Thanks mingster. Our circumstances were:

3.5 years resident in Aus as PR
Aussie spouse, 2 Aussie children
Working for Aus ASX listed business overseas
Own property in Aus
Aus bank accounts, shares etc
Continuing contributions to an Aus super fund
Extended family in Aus (provided names and dob for each)
Provided probable date of return to Aus

Cheers

Hi Ajw,

Congratulations for your citizenship approval. I am in the process of applying for my wife's Oz citizenship with ministerial discretion. Would you throw light what kinds of evidence you submitted to show close and connecting ties to Australia ?

Thanks,
U-A

Hi everyone!
i have same case with mingster. I have been married for 10 years. My wife and two kids are australian citizen. I am applying for Australian citizenship by ministerial discretion s22.9. I have got PR for more than 8 years. Me, my wife and kids have spent most of time oversea so just would like to ask everyone's opinion about my case. Can i have appoved if i apply for Australian citizenship? any reply would help, thanks

I'm not sure anyone here will be able to offer much help - how much time have you spent in Australia, and when?

Have you also contacted an experienced MARA agent?

Hey Joe,

I'm also interested in this thread - I'm looking to apply under the same ministerial discretion next year. My understanding is that you should have lived more than three years in Australia including 3 months as PR. Other evidence required is outlined by ajw above.

Firstly is your visa still valid? Most PR visas are valid for four years only, so you must have a resident return visa?

Not sure that is correct - I thought 5 years was the norm

Right you are, but either way he needs to clarify what he means by "held PR for eight years" as the original visa would've expired by this time.

No he doesn't - PR visas don't really expire, only the travel portion which can be covered with RRV

Are there any MARA agents in US or we have to call them over in Australia?

Search at: http://www.themara.com.au
However very few MARA agents have experience in this area. Most people handle their own applications.

Thanks but we are in a pickle...and I am personally to blame 100% so trying to see if I can do anything about it.

I moved to Australia in 2001, got my citizenship in 2006
Married in 2006, wife came over in 2006 and got a PR in Nov 2008
We left Australia and currently in US since June 2010.
My wife was eligible for Australian citizenship in June 2010.
Stupidly, I did not apply for her citizenship until now
PR has ran out in Nov 2013.

Baby boy born in Feb 2013 (not that it matters in this case)

I don't think I can manage this application myself...in fact I don't know if I even have a case!

Its an unusual and unique situation - I think JAJs response is the best you will get.

If you cannot get the answers you a looking for, you could always try the approach of applying and see what happens.

Yes, I am putting together the application now.

One question - the way I think about this is I ahve nothing to lose. In the sense that I apply for her, and include by boy. At the least, he will get approved.

Question is, he was born in US and has a US passport and US birth certificate.Can you add him to her application or there are steps i need to do/take BEFORE OR have to apply seperately?

Wouldn't he be a citizen by birth if you are one?