Citizenship Tests
Aug 26th 2007 | 9:23 am
#16
Forum Regular
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 57
Re: Citizenship Tests
It was irresponsible and unprofessional for "someone from immigration" to make these comments.
Firstly, it is totally unacceptable for public servants to say that a Bill "will be passed" by the Senate. That, quite frankly, is the Senate's responsibility, not theirs. They have absolutely no right to preempt the deliberations of the Senate of Australia.
Secondly, once the Bill is passed by the Senate it may need to return to the House (if any amendments are made) and then go to the Governor-General after that for Royal Assent. Royal Assent can take up to 10 days. So even if the Senate passes the legislation on the 10/11 September without amendments, there is no guarantee of Royal Assent by the 17th.
And then the Minister must make a Commencement Order to bring the provisions of the Act into force. It would be very unusual for this to happen immediately.
As for the fee, that is set by Regulation and has nothing to do with the citizenship testing legislation.
And finally, they cannot stop you applying for citizenship now if you meet the residence requirement (do you?). Even if they have some kind of backlog for interviews.
I would suggest you call again and if you come across this kind of ignorance again, then politely ask to speak to a supervisor. And if they put the phone down, get straight onto your federal Member of Parliament as this is something that the Minister would need to be made aware of.
Firstly, it is totally unacceptable for public servants to say that a Bill "will be passed" by the Senate. That, quite frankly, is the Senate's responsibility, not theirs. They have absolutely no right to preempt the deliberations of the Senate of Australia.
Secondly, once the Bill is passed by the Senate it may need to return to the House (if any amendments are made) and then go to the Governor-General after that for Royal Assent. Royal Assent can take up to 10 days. So even if the Senate passes the legislation on the 10/11 September without amendments, there is no guarantee of Royal Assent by the 17th.
And then the Minister must make a Commencement Order to bring the provisions of the Act into force. It would be very unusual for this to happen immediately.
As for the fee, that is set by Regulation and has nothing to do with the citizenship testing legislation.
And finally, they cannot stop you applying for citizenship now if you meet the residence requirement (do you?). Even if they have some kind of backlog for interviews.
I would suggest you call again and if you come across this kind of ignorance again, then politely ask to speak to a supervisor. And if they put the phone down, get straight onto your federal Member of Parliament as this is something that the Minister would need to be made aware of.
Or have I misunderstood this and it only concerns the price and a prospective Citizenship test?
While we're on this subject - my Daughter - 8 months old and born in Germany to a British Father and German Mother. She has both German & British Passports, with her Child Visa for Australia in her British Passport. If I take an Australian Passport when I am eligible does this automatically qualify my Daughter for one as well?
Thanks in advance -
Dave.
Aug 26th 2007 | 9:43 am
#17
Retired
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 34,646
Re: Citizenship Tests
Out of curiousity, does this in any way effect the new laws regarding eligibility to APPLY for Australian Citizenship? We have validated PR Visas granted in Jan 2006 - validated in Feb 2006. We fly out next month and plan to be there at least 2 years and as I understand it we will be eligible to apply as long as we've got our 2 years in before 3 years are up. I am aware of the new 4 year rule.
Or have I misunderstood this and it only concerns the price and a prospective Citizenship test?
Or have I misunderstood this and it only concerns the price and a prospective Citizenship test?
While we're on this subject - my Daughter - 8 months old and born in Germany to a British Father and German Mother. She has both German & British Passports, with her Child Visa for Australia in her British Passport. If I take an Australian Passport when I am eligible does this automatically qualify my Daughter for one as well?
Is your wife planning to become an Australian citizen? If so, she ought to investigate the process of getting permission from the German government to keep her citizenship upon becoming Australian.
And regarding your daughter:
- have you obtained a British consular birth certificate for her?; and
- are you aware of what being British "by descent" means for her ability to pass on her citizenship to the next generation?
Aug 26th 2007 | 11:37 pm
#18
Forum Regular
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 57
Re: Citizenship Tests
No change to the residence requirements is involved.
Yes. Provided you include her on your application for Australian citizenship. You should investigate how this will impact her German citizenship (if that is important).
Is your wife planning to become an Australian citizen? If so, she ought to investigate the process of getting permission from the German government to keep her citizenship upon becoming Australian.
And regarding your daughter:
- have you obtained a British consular birth certificate for her?; and
- are you aware of what being British "by descent" means for her ability to pass on her citizenship to the next generation?
Yes. Provided you include her on your application for Australian citizenship. You should investigate how this will impact her German citizenship (if that is important).
