EJMac Posted January 27, 2022 Share Posted January 27, 2022 Hi, I was hoping for some advice from anyone who may have converted PR to citizen recently. I am eligible to apply for citizenship in March this year after I have had PR for a year, been here over 4 years etc. My query is that I am planning on visiting the UK this July for a month or so, do I have to stay in the country until my application has been approved? If so is it likely to be completed by July (seems ambitious..) If I have to wait I will just apply when I get back but would rather get my application in ASAP. If anyone has been through this process recently I would appreciate any insight, thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DukeNinja Posted January 27, 2022 Share Posted January 27, 2022 2 hours ago, EJMac said: Hi, I was hoping for some advice from anyone who may have converted PR to citizen recently. I am eligible to apply for citizenship in March this year after I have had PR for a year, been here over 4 years etc. My query is that I am planning on visiting the UK this July for a month or so, do I have to stay in the country until my application has been approved? If so is it likely to be completed by July (seems ambitious..) If I have to wait I will just apply when I get back but would rather get my application in ASAP. If anyone has been through this process recently I would appreciate any insight, thanks! You're looking at closer to 2 years, Council dependent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wrussell Posted January 27, 2022 Share Posted January 27, 2022 My query is that I am planning on visiting the UK this July for a month or so, do I have to stay in the country until my application has been approved? Quote No, but unless there are exceptional circumstances you must be in Australia for it to be processed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DIG85 Posted January 27, 2022 Share Posted January 27, 2022 9 minutes ago, wrussell said: My query is that I am planning on visiting the UK this July for a month or so, do I have to stay in the country until my application has been approved? No you don’t. Where did you read the bit you quoted? It isn’t correct AFAIK. You must be in Australia for the application to be approved, but you don’t need to be in Australia for the entire processing period. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DIG85 Posted January 27, 2022 Share Posted January 27, 2022 3 hours ago, EJMac said: Hi, I was hoping for some advice from anyone who may have converted PR to citizen recently. I am eligible to apply for citizenship in March this year after I have had PR for a year, been here over 4 years etc. My query is that I am planning on visiting the UK this July for a month or so, do I have to stay in the country until my application has been approved? If so is it likely to be completed by July (seems ambitious..) If I have to wait I will just apply when I get back but would rather get my application in ASAP. If anyone has been through this process recently I would appreciate any insight, thanks! You don’t have to stay in the country until the application is approved. You should apply now. The application wont be approved whilst you are in the UK, but based on current timing guidelines, it is likely that it wouldn’t be ready to be approved at that time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calNgary Posted January 27, 2022 Share Posted January 27, 2022 If you leave Aus prior to gaining citizenship just make sure you have plenty of time left on your visa or a RRV in place. Cal x 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EJMac Posted January 27, 2022 Author Share Posted January 27, 2022 Thanks everyone for your responses, really appreciate it! I thought by July would be ambitious but 2 years is a bit of a blow! I was hoping to get the citizenship then maybe go and work in America for a year or so, we'll have to see now. I will get my application in and see how it goes, thanks again for your help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
annagilda Posted January 29, 2022 Share Posted January 29, 2022 You can definitely leave. Jut make sure you lodge your application in Australia and while you are away, it will not be considered. They will only move on it while you are onshore. As said above, make sure you have plenty of time on your right to return on your PR visa, although if it was only granted in March, you should be fine because they usually come with a 5 year travel facility. In terms of a 2 year process, it might be... BUT, it seems to depend entirely on where in Australia you are located. I became a citizen on Wednesday and my process was 5 months, from lodgement to the ceremony, so I'd take any suggested timelines with a pinch of salt, but be aware that you might have a really short wait, all the way up to the 2 years quoted. No one really knows. Good luck. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DIG85 Posted January 30, 2022 Share Posted January 30, 2022 (edited) 5 hours ago, annagilda said: They will only move on it while you are onshore. I'm not sure it is true that they will only process it while you are onshore, although you need to be in Australia to sit the citizenship test. They will certainly only approve it while you are onshore. Edited January 30, 2022 by DIG85 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wrussell Posted January 30, 2022 Share Posted January 30, 2022 Quote I'm not sure it is true that they will only process it while you are onshore It is! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davek300 Posted February 5, 2022 Share Posted February 5, 2022 On 28/01/2022 at 08:48, EJMac said: I thought by July would be ambitious but 2 years is a bit of a blow! I was hoping to get the citizenship then maybe go and work in America for a year or so, we'll have to see now. 2 years sounds over the top although as others have said it would depend where you are based. I am in city of Sydney and applied 31-May-2021, just did the test on 4-Feb-2022 and had application approved - now it's a just waiting game for the ceremony which they say "Generally, the citizenship ceremony will be scheduled within six months from the time your application is approved although waiting times can vary." Hope that may be useful in some way. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DIG85 Posted February 5, 2022 Share Posted February 5, 2022 (edited) On 31/01/2022 at 06:11, wrussell said: It is! Any source for that? It's not something that is stated by DIBP. Edited February 5, 2022 by DIG85 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marisawright Posted February 5, 2022 Share Posted February 5, 2022 59 minutes ago, DIG85 said: Any source for that? It's not something that is stated by DIBP. WRussell is a migration agent so if he says it’s true, it’s true. I have also seen it stated many times on the forums Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DIG85 Posted February 5, 2022 Share Posted February 5, 2022 (edited) 18 minutes ago, Marisawright said: WRussell is a migration agent so if he says it’s true, it’s true. I have also seen it stated many times on the forums Repetition doesn't mean something is right, though. Professionals aren't always correct, either. I have seen more than one response to finance/tax questions from professionals on this forum which I have been absolutely certain were wrong. No one is right 100% of the time, even in their own field. The only thing that is known for sure is that citizenship applications are not approved whilst the applicant is offshore (except in the most limited of circumstances which to all intents and purposes don't apply to the average person). Edited February 5, 2022 by DIG85 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
annagilda Posted February 6, 2022 Share Posted February 6, 2022 12 hours ago, DIG85 said: Repetition doesn't mean something is right, though. Professionals aren't always correct, either. I have seen more than one response to finance/tax questions from professionals on this forum which I have been absolutely certain were wrong. No one is right 100% of the time, even in their own field. The only thing that is known for sure is that citizenship applications are not approved whilst the applicant is offshore (except in the most limited of circumstances which to all intents and purposes don't apply to the average person). Believe what you want dude, but its true. Whether you want to split hairs or not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DIG85 Posted February 6, 2022 Share Posted February 6, 2022 Lots of assertions being made, but no evidence being provided whatsoever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NicF Posted February 7, 2022 Share Posted February 7, 2022 2 hours ago, DIG85 said: Lots of assertions being made, but no evidence being provided whatsoever. Including by yourself. Where do DIBP state that they do keep processing citizenship applications while you are out of the country? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DIG85 Posted February 7, 2022 Share Posted February 7, 2022 (edited) 2 hours ago, NicF said: Including by yourself. Where do DIBP state that they do keep processing citizenship applications while you are out of the country? Where do they state that they don’t? The onus is on the person making the claim. Edited February 7, 2022 by DIG85 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wrussell Posted February 7, 2022 Share Posted February 7, 2022 If an applicant is offshore when lodging a citizenship application a warning appears. Children can be offshore for citizenship processing to continue and under special conditions a few others. To know more ask Mr Google, or call the citizenship 'help' line. If you decide on the latter, make several enquiries and select the answer that best suits you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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