hi guys,

my turn to be able to share something....

for those who want to know how fast processing in Brisvegas is.....

mrs obiwan applied IN PERSON at the DIAC along Adelaide St in the City last week.

she brought all her documents and the paper application form 1300T....

it took 5 minutes to process her docs, then another 10 minutes only to book the Citizenship Test on the SAME DAY!!

so she passed her test 20/20...then DIAC says, ok thats all good now you can leave...

after just 5 days we receive a letter in the post that her Ceremony was scheduled on 28th July.... i dont know if it is just me, but that was really FAST!

we planned a 2 week overseas holiday in Sept so we are just glad the ceremony was scheduled much earlier than we expected....

Conratulations! That was quick. When we applied last year it wasn't nearly that quick.

Just make sure you get your Aussie passport application all ready before you go for the ceremony. That way you can submit it right afterwards. You'll need an Aussie passport to get back into the country once you are citizens since your PR visa is over.

hi comet,

thanks for the congrats and advice on working on the passport apps, yes it was surprising since i thought there would be heaps of applicants trying to catch the June 2010 deadline for the 2 year residency rule....so i thought processing would be delayed since their should be a spike....

hopefully the passport processing dept will be able to do them in the advertised 10 working days...might have to do the 2-day priority processing, but that will be an extra $78 X 5!

cheers

Congratulations Obiwan,

We'll see you at the convention centre on the 28th July as our ceremony is the same day.

Huge congratulations on your citizenship,

I have just a question in my mind. If you leaved Australia now and went to your home country for holiday for 3 months, would you still be able to get your Aussie passport from Australian embassy in your home country I am asking this because you obviously would not be able to take part in the 28th July ceremony.

In other words, does one have to participate in the citizenship ceremony to be awarded citizenship?

Thanks

You absolutely HAVE to go to the ceremony to get your citizenship. I've never heard of a way around that. You need to go in order to say the pledge, once you've done that then they give you your certificate.

And this ceremony only held inside Australia?

Ye Gods - you want the other end of the experience? Applied December 1st online, stating dates I would be out of the country. Day I flew out for a month (March 26th) I received a letter inviting me for an interview the following week - and yep, they had the dates on the form - I WILL BE AWAY ON HOLIDAY!!!
So I rang them and they said when you get back, ring us, leave a message and we will reschedule the test date. Ummmmmmm I did that on April 29th, and guess what....I'm still waiting for a call back/letter/smack in the mouth or whatever.

Forget it, it took so much persuading to even fill the form in - I've done everything as they asked and

These things always vary widely. Not worth getting worked up about.

If you really want to be a citizen, call them and reschedule (don't wait for them to use initiative).

If you've changed your mind, that's also ok ... either withdraw the application or leave it with them to refuse it at their leisure.

Certainly not worked up about it, couldn't care less really!! I have called them a couple of times but they keep saying they hav to check and call back. Too busy at work to bother at present so i'll leave it another week or so.

Short answer is yes.

I thought I saw a case recently where someone was granted citizenship while outside the country. There was a really good reason for it though. Generally speaking though you have to be in living in Australia to get approved for citizenship and then you need to be here for the ceremony.

Is there some reason you're trying to get it while outside of Australia? If you're going on a trip or even working overseas for a short period they can schedule around that. If you're moving overseas though I would expect a big fat no.

They do hold ceremonies outside Australia - but usually only for spouses of Australian citizens.

Thanks JAJ. I knew there was a reason for it. Definitely a very specific group that can get them done.

Thank you everyone,

Update - this morning I got a letter, which has taken 8 days to get to north Brisbane from the DIAC office in the city
They say they have made five appointments for the test, one of the dates they gave was before I had even put in the application and the other four were during the time I had told them I would be away - dates that were on the form, but which I also confirmed with the office when I rang up.
They also claim to have rung me on numerous occasions to confrim the dates and to have sent several letters and emails (and no, they aren't going to my spam folder!). As only one of their communications has reached me, I can only assume that Aus Post is worse than ever, or they aren't actually sending anything out. I have written back telling them that as they don't seem able to advise me of the test dates beforehand, I shall withdraw my application at this time and might re-apply when they are less busy and things are less likely to get lost