Is your wife planning to become an Australian citizen? If so, she ought to investigate the process of getting permission from the German government to keep her citizenship upon becoming Australian.
And regarding your daughter:
- have you obtained a British consular birth certificate for her?; and
- are you aware of what being British "by descent" means for her ability to pass on her citizenship to the next generation?
Regarding my Wife and Daughter - yes - I am aware that the Germans have some strange rules regarding Dual Nationality, it was something that we would have to review nearer the time.
As regards the "British by descent" rule - yes - I am aware of that too. As I cannot predict where we will be living 20 years down the line and obviously not knowing what she will decide I figured it would be best to give her whatever options she has available, but as I understand it if she doesn't live in the UK for 3 years then she can't pass down her British Citizenship anyway. As the British have no issue with Dual Nationality that is why her Child Visa is in her British Passport and she is listed on the application forms as British.
Also - and I consider this very puzzling - why the issue with obtaining a British Consular Issue Birth Certificate for my Daughter? I went up to the British Consulate in Düsseldorf to get her Passport and after a lot of discussion was told that a British Birth Certificate meant that she would be registered with the British Government's Home Office. I was then told that as she had a British Passport she would be registered with them anyway. So what is the benefit of it? It just seemed to me to be a way of getting money out of me. And a lot of money at that.
Unless you can convince me otherwise........
Thanks again.
Dave.
Aug 27th 2007 | 2:14 pm
#19
Retired
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 34,646
Re: Citizenship Tests
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deutsch...h%C3%B6rigkeit
As regards the "British by descent" rule - yes - I am aware of that too. As I cannot predict where we will be living 20 years down the line and obviously not knowing what she will decide I figured it would be best to give her whatever options she has available, but as I understand it if she doesn't live in the UK for 3 years then she can't pass down her British Citizenship anyway.
Bear in mind that any children she has born in the United Kingdom, Isle of Man, Channel Islands and British Overseas Territories will automatically be British citizens.
Also - and I consider this very puzzling - why the issue with obtaining a British Consular Issue Birth Certificate for my Daughter? I went up to the British Consulate in Düsseldorf to get her Passport and after a lot of discussion was told that a British Birth Certificate meant that she would be registered with the British Government's Home Office. I was then told that as she had a British Passport she would be registered with them anyway. So what is the benefit of it? It just seemed to me to be a way of getting money out of me. And a lot of money at that.
At some future date, if her passport is lost, or she wants to apply for her first adult passport, she may need to prove her citizenship from scratch. That could be a real hassle.
A British consular birth certificate is a stand-alone, lifetime proof of her British citizenship. It can be replaced anytime through the GRO: http://www.gro.gov.uk
With this, she can renew her British passport hassle-free anytime.
There is a charge - about GBP105 or so - but it's worthwhile to prevent hassles later on. A lot of Embassy staff are (in my opinion) quite irresponsible in telling people "not to bother" with consular birth registration.
If you want to proceed, go back to the Embassy and ask for the forms. There is not a time limit. If the Embassy give you hassle, then contact:
Nationality & Consular Registration Section
Consular Directorate
Foreign & Commonwealth Office
Old Admiralty Building, London SW1A 2PA.
tel: +44 (0)20 7008 1500
Sep 2nd 2007 | 3:50 pm
#20
Thread Starter
Senior Stella Member
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 394
From: Brisbane, QLD
Re: Citizenship Tests
Does anyone have any updates on the test being introduced??
Sep 2nd 2007 | 4:06 pm
#21
Retired
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 34,646
Sep 10th 2007 | 3:18 pm
#22
Thread Starter
Senior Stella Member
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 394
From: Brisbane, QLD
Re: Citizenship Tests
So what's happening, does this start on 17th Sept (next Monday!)? There's no info on the IMMI website other than it 'may' be introduced, the resource book is still in draft.......anyone?.....
Last edited by Plug; Sep 10th 2007 at 3:27 pm.
Sep 10th 2007 | 3:46 pm
#23
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,660
From: Townsville,north queensland! and loving it!!
Re: Citizenship Tests
Is this test going to be made available online or do you have to go to a designated place to do it?
Also, just a querie about the application for citizenship, are the fees just for the adults of the family or do we have to pay for the children to become citizens too or is it then done by descent if we ensure they are on the application?
cheers
Trish
Also, just a querie about the application for citizenship, are the fees just for the adults of the family or do we have to pay for the children to become citizens too or is it then done by descent if we ensure they are on the application?
cheers
Trish
Sep 10th 2007 | 3:56 pm
#24
Crazy Cat Lady
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 65,493
Re: Citizenship Tests
From the quick look at the link Jeremy put up, it would seem that the senate haven't finished with fiddling with it (unless I read it wrong) In that case, bearing in mind what Jeremy said before about 10 days for royal warrant, it's unlikely to be done by the 17th.
