A refugee from Afghanistan was handed a permanent visa to remain in Australia in November after leaving his home in the border region near Afghanistan, where he said he was targeted by Muslim extremists. If the amendment to the Citizenship Act passes he could apply for a passport by June 21, the Sydney Morning Herald said on Monday.

Does that mean that permanent residence visa holders will be able to apply for citizenship within the 8-10 months of their visa grant if the prospective changes to the citizenship act come into effect?

Do you have a link to these "prospective changes"?

This is the link for the story:

http://beta.dawn.com/news/1014139/cl...tizenship-move

But I can not find anything on the "prospective changes"

That's a story about cricket. Nowhere in there does it say anything about Mr Ahmed being granted Australian citizenship. Could you perhaps point out where it does?

"...Former refugee Ahmed, 31, will be eligible if minor changes to Australia's citizenship legislation pass through parliament in the next few weeks."

I guess this is just an application under the special resident requirement.

Eligible for what? To play for the Australian cricket team? Citizenship? The article doesn't say. Perhaps he's eligible for an Afgan passport.

Your link really doesn't say anything.

I don't think Afgan passport authorities are too interested in Australian Citizenship legislation. So I guess it's an Australian passport he's after.

As this appears to be a discussion of a news article and no-one has come up with details of these "changes" I'm moving it to the Barbie.

It's all about cricket, and trying to get someone who can actually spin bowl on the Australian cricket team in time for the Ashes! (He was a Pakistani refugee but now has PR)

To be able to play in Australian national cricket team, one must be an Australian citizen. I thought they were amending some of the immigration laws to shorten the process of getting citizenship from PR. However, I reckon his case is considered to be a special one as they want him to play in Ashes series from Australian side.

Its not that long since they lengthened the time required to apply for citizenship. Can't imagine they will reduce it again so soon.

Depends how desperate they are after losing the last 2 Ashes. If they lose the next 2, then they might just give away citizenship for anyone who can convincingly throw or hit a ball! Can't be having the poms winning again.

Actually that sounds pretty plausible really.

Is Deadvim a citizen yet I wonder?

Hmm,

A little research throws up only one bill before Parliament on citizenship that isn't at the assent stage or passed - the "Migration and Security Legislation Amendment (Review of Security Assessments) Bill 2012". That's to do with security assessment and protection visas.

So I'd assume if there is any change, it's someone sneaking a line into a bill to specifically allow this individual to play cricket. That's unless he has a partner with the ADF who has citizenship and the reporter is getting the wrong end of the Australian Citizenship Amendment (Defence Families) Bill 2012 that Jen1977au has recently got citizenship under.