Citizenship test - worth it?
#1
Citizenship test - worth it?
Ah dear, tis that time in ones migrant life where they feel obliged to take the plunge and get citizenship, only I really can't be arsed! Apparently if I'd submitted the application when i should have done (Oct 07) I wouldn't have to sit this test, only obviously, I didn't and now have to make that special trip to Centrelink! So I tested myself online and failed - thought i should therefore read the book, passed online (just one of those self check thingys) but now can't be bothered. So it gives me the right to vote (whoopeedo) and the right for consular assistance (don't I get that via British citizenship anyway). The only 'real' reason for me to do it, is our kids UK passports have expired - so no pressure really! Works out I can sned an application off to canberra to renew the boys UK passports at a cost of over $300 each. Anyone know the cost for aussie passports? Am I committed to the country - well hell yeah! Do i really want to be fined for choosing not to vote - ummmm nope! Are there any other incentives for doing this?
#2
Re: Citizenship test - worth it?
Dunno if you know my story GB, but this is a subject very close to my heart.
The long and short of it is I lived there for 11 years as a kid, parents seperated and didn't get me citizenship before we returned to the UK so I now have to apply for 47SV resident return/close ties visa.
IMHO, the citizenship opens many doors for your children when they are older to leave Australia and return if and when they choose; not having the hassles we all have of applying for visas.
I am biased, so hopefully there will be some other comments to help your decision.
J x
The long and short of it is I lived there for 11 years as a kid, parents seperated and didn't get me citizenship before we returned to the UK so I now have to apply for 47SV resident return/close ties visa.
IMHO, the citizenship opens many doors for your children when they are older to leave Australia and return if and when they choose; not having the hassles we all have of applying for visas.
I am biased, so hopefully there will be some other comments to help your decision.
J x
#3
Re: Citizenship test - worth it?
Ah dear, tis that time in ones migrant life where they feel obliged to take the plunge and get citizenship, only I really can't be arsed! Apparently if I'd submitted the application when i should have done (Oct 07) I wouldn't have to sit this test, only obviously, I didn't and now have to make that special trip to Centrelink! So I tested myself online and failed - thought i should therefore read the book, passed online (just one of those self check thingys) but now can't be bothered. So it gives me the right to vote (whoopeedo) and the right for consular assistance (don't I get that via British citizenship anyway). The only 'real' reason for me to do it, is our kids UK passports have expired - so no pressure really! Works out I can sned an application off to canberra to renew the boys UK passports at a cost of over $300 each. Anyone know the cost for aussie passports? Am I committed to the country - well hell yeah! Do i really want to be fined for choosing not to vote - ummmm nope! Are there any other incentives for doing this?
#4
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 7,834
Re: Citizenship test - worth it?
Ah dear, tis that time in ones migrant life where they feel obliged to take the plunge and get citizenship, only I really can't be arsed! Apparently if I'd submitted the application when i should have done (Oct 07) I wouldn't have to sit this test, only obviously, I didn't and now have to make that special trip to Centrelink! So I tested myself online and failed - thought i should therefore read the book, passed online (just one of those self check thingys) but now can't be bothered. So it gives me the right to vote (whoopeedo) and the right for consular assistance (don't I get that via British citizenship anyway). The only 'real' reason for me to do it, is our kids UK passports have expired - so no pressure really! Works out I can sned an application off to canberra to renew the boys UK passports at a cost of over $300 each. Anyone know the cost for aussie passports? Am I committed to the country - well hell yeah! Do i really want to be fined for choosing not to vote - ummmm nope! Are there any other incentives for doing this?
#5
Re: Citizenship test - worth it?
if you dont get citizenship then after your visa runs out you will have to apply for a RRV every thime you leave Oz. I couldnt wait till I was eligible for my citizenship, and when we did have our ceremony, it was an awesome experience that I shall never forget. I didnt think it would make much difference getting a cert letting me stay here forever...but it made a huge difference, and made us more accepted in the community, a year on when we say to peeps we r citizens we still get the...awe good on ya mate, and often a hug from complete strangers......
#6
Re: Citizenship test - worth it?
Well apparently i do get a native plant! Didn't realise about the RRV - we have no plans to leave oz at the moment, but may visit the uk in a few years. The mere fact that the boys UK passports have expired concerns us as we use them for domestic flights within oz. We've been told as a family of 5, the citizenship stuff will set us back a few $$$'s. We're weighing up whether its cheaper to just renew their UK ones????
#7
Forum Regular
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 164
Re: Citizenship test - worth it?
I kind of think if you make Aussie your home you should be proud to take on the same rights and duties a citizen does. It's an act of faith to the country you've chosen. Like an adopted child, just as good as your biological child.
