Citizenship changes: who has written to their MP?
Sep 19th 2005, 12:06 am
#16
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 315
Re: Citizenship changes: who has written to their MP?
I wrote last Thursday to mine. (although he isn't really mine is he, bearing in mind that I can't vote).
Sent it by e-mail - no acknowledgement as yet.
Sent it by e-mail - no acknowledgement as yet.
Sep 19th 2005, 1:33 am
#17
She's Diddy, He's Not
Joined: Apr 2004
Location: Gold Coast - just like Felixstowe
Posts: 2,454
Re: Citizenship changes: who has written to their MP?
Is there any news yet on timescales and how it affects those of us already here?
Ta,
Paul.
Ta,
Paul.
Sep 19th 2005, 3:01 am
#18
Forum Regular
Joined: Apr 2003
Location: Sydney
Posts: 222
Re: Citizenship changes: who has written to their MP?
I will have been here 2 years in October. Will i have to wait for another year?
Sep 19th 2005, 8:35 am
#19
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2004
Location: Near Bond Street, London W1
Posts: 442
Re: Citizenship changes: who has written to their MP?
Originally Posted by Trevglas
Several threads in here over the past week or so have shown many people (myself included) are concerned that they may be affected.
Some people, such as Jeremy have suggested those potentially affected should write to their federal MP to express those concerns.
So, who has written so far? A thread showing those who have written could be useful, since they can maybe help out those who dont feel so confident in writing, and also a way of judging just how many people on this forum feel they may be affected.
Have you written to your MP?
1. I've written already
2. I am going to write
3. Doesnt affect me
4. Doesnt bother me
Some people, such as Jeremy have suggested those potentially affected should write to their federal MP to express those concerns.
So, who has written so far? A thread showing those who have written could be useful, since they can maybe help out those who dont feel so confident in writing, and also a way of judging just how many people on this forum feel they may be affected.
Have you written to your MP?
1. I've written already
2. I am going to write
3. Doesnt affect me
4. Doesnt bother me
Sep 19th 2005, 10:23 am
#20
Sydney- North Shore
Joined: May 2004
Location: Sydney
Posts: 387
Re: Citizenship changes: who has written to their MP?
Originally Posted by Ian12
Yes I wrote to Bronwyn Bishop and explained I don't wear a head scarf
Sep 19th 2005, 11:23 am
#21
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Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2001
Location: Back in Aus
Posts: 721
Re: Citizenship changes: who has written to their MP?
Originally Posted by jjonboy
can anyone give a list of things they mentioned like bullet points to help those who want to write but are struggling...!
OK, a lot of my stuff is highly specific, due to me working (and travelling a lot) for an o/seas company, but the general points I made were:
Recent migrants already in Australia, understood they would qualify for citizenship after two years residency on a permanent visa. To be living in Australia, and attempting to fully assimilate into Australian society, and then being told that their qualification date has been put back does not seem fair, particularly at a time when we are being bombarded with TV ads encouraging us to take out citizenship.
Many skilled migrants tend to be higher income earners, since after all, they are here to fill gaps in the Australian skills base. Whilst in Australia on permanent residency visas they are liable for Australian tax (often in the higher tax brackets), yet are disenfranchised. While this is to be expected as migrants to a new country, to now change that period of disenfranchisement is again unfair.
For those migrants, who originally arrived in Australia on a provisional spouse visa, the situation is even worse. Time spent in Australia on the provisional visa does not count towards citizenship, and so many spouse entrants currently face almost 4 years before qualification, which will of course change to 5 years if the proposed legislation is enacted.
[OK the last point will probably be addressed in the changes, but then again, it would do no harm in raising this].
Anyone else have any other ideas on what to write?
Sep 19th 2005, 11:53 am
#22
Retired
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 34,649
Re: Citizenship changes: who has written to their MP?
Originally Posted by John Howard
I will have been here 2 years in October. Will i have to wait for another year?
Probably not, as long as you apply before the change gets through Parliament (it hasn't been introduced yet).
Use the residence calculator at http://www.citizenship.gov.au to work out when you can apply, no point in applying too soon.
Jeremy
Sep 19th 2005, 11:54 am
#23
Retired
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 34,649
Re: Citizenship changes: who has written to their MP?
Originally Posted by NKSK
I wrote last Thursday to mine. (although he isn't really mine is he, bearing in mind that I can't vote).
Sent it by e-mail - no acknowledgement as yet.
Sent it by e-mail - no acknowledgement as yet.
E-mail is not always reliable, so if you get no reply, follow up with a phone call.
Jeremy
Sep 19th 2005, 1:19 pm
#24
Forum Regular
Joined: Sep 2005
Location: Australia
Posts: 30
Re: Citizenship changes: who has written to their MP?
I heard of people who applied for citizenship two or three months before they were eligible considering that it takes time to process the application.
Can it hurt the process to apply two or three months in advance to have the application in the system?
Can it hurt the process to apply two or three months in advance to have the application in the system?
Last edited by Thebridge; Sep 19th 2005 at 1:23 pm.
Sep 19th 2005, 8:06 pm
#25
Retired
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 34,649
Re: Citizenship changes: who has written to their MP?
Originally Posted by Thebridge
I heard of people who applied for citizenship two or three months before they were eligible considering that it takes time to process the application.
Can it hurt the process to apply two or three months in advance to have the application in the system?
Can it hurt the process to apply two or three months in advance to have the application in the system?
Jeremy
Sep 19th 2005, 9:09 pm
#26
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Joined: Jan 2004
Location: The Place To Be
Posts: 2,270
Re: Citizenship changes: who has written to their MP?
Is anyone else suffering from a nagging worry that, by 'rocking the boat' over this, they might end up getting deported for being troublemakers...? :scared:
Anya.
Anya.
