James and Alison

We've got the residency visa - too quickly. Done the initial entry in April 06 have got to be in Oz by Nov 2010 BUT how do we stand if we are not in until just before Nov 2010 regarding citizenship? Does anyone know or are you in same situation? We want to move there like yesterday but need to spend some more time here to make ourselves financially sorted.
Jim and Ali

JAJ

You will then have a 4 year waiting period for citizenship. Anyone eligible for the 2 year period must clock up the 2 years and apply before 30 June 2010 (three years from Commencement). Otherwise the 4 year period applies.

It is a very bad idea incidentally to leave it so late to migrate to Australia. Not only will you have travelling restrictions until you can get a Resident Return Visa, but any further delay will cause you to lose your status completely.

James and Alison

Thanks for that - so basically we need to be migrate ideally by Nov this year at the latest next june. We got our residency visa in Nov 2005 so already we are pushing it time wise.
Ali

JAJ

If you only want to wait 2 years for citizenship, then you really should be planning to have moved to Australia long before June 2008.

You will need to clock up the 2 years residence (not counting any time outside Australia on vacation or business trips) AND make a formal application for citizenship by 30 June 2010. Bear in mind there will probably be a deluge of applications that month.

If you miss the deadline it will be a 4 year wait - no flexibility.

ALI B

HI ALI B HERE

SOZ TO BUTT IN FOLKS BUT HOW DOES THAT AFFECT STUDENT VISAS? IM HOPING TO START STUDYING IN SOUTHPORT IN THE GOLDCOAST BY JUL23RD. ITS GONNA BE A 2 YR COURSE WHICH WOULD TAKE ME UP TO JUL 2009 WHEN I WOULD HOPEFULLY BE APPLYING FOR THE 136. WOULD I COME UNDER THE 4YR WAIT FOR CITIZENSHIP DUE TO THE 2 YR STUDENT VISA FIRST?

stevensfamily

I would appreciate it if you could clarify for me one aspect. We are waiting for our final AOS stage to complete and hope to have our Visa by April this year (maybe May). We plan to move over permanently in Jan 08 in order for our daughter to start secondary school and allow time to complete employment contracts.

If we do not validate until September (hoping to line up interviews and see schools enrol etc so dont want to really go to early) can we still get citizenship under two year rule. Basically do we have to validate before June 07 to qualify?

Thank you so much for your advice?

Cheryl

WS

Yes you would have to validate your visa before the 1st July to get Citizenship under the old 2 year requirement.

natal

Any ideas if the 3 year temp residency(457) would still count towards the 4 year period after 2010?
My situation is that I've been working here in aus for about 5 years now and will be validating my PR soon. My company wants me to work in the UK for a few years. Hence my question if the years I've spent here can still be used if I choose to come back by 2010. The other option I was thinking of was to wait till 1st of July to actually validate it. The problem with that is depending on govt do their work in the time they said they would. We all know how that works.