Perhaps if you were going to lose something (eg. your UK citizenship... which you won't) then I could understand. I also appreciate that even WITH citizenship there will be locals who will always think of you as being not one of them. Protestations of citizenship will never measure up to the real thing to some. However, it's not about them. It's about you and if you want to enjoy living in Aussie with all the perks of a citizen why shouldn't you risk doing jury service.. maybe never in your life time? Voting is one small thing we can give ourselves. If it's about not measuring up to the test.. then maybe you shouldn't be a citizen. We don't want people claiming to be Aussies who can't pass a simple test where all the answers are readily available in the first place!
Perhaps if you were going to lose something (eg. your UK citizenship... which you won't) then I could understand. I also appreciate that even WITH citizenship there will be locals who will always think of you as being not one of them. Protestations of citizenship will never measure up to the real thing to some. However, it's not about them. It's about you and if you want to enjoy living in Aussie with all the perks of a citizen why shouldn't you risk doing jury service.. maybe never in your life time? Voting is one small thing we can give ourselves. If it's about not measuring up to the test.. then maybe you shouldn't be a citizen. We don't want people claiming to be Aussies who can't pass a simple test where all the answers are readily available in the first place!
#9
Re: Citizenship test - worth it?
Ah dear, tis that time in ones migrant life where they feel obliged to take the plunge and get citizenship, only I really can't be arsed! Apparently if I'd submitted the application when i should have done (Oct 07) I wouldn't have to sit this test, only obviously, I didn't and now have to make that special trip to Centrelink! So I tested myself online and failed - thought i should therefore read the book, passed online (just one of those self check thingys) but now can't be bothered. So it gives me the right to vote (whoopeedo) and the right for consular assistance (don't I get that via British citizenship anyway). The only 'real' reason for me to do it, is our kids UK passports have expired - so no pressure really! Works out I can sned an application off to canberra to renew the boys UK passports at a cost of over $300 each. Anyone know the cost for aussie passports? Am I committed to the country - well hell yeah! Do i really want to be fined for choosing not to vote - ummmm nope! Are there any other incentives for doing this?
#10
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,133
Re: Citizenship test - worth it?
Ah dear, tis that time in ones migrant life where they feel obliged to take the plunge and get citizenship, only I really can't be arsed! Apparently if I'd submitted the application when i should have done (Oct 07) I wouldn't have to sit this test, only obviously, I didn't and now have to make that special trip to Centrelink! So I tested myself online and failed - thought i should therefore read the book, passed online (just one of those self check thingys) but now can't be bothered. So it gives me the right to vote (whoopeedo) and the right for consular assistance (don't I get that via British citizenship anyway). The only 'real' reason for me to do it, is our kids UK passports have expired - so no pressure really! Works out I can sned an application off to canberra to renew the boys UK passports at a cost of over $300 each. Anyone know the cost for aussie passports? Am I committed to the country - well hell yeah! Do i really want to be fined for choosing not to vote - ummmm nope! Are there any other incentives for doing this?
But if you can't be arsed with it then just don't bother with the obvious inconvenience it brings to your life.
#11
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 7,834
Re: Citizenship test - worth it?
Well apparently i do get a native plant! Didn't realise about the RRV - we have no plans to leave oz at the moment, but may visit the uk in a few years. The mere fact that the boys UK passports have expired concerns us as we use them for domestic flights within oz. We've been told as a family of 5, the citizenship stuff will set us back a few $$$'s. We're weighing up whether its cheaper to just renew their UK ones????
Oz child passport is $100
Citizebship is $240 per adult the kids dont pay
#12
Re: Citizenship test - worth it?
Citizenship is important. The test is a piece of piss anyway.
#13
Re: Citizenship test - worth it?
In our case we did it becuase it was what we really wanted. This is our home now and we wanted the freedom that comes with being a citizen (having a passport, being able to have a say in who governs the country) not to mention it can open doors for certain jobs that require citizenship.
Since we did it I have felt more like I belong here. It's nice when people assume you are English and you can point out that actually you are an Aussie. e.g. in our post office there is one woman who is always a bit sour faced. OH popped in the other day for an ID check for a new credit card, one of his bits of ID was his citizenship cert. She commented on it and was nice as pie after that!!!
#14
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2008
Location: Birchgrove, Sydney
Posts: 232
Re: Citizenship test - worth it?
my PR interview was a hoot, I was interviewed by a Gujerati Woman who spent 5 years in London, so we just talked about food and travel.
I took citizenship before the test , so that was just a ceremony, which my 4 year old called boring.......
this is classic :
http://www.nicholsoncartoons.com.au/...ash.php?id=215
I took citizenship before the test , so that was just a ceremony, which my 4 year old called boring.......
this is classic :
http://www.nicholsoncartoons.com.au/...ash.php?id=215
#15
Re: Citizenship test - worth it?
The 'only' reason i would be doing it at the moment, is for my children. I want to do it when I'm ready, but with the kids passports expired, I feel I'm being pushed into it.
Can just one parent do it? Might send hubby along instead!