tiger222

Our PRs just expired for travel outside of Australia (16 October) . We were approved for citizenship pending ceremony on 11 September. My 16 year old needs to travel abroad in December, returning January 2014.

Our council is hosting a Citizenship ceremony on 7 November, however 16yo is not on the list. Next ceremony on Australia Day - day after return. How can we get an early ceremony for 16yo?

I have requested urgent ceremony and included flight information. No reply from DIAC.

Thanks for any suggestions.

commonwealth

They don't usually allow expedited ceremonies unless there is an emergency - eg someone died abroad, someone is sick etc.

If it's just a travel thing, they'd advise you to obtain a Resident Return Visa.

tiger222

I know a family who got an urgent ceremony for travel.

There is urgency. The purpose of the trip is "mother's helper" for aunt with baby due in December and older children to look after. Any consideration in that case?

roaringmouse

You will only find out by the response from DIAC. Otherwise your 16 year old will need to get a RRV.

tiger222

What about a tourist visa?

commonwealth

tourist visa??? they won't grant a tourist visa unless they are satisfied the visa holder will leave the country when the visa expires. I suggest you call the citizenship info line .

roaringmouse

No, bad bad idea. If DIBP won't allow a ceremony sooner due to the reason you gave them, then the only choice is to pay the $345 for a RRV. An application can be made online before leaving Australia.

Bermudashorts

Tourist visa?

Bad idea, don't even think about it.

Regarding requesting an early date, it doesn't seem like an emergency to me, but no harm in asking. If not get the RRV in good time.

JAJ

Did the 16 year old apply as an adult (after 16th birthday) or was the application before 16th birthday? If it was before age 16, then different rules may apply.

Assuming the 16 year old has spent 2 years in Australia as a PR, a 5 year RRV should be granted over the counter at a DIBP office (or online), upon payment of the fee. Is there a specific reason why travel on home country passport + RRV would be a problem?

Also be aware - if booked for Australia Day ceremony, then it would be a good idea to get back to Australia a few days in advance. Returning at the last minute is not a good idea, flights can be cancelled, etc. And being a no show at a citizenship ceremony may cause a long delay in getting another one.

tiger222

Yes, applied as adult - had just turned 16.

Yes, 4 years in Australia. DIBP office? Department of Immigration BP? Is there an additional fee?

There are 2 citizenship ceremonies in Sydney - near to us - in November. Plenty of time to accommodate. I just don't understand why 16yo cannot be slotted in somewhere - we're willing to travel to whatever ceremony.

If I would have known we would need the RRV - I would have skipped Citizenship for 16yo....

We don't know if we'll have citizenship ceremony on Australia Day - we'll find out when they chose.

old.sparkles

DIAC changed their name to Department of Immigration and Border Protection - DIBP.

Even if you get urgent citizenship, you would also need passport for daughter so why not get RRV now and worry about the citizenship when she returns.

tiger222

Passport is easy! Pick up in 2 days. Just need the ceremony to get it done. I really don't see what the hang up is.

Thanks for explaining the name change.

JAJ

http://www.immi.gov.au/migrants/residents/
Cost is A$345 online, or A$425 at a DIBP office.


The system works at its convenience - not yours.
You are expected to attend a ceremony in your local council area, normally. And there are others applying at the same time. If they make an exception for your daughter, why not for thousands of others.

You've still not given a genuine reason why her application should be prioritised. Based on what you have told us so far, an RRV will be more than adequate.

Are you really telling us that the only reason to apply for Australian citizenship is short term travel convenience?

tiger222

Are you really telling us that the only reason to apply for Australian citizenship is short term travel convenience?

What I'm saying is for the costs involved and the urgency of the situation..... it would have been better for us to spend our limited monies on RRV instead of citizenshp that could have been applied for 16yo at a later date.

We are going to great expense to send her as Aunty needs her help as she has been experiencing gestational diabeties and has been admitted into the emergency room several times during this pregnancy. This is not a pleasure trip.

The result of sending 16yo at this time (read exhorbitant costs of flights/visas in December) will mean the rest of the family will not get to go visit in 2014, as we had hoped. It's been 4 years since we've visited family - and grandparents don't last forever.

tiger222

We are not asking for expedited citizenship ceremony for entire family. Only for 16yo.

Additionally, I know a family planning a visit back home that were expedited for citizenship ceremony. They had not even purchased flights and their ceremony was prioritized. There was no illness. There was no urgency other then school holidays. Why wouldn't the needs of our situation be at least as important as that family's desire for a holiday?

We are not asking for much. Just slot her into a ceremony that is going on in our council in November. Alternately, we'll travel to another ceremony in November or even December. No worries, we're flexible.

In fact, move the other members of our family back 6 months - give others our spot who need it - we don't care. We just need to get our 16yo through.