andrew63

Been absent from the forum lately (life is so much better without it!).
I have been chatting with DIMA about the 2 or 3 years to get citizenship because if we have to wait for 3 years, we won't be ligible for the college loans assistance for my eldest.
Anyway, they said:

"On 27 February 2006, the Senate Legal and Constitutional Legislation Committee (the Committee) handed down the report of its inquiry into the citizenship legislation before the Parliament. The Committee recommended that the three year resident requirement should apply only to persons who become permanent residents after the commencement of the legislation. The Government has yet to finalise its consideration of the Committee report and recommendations so it is not yet known if this will be the new arrangements.

A date of 26 January 2007 is being considered for the commencement of the new Act, subject to the passage of the legislation through the Parliament.
Further information about the legislation and its passage through Parliament is available on the citizenship website, www.citizenship.gov.au.
The website will be updated as developments occur."

Of course it's not 100% decided but this is great news for those already here on PR and need the citizenship.

Apologies if this is old news for any of you.

Andrew

Pollyana

Its new news and good news

NickyP

Excellent news just keeping fingers crossed .
Thanks
Nicky

phoenixinoz

Funny but when I rang DIMIA I spoke to someone who sounded young and I was told "unnofically" that they [DIMIA] thought this would be the case i.e that it would only effect new PR.s

The young lady couldn't confirm this though as this was a "viewpoint" and not legislation and was not yet confirmed

Fiona&malc

Fingers Crossed, we become eligible in February

not that we have any plans to go anywhere, it would just make the whole emigration experience 'complete' (for us anyway)

tinaj

Does anyone know how much they are charging to apply for citizenship at the moment?

mickagnew

Hi

Does this mean that if you get your visa and enter / validate in Oz before next Feb then the 2 year rule applies and after that the 3 year rule applies, or have I got it all wrong?

Cheers

Mick

kellyjs

Hi Mick
Hope you and family are all ok I think that's what it means. I hope so as we will be long gone before Feb next year!

Paul and Chloe

3 Year rule will apply for everyone who has not applied for citizenship from the 26th Jan 2007 (assuming that is the date in the end)....

NickyP

I hope not I read it that it will apply to those who have PR granted before the cut off date, rather than those who have applied for citizenship.
Nicky

kellyjs

But you can't apply for citizenship until you've been there for 2 years, is that right?

northerner

That's the way I read it as well. It says

"The Committee recommended that the three year resident requirement should apply only to persons who become permanent residents after the commencement of the legislation."

If that's the case then you should be able to go under the 2 year rule so long as you get PR (and, I assume, validate) before 26 Jan 07.

That would suit us just fine!

Graham

JAJ

Also bear in mind that under the 3 year requirement, you will probably be able to credit up to 2 years for lawful temporary residence (eg on a 457), further to clause 22(7) of the Bill. So in your case, even if existing PRs are not exempted it may not make much difference.

Wait and see.

DunRoaminTheUK

I think this is exactly how it reads. If you become a PR after Jan 2007 then you will not be able to use 2 years residency as a qualifying pre-requisite BUT if you are PR before that then, regardless of when you apply for citizenship, you will be able to use 2 years residency as a valid pre-requisite before applying for citizenship....

Fiona&malc

sorry jeremy, i didnt get what you meant there, can you explain again ????

being so early in the morning, brain isnt engaged yet !!!!