ramot Posted November 4, 2020 Share Posted November 4, 2020 We had our citizenship ceremony today, and are finally Australians after nearly 18 years here. The ceremony was low key in comparison to our children’s ceremonies pre covid, no native tree for us!! but not as bad as I was expecting. We were welcomed as new citizens and I felt quite emotional to finally become Australian. We went out for lunch afterwards and another couple from the ceremony were also there. So we took each other’s photos against the perfect background of the river and the sea at Cotton Tree. We were very touched when a fair few other diners congratulated us and welcomed us as new Australians, such a lovely gesture. Quite a few posters know that as a family the citizenship route has not been easy for any of us, but we are all now citizens, and Australia is home. 4 15 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali Posted November 4, 2020 Share Posted November 4, 2020 Congratulations - knowing a little of your journey, this really made me smile. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest The Pom Queen Posted November 4, 2020 Share Posted November 4, 2020 Oh @ramot this is wonderful news, congratulations It was a long process but you made it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramot Posted November 4, 2020 Author Share Posted November 4, 2020 23 minutes ago, The Pom Queen said: Oh @ramot this is wonderful news, congratulations It was a long process but you made it. Love itl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramot Posted November 5, 2020 Author Share Posted November 5, 2020 (edited) 14 hours ago, ramot said: We had our citizenship ceremony today, and are finally Australians after nearly 18 years here. The ceremony was low key in comparison to our children’s ceremonies pre covid, no native tree for us!! but not as bad as I was expecting. We were welcomed as new citizens and I felt quite emotional to finally become Australian. We went out for lunch afterwards and another couple from the ceremony were also there. So we took each other’s photos against the perfect background of the river and the sea at Cotton Tree. We were very touched when a fair few other diners congratulated us and welcomed us as new Australians, such a lovely gesture. Quite a few posters know that as a family the citizenship route has not been easy for any of us, but we are all now citizens, and Australia is home. Aren’t people lovely, I know that we have made good friends, since living here, both expats and Australians. Ive just popped out to our letter box, to find an Australian friend, putting clip on koalas around our letter box, and adding a gift of Australian pencils in a koala pencil case for us to use for bridge. I feel very blessed for the friends we have made. Edited November 5, 2020 by ramot 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SWMOY04 Posted November 5, 2020 Share Posted November 5, 2020 Congratulations to you and your family @ramot!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parley Posted November 5, 2020 Share Posted November 5, 2020 Congratulations @ramot. That is wonderful news. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HappyHeart Posted November 8, 2020 Share Posted November 8, 2020 Feels good doesn't it. The final piece of the puzzle. Plus you get to VOTE! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wanderer Returns Posted November 18, 2020 Share Posted November 18, 2020 Belated congratulations @ramot - welcome to the club! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MARYROSE02 Posted November 21, 2020 Share Posted November 21, 2020 Well done. I was just thinking, I let my UK passport expire without renewing it a decade ago; is that a kind of "extra step" to "belonging?" 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bulya Posted November 21, 2020 Share Posted November 21, 2020 1 hour ago, MARYROSE02 said: Well done. I was just thinking, I let my UK passport expire without renewing it a decade ago; is that a kind of "extra step" to "belonging?" Not sure, but then I’ve never had a British passport... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nyorksgrannie Posted November 25, 2020 Share Posted November 25, 2020 Congratulations Ramos I was just browsing looking for info on citizenship so wondered if you or anyone else might be able to help. We only got our 143 parent visas in 2018 and we are in our early 70’s I understand older people can apply earlier for citizenship but not sure if this is true. Also are there any downsides we should be aware of, would we still be able to draw our UK state pensions for instance? We have never worked in Australia and have a private pension too. Also are we able to have dual citizenship? We have no intention of going back to UK to live but just wondered about passports ours have several years left. I would be grateful for any info. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marisawright Posted November 25, 2020 Share Posted November 25, 2020 56 minutes ago, nyorksgrannie said: We only got our 143 parent visas in 2018 and we are in our early 70’s I understand older people can apply earlier for citizenship but not sure if this is true. Also are there any downsides we should be aware of, would we still be able to draw our UK state pensions for instance? ....Also are we able to have dual citizenship? We have no intention of going back to UK to live but just wondered about passports ours have several years left. There are no downsides of citizenship, except that it's compulsory to vote at elections. Being an Australian citizen has no effect on your rights to British pensions etc. You can be a dual citizen so you can hold both passports. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nyorksgrannie Posted November 25, 2020 Share Posted November 25, 2020 Thank you that is nice to know and I don’t have a problem with voting I have always voted , women suffered in the Uk protesting to get women the vote we should respect that. Many thanks for replying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramot Posted November 25, 2020 Author Share Posted November 25, 2020 (edited) 7 hours ago, nyorksgrannie said: Congratulations Ramos I was just browsing looking for info on citizenship so wondered if you or anyone else might be able to help. We only got our 143 parent visas in 2018 and we are in our early 70’s I understand older people can apply earlier for citizenship but not sure if this is true. Also are there any downsides we should be aware of, would we still be able to draw our UK state pensions for instance? We have never worked in Australia and have a private pension too. Also are we able to have dual citizenship? We have no intention of going back to UK to live but just wondered about passports ours have several years left. I would be grateful for any info. Sorry I have only just seen this. Im afraid I don’t know if you can apply earlier for citizenship. As you probably know the amount you receive from your state pension will be frozen at that rate when you arrive to live in Australia, should you go to UK on holiday, it will be increased while you are there to the amount you should receive had you not left. On your return to Australia it reverts back to the original frozen amount!! Marisa has helped with your other questions. You will probably need good advice on your tax situation, when you move here, and Alan Collett who is a tax expert on both UK and Australian tax is recommended by posters. All the best. ps. We kept our UK bank account and our pensions etc are paid into that, and we use transfer wise to transfer money we need to our Australian bank. It suits us, as pre covid we went to UK every year for 3 months as we have grandchildren there.. I afraid I don’t know if it’s the best to keep a UK account open or not if you are never going to visit UK much? Edited November 25, 2020 by ramot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nyorksgrannie Posted November 26, 2020 Share Posted November 26, 2020 On 25/11/2020 at 20:50, ramot said: Sorry I have only just seen this. Im afraid I don’t know if you can apply earlier for citizenship. As you probably know the amount you receive from your state pension will be frozen at that rate when you arrive to live in Australia, should you go to UK on holiday, it will be increased while you are there to the amount you should receive had you not left. On your return to Australia it reverts back to the original frozen amount!! Marisa has helped with your other questions. You will probably need good advice on your tax situation, when you move here, and Alan Collett who is a tax expert on both UK and Australian tax is recommended by posters. All the best. ps. We kept our UK bank account and our pensions etc are paid into that, and we use transfer wise to transfer money we need to our Australian bank. It suits us, as pre covid we went to UK every year for 3 months as we have grandchildren there.. I afraid I don’t know if it’s the best to keep a UK account open or not if you are never going to visit UK much? Thank you Ramot we are already living in Australia, we came out in 2017 and our 143 visa was issued in 2018, see below. We haven’t visited UK since and I didn’t know the state pension went up when visiting, how strange I thought you would have to be back permanently and prove it for that to happen. As we have no close relatives in the uk it is unlikely we would visit for long and we hope some friends will visit us here post Covid. We have kept a UK bank account too and also do a transfer from that via Halo. I will investigate Citizenship further, it’s tricky when the necessary documents on line are not available to view until you have reached the qualifying number of years to apply. We are so happy to be here. Thank you for replying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigJoe Posted December 6, 2020 Share Posted December 6, 2020 Congratulations, wonderful news. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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