the FIFTH minister since then! I totally agree greed with what you are saying Ozmaniac - you would imagine that the fact sheet would make reference to whether you need to be onshore in Australia for your application to be processed/decided upon in the "How long does it take to process my application" section at the bottom but it just refers to the client service charter for details in standard processing times one can expect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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