England84 Posted December 5, 2019 Share Posted December 5, 2019 Hi there, wondering if anyone can help us. My mother in law came to Australia In approx 1970 on a 10 pound ticket. How can we find out what Immigration status she has in Australia? She let her uk passport expire in 1974 and hasn’t had one since. Doesn’t have an Australian passport either. We are trying to organise pensions ect. and were told she is not eligible but they are not giving us much info. We have called home affairs and national archives to get information on her status, but no help at all. Just getting palmed off to other departments. Anyone got an idea on what kind of status she would have in Australia? Would she be a permanent resident? Would be great if anyone could share some info on those 10 pound tickets? She hasn’t left Australia since she came here and she is eligible to vote. Thanks in advance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marisawright Posted December 5, 2019 Share Posted December 5, 2019 Does she still have her old passport with the stamp on arrival? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skani Posted December 5, 2019 Share Posted December 5, 2019 (edited) 1 hour ago, England84 said: My mother in law came to Australia In approx 1970 on a 10 pound ticket. How can we find out what Immigration status she has in Australia? It's a murky area because several changes have been made to Australian citizenship laws since she arrived. As I understand it, the law was changed in 1984 which determined that any British subjects in Australia at that time who were not Australian citizens (ie had not undertaken an official citizenship ceremony) became permanent residents. They could retain the right to vote but could not obtain an Australian passport. So I think she would still be classified as a permanent resident. Maybe one of the registered migration agents who regularly post on here could verify her status for you? (or at least point you in the right direction). Edited December 5, 2019 by Skani 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
England84 Posted December 5, 2019 Author Share Posted December 5, 2019 42 minutes ago, Marisawright said: Does she still have her old passport with the stamp on arrival? Unfortunately she can’t find it anymore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
England84 Posted December 5, 2019 Author Share Posted December 5, 2019 31 minutes ago, Skani said: It's a murky area because several changes have been made to Australian citizenship laws since she arrived. As I understand it, the law was changed in 1984 which determined that any British subjects in Australia at that time who were not Australian citizens (ie had not undertaken an official citizenship ceremony) became permanent residents. They could retain the right to vote but could not obtain an Australian passport. So I think she would still be classified as a permanent resident. Maybe one of the registered migration agents who regularly post on here could verify her status for you? (or at least point you in the right direction). Thanks for your reply. Do you know how I can get in contact with one of the registered agents? thanks for your help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marisawright Posted December 5, 2019 Share Posted December 5, 2019 14 minutes ago, England84 said: Unfortunately she can’t find it anymore. The big problem for her will be proving her status if she doesn’t have her passport Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skani Posted December 5, 2019 Share Posted December 5, 2019 2 hours ago, England84 said: Thanks for your reply. Do you know how I can get in contact with one of the registered agents? thanks for your help. These are 4 who post on PIO fairly regularly: Westly Russell - http://www.pinoyau.com/ Paul Hand - https://www.suncoastmigration.com/ Raul Senise - http://www.ozimmigration.com Alan Collett - https://www.gmvisas.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skani Posted December 5, 2019 Share Posted December 5, 2019 2 hours ago, Marisawright said: The big problem for her will be proving her status if she doesn’t have her passport But there will be an official record of her arrival in Australia (with documentation as an assisted migrant) so she needs to find out how to access that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marisawright Posted December 5, 2019 Share Posted December 5, 2019 (edited) Not sure if this is of any help - it looks like she needs an electronic record before she can access any Centrelink services, which you have to apply for: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/permanent-resident/evidence-of-residency-status/request-an-electronic-visa-record You'll need evidence of her right to be in Australia to request the electronic record. I know the passenger lists for Ten Pound Poms are available for the 50/s and 60's but not sure if the 1970's have been released. https://www.naa.gov.au/explore-collection/immigration-and-citizenship/passenger-arrival-records https://reftracker.naa.gov.au/reft100.aspx?pmi=99aW0EyEpV I find it very hard to believe that she's not entitled to a government pension, since she's been legally resident in Australia for so many years. You don't have to be a citizen to get the pension. Edited December 5, 2019 by Marisawright Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon the Hat Posted December 5, 2019 Share Posted December 5, 2019 It's all a bit like the Windrush situation isn't it! Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
England84 Posted December 5, 2019 Author Share Posted December 5, 2019 7 hours ago, Marisawright said: Not sure if this is of any help - it looks like she needs an electronic record before she can access any Centrelink services, which you have to apply for: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/permanent-resident/evidence-of-residency-status/request-an-electronic-visa-record You'll need evidence of her right to be in Australia to request the electronic record. I know the passenger lists for Ten Pound Poms are available for the 50/s and 60's but not sure if the 1970's have been released. https://www.naa.gov.au/explore-collection/immigration-and-citizenship/passenger-arrival-records https://reftracker.naa.gov.au/reft100.aspx?pmi=99aW0EyEpV I find it very hard to believe that she's not entitled to a government pension, since she's been legally resident in Australia for so many years. You don't have to be a citizen to get the pension. Thanks so much for all the info. My husbands sister has tried but given up. So it’s up to us now. I’ll go through all the links you have sent and see what I can find out. Thanks again. Very much appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
England84 Posted December 5, 2019 Author Share Posted December 5, 2019 8 hours ago, Skani said: These are 4 who post on PIO fairly regularly: Westly Russell - http://www.pinoyau.com/ Paul Hand - https://www.suncoastmigration.com/ Raul Senise - http://www.ozimmigration.com Alan Collett - https://www.gmvisas.com/ Thank you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wrussell Posted December 5, 2019 Share Posted December 5, 2019 The records you need will be in the National Archives. Have you looked into lodging a freedom of Information request? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skani Posted December 6, 2019 Share Posted December 6, 2019 20 hours ago, Marisawright said: I find it very hard to believe that she's not entitled to a government pension, since she's been legally resident in Australia for so many years. You don't have to be a citizen to get the pension. I'm sure she's entitled to one too - just a victim at the moment of the useless, ignorant bureacracy which Centrelink has become. Hopefully the Proof of Arrival Request form on the National Archives link will produce a result to start the ball rolling. @England84: Please let us know how you get on. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
England84 Posted December 9, 2019 Author Share Posted December 9, 2019 On 06/12/2019 at 19:32, Skani said: I'm sure she's entitled to one too - just a victim at the moment of the useless, ignorant bureacracy which Centrelink has become. Hopefully the Proof of Arrival Request form on the National Archives link will produce a result to start the ball rolling. @England84: Please let us know how you get on. Thank you. Will keep you updated. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.