Australian Citizenship Bill
Nov 16th 2005, 6:39 am
#1
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2005
Location: USA
Posts: 4
Australian Citizenship Bill
Hi--
This is my first visit to this site. Thanks for providing such an useful forum.
I have a question for you, with regards to the Australian Ciztizenship Bill currently under consideration. I am from the UK, and I am the spouse of an Australian citizen. We have been married for eleven years, and are now residing in the US. I was granted my Australian Permanent Residency Visa in August 2004, and I validated the Visa when we visited Australia for three weeks in June 2005. We have since returned to the US.
I understand from the proposed legislation changes that spouses of Australian citizens will now be able to apply from overseas. My interpretation of other parts of the legislation is that the Minister has the discretion to waive any or all of the residency requirements for spouses of Australian citizens, providing they are of good character etc. Theoretically (and hopefully practicaly, as well) I would be able to apply for citizenship as soon as the Bill is passed???????
Can anyone confirm if they have interpreted the proposed legislation in the same way. Also, does anyone know when this Bill might be given Royal Assent?
Thanks for any information that anyone can provide.
This is my first visit to this site. Thanks for providing such an useful forum.
I have a question for you, with regards to the Australian Ciztizenship Bill currently under consideration. I am from the UK, and I am the spouse of an Australian citizen. We have been married for eleven years, and are now residing in the US. I was granted my Australian Permanent Residency Visa in August 2004, and I validated the Visa when we visited Australia for three weeks in June 2005. We have since returned to the US.
I understand from the proposed legislation changes that spouses of Australian citizens will now be able to apply from overseas. My interpretation of other parts of the legislation is that the Minister has the discretion to waive any or all of the residency requirements for spouses of Australian citizens, providing they are of good character etc. Theoretically (and hopefully practicaly, as well) I would be able to apply for citizenship as soon as the Bill is passed???????
Can anyone confirm if they have interpreted the proposed legislation in the same way. Also, does anyone know when this Bill might be given Royal Assent?
Thanks for any information that anyone can provide.
Nov 16th 2005, 7:08 am
#2
Reg. Migration Agent
Joined: Jan 2003
Location: Inner Western suburbs of Sydney
Posts: 4,483
Re: Australian Citizenship Bill
Originally Posted by tim.jenkins
Hi--
This is my first visit to this site. Thanks for providing such an useful forum.
I have a question for you, with regards to the Australian Ciztizenship Bill currently under consideration. I am from the UK, and I am the spouse of an Australian citizen. We have been married for eleven years, and are now residing in the US. I was granted my Australian Permanent Residency Visa in August 2004, and I validated the Visa when we visited Australia for three weeks in June 2005. We have since returned to the US.
I understand from the proposed legislation changes that spouses of Australian citizens will now be able to apply from overseas. My interpretation of other parts of the legislation is that the Minister has the discretion to waive any or all of the residency requirements for spouses of Australian citizens, providing they are of good character etc. Theoretically (and hopefully practicaly, as well) I would be able to apply for citizenship as soon as the Bill is passed???????
Can anyone confirm if they have interpreted the proposed legislation in the same way. Also, does anyone know when this Bill might be given Royal Assent?
Thanks for any information that anyone can provide.
This is my first visit to this site. Thanks for providing such an useful forum.
I have a question for you, with regards to the Australian Ciztizenship Bill currently under consideration. I am from the UK, and I am the spouse of an Australian citizen. We have been married for eleven years, and are now residing in the US. I was granted my Australian Permanent Residency Visa in August 2004, and I validated the Visa when we visited Australia for three weeks in June 2005. We have since returned to the US.
I understand from the proposed legislation changes that spouses of Australian citizens will now be able to apply from overseas. My interpretation of other parts of the legislation is that the Minister has the discretion to waive any or all of the residency requirements for spouses of Australian citizens, providing they are of good character etc. Theoretically (and hopefully practicaly, as well) I would be able to apply for citizenship as soon as the Bill is passed???????
Can anyone confirm if they have interpreted the proposed legislation in the same way. Also, does anyone know when this Bill might be given Royal Assent?
Thanks for any information that anyone can provide.
Hi Tim,
You'll have to wait for Jeremy to answer you however I don't think periods of residency are going to be waived unless you've had a period of living here, eg on a provisional spouse visa, or unless you've performed some special service for Australia.
Cheers,
George Lombard
www.austimmigration.com.au
Nov 16th 2005, 11:39 am
#3
Retired
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 34,649
Re: Australian Citizenship Bill
Originally Posted by George Lombard
Hi Tim,
You'll have to wait for Jeremy to answer you however I don't think periods of residency are going to be waived unless you've had a period of living here, eg on a provisional spouse visa, or unless you've performed some special service for Australia.
Cheers,
George Lombard
www.austimmigration.com.au
You'll have to wait for Jeremy to answer you however I don't think periods of residency are going to be waived unless you've had a period of living here, eg on a provisional spouse visa, or unless you've performed some special service for Australia.
Cheers,
George Lombard
www.austimmigration.com.au
I concur with George - despite some contradictory messages, I really doubt the Government intends to confer Australian citizenship on spouses of Australians permanently resident overseas. Other than in exceptional cases.
But we will have to wait and see how things develop.
Jeremy