I would imagine that you would have to go to do the citizenship test much like you have to go to have the interview now. It would just be a longer appointment. If you were to do it online you would be able to cheat and I assume they want you to know the stuff not just how to find it on the internet
No idea about the child aspect. It's only me that's going to have to do it, so not bothered to read anything else. Have a look at the citizenship site:
http://www.citizenship.gov.au/ all the info will be there.
I would imagine that you would have to go to do the citizenship test much like you have to go to have the interview now. It would just be a longer appointment. If you were to do it online you would be able to cheat and I assume they want you to know the stuff not just how to find it on the internet
No idea about the child aspect. It's only me that's going to have to do it, so not bothered to read anything else. Have a look at the citizenship site:
http://www.citizenship.gov.au/ all the info will be there.
Sep 10th 2007 | 4:32 pm
#25
Thread Starter
Senior Stella Member
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 394
From: Brisbane, QLD
Re: Citizenship Tests
[QUOTE=moneypen20;5296708]From the quick look at the link Jeremy put up, it would seem that the senate haven't finished with fiddling with it (unless I read it wrong) In that case, bearing in mind what Jeremy said before about 10 days for royal warrant, it's unlikely to be done by the 17th.
That's what I got from reading the same link but it's been like that for the past month or so.......
Regarding the test, looks like you need to go to a nominated test centre, complete a computer based test and get the result there and then. Presuming you pass, only then can you apply for citizenship, this seems to add at least another month on the previous process, which I could do without as this is holding back job applications.........
That's what I got from reading the same link but it's been like that for the past month or so.......
Regarding the test, looks like you need to go to a nominated test centre, complete a computer based test and get the result there and then. Presuming you pass, only then can you apply for citizenship, this seems to add at least another month on the previous process, which I could do without as this is holding back job applications.........
Sep 10th 2007 | 4:38 pm
#26
Thread Starter
Senior Stella Member
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 394
From: Brisbane, QLD
Re: Citizenship Tests
Just found this;
THE Senate has approved the Federal Government's new Australian citizenship tests, requiring applicants to correctly answer questions on the country's history, geography, government and traditions.
On the first day of the last sitting period before the election is called, the Upper House approved the citizenship exams with some minor government amendments. The Bill now goes back to the lower house for final clearance.
The citizenship tests were expected to take effect on October 1, Senator Ellison said, with an announcement on the final makeup of the resource booklet due within the next 10 days.
What's the chance of the lower house delaying this - I need them to procrastinate until at least 15Oct!!
THE Senate has approved the Federal Government's new Australian citizenship tests, requiring applicants to correctly answer questions on the country's history, geography, government and traditions.
On the first day of the last sitting period before the election is called, the Upper House approved the citizenship exams with some minor government amendments. The Bill now goes back to the lower house for final clearance.
The citizenship tests were expected to take effect on October 1, Senator Ellison said, with an announcement on the final makeup of the resource booklet due within the next 10 days.
What's the chance of the lower house delaying this - I need them to procrastinate until at least 15Oct!!
Sep 10th 2007 | 6:45 pm
#27
Retired
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 34,646
Re: Citizenship Tests
Regarding the test, looks like you need to go to a nominated test centre, complete a computer based test and get the result there and then. Presuming you pass, only then can you apply for citizenship, this seems to add at least another month on the previous process, which I could do without as this is holding back job applications...
Sep 11th 2007 | 10:30 am
#28
Thread Starter
Senior Stella Member
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 394
From: Brisbane, QLD
Re: Citizenship Tests
Sep 11th 2007 | 4:15 pm
#29
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,318
From: WA but NOT Perth!!!!!
Re: Citizenship Tests
Oh poo, we can apply for ours 14th October... 
Sep 11th 2007 | 4:25 pm
#30
Forum Regular
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 147
From: rockingham/perth
Re: Citizenship Tests
we called the office and where told that we couldnt apply before we had an interview as we had to take all application forms to the interview filled in! they also said we couldnt get an interview until late october, i was a bit miffed that i may have to pay double the price for the sake of a few weeks so i applied on line and paid with credit card, seemed to go threw ok at the standard price so fingers crossed that we wont have to take the test either!!!
