Pollyana

They were very lucky. I certainly wouldn't advise anyone to try it as the visas are cancelled as soon as citizenship is granted. Either there's a computer glitch or someone at Immigration on entry wasn't awake and didn't scan the passports properly.

moneypenny20

As Poll says, I did it with the citizenship certificate and explained as soon as I got to passport control. You should be fine. I was told by both DIAC and Passport Office that although the Citizenship voids the visa, if the visa is still 'in date' it can be accepted as an RRV which may be how Creatures wife and son got through. However I was also given definite duff info so that could be duff as well.

You will be advised to get your Australian Passport asap though so be prepared to not respond with a 'duh!'

Buzzy--Bee

Thanks for the advice, this has been a crazy 48 hours.... if I tell immigration the situation on my way out of Melbourne will it help speed things up on the way back in - like, can they put a note on my file or anything?

Simon

Pollyana

No. Keep quiet in case you get a jobs-worth!!! They don't need to know on the way out, only on the way back so don't confuse the issue

Buzzy--Bee

mmm OK and do I complete my incoming passenger card as if I'm a British PR or an Australian citizen?

....all these things to think about and I have to be up at 4am....

Simon

Wol

Australian citizen. Your PR visa isn't valid but you *are* a citizen. Take proof and explain the circumstances

moneypenny20

Definitely Aus Citizen. They will get snotty if you say British PR.

moneypenny20

Definitely Aus Citizen. They will get snotty if you say British PR.

Oh by the way, condolences for the FiL. Hope your wife is ok.

Kathryn V

My husband and I became Oz citizens in October 2005 and travelled back the UK on holiday in February 2006, we didn't even think about Oz passports, just used our British passports with the PR stickers inside. We had no issues at all, thankfully.

When we left Oz in March 2008, once again travelling on UK passports, immigration asked about my right to be in Australia, because my PR sticker was in my expired UK passport in a container ship somewhere. When we mentioned that we were Oz citizens, immigration just said that we should tell them if we were travelling on foreign passports.

Kiwikaye

Isn't there a box on the incoming passenger card to tick if you are an Oz citizen travelling on another passport?

Pollyana

No, because if you are an Aus citizen you have to travel on an Aus passport. Thats the whole issue here, he doesn't have time to get an Aus passport.



http://www.citizenship.gov.au/current/travel/

Once you have become an Australian citizen any visa you held ceases.

As an Australian citizen you must always leave and enter Australia on an Australian passport. If you also have a passport from another country you can use that for travel once you have left Australia.

People trying to enter Australia as an Australian citizen but without an Australian passport face difficulties and delays. The Australian Passport Office provides more information.

If you also have a passport from another country you should always use your Australian passport when leaving and entering Australia.

bcworld

It only asks if you are resident.

It also asks for nationality as shown on passport.

I guess if their systems are prone to not canceling visas then people might get through without incident but that shouldn't be considered the norm. However I'd expect that a quick swipe of the British passport would indicate an issue in most cases.

James516

We were in a similar position, although not as rushed, in that we needed to get an Aus passport for our UK-born Oz citizen baby son. The UK passport and Aus Citizenship certificate would be have been OK for him to re-enter Australia, but the bigger problem is that the airline would have to be satisfied he is an Australian citizen and they might not be au fait with the citizenship certificate as proof - they could conceivably forbid him from getting on the plane.

Wol

That's the main problem: the airline is fined IIRC some £2000 if they board a non-acceptable passenger. If you are early enough and they are willing it is sometimes possible to get through to the passport people and get permission but time changes etc make that a last resort even if the airline has the time.

Kiwikaye

Sorry, it must be the NZ incoming card that has that on it - I know one of them does.