But that is the same the world over. If you have money you can live in a nice area. In Oz we drove 15 minutes from our suburb and the houses all had metal shutters on them and plenty undesirables hanging around the streets

I'd really advise you to look more into how long it's taking to process applications in your area. While I'm in Sydney, my application didn't take anywhere near that long. In fact, from applying for citizenship (on March 18th this year), to attending a ceremony and getting my certificate (on April 13th) was just 26 days. Mr GG and I didn't have a council ceremony - we took the no frills version offered by DICA. Might be worth looking into.

Phoned up about our ceremony today been told to look about December!!! I wanna go home before then!!

You don't have to wait for the next public ceremony. You can ask for a private one with the local Mayor. It's as simple as making an appointment to see him/her.That's what I did.

They didn't do that at Joondalup, but things could have changed, so I suppose it's worth asking.

I'm surprised things would be any different at Joondalup. Why not tell them you have to go back to UK for family reasons and aren't sure how long you'll need to be out of OZ, so would like to finalise your staus before leaving.

yes she told me that today, they are held every friday i may ring up and ask about it.

Thanks

England only has 7 sins...wow.........

I just read up on the show...it just tells you that the Brits have been hard living hard drinking people for hundreds of years...so whats new there...
Its how we got an Empire..

I used to work there, in that dept. and private ceremonies just weren't done. As I said before, things could have changed now. New mayor, new council.

Ring them up Kath, if you really want the citizenship then it is worth also trying other councils too. Good luck.

BTW, the house is looking great.

Yep, we did the same, and we lived in Joondalup at the time.

Plants

I don't see violence from one year to the next where I live in the South. Journalists go into the depths of society to find a tale of teenage thuggery because it sells and itplays on people's paranoia, and other constructs craftily shaped to keep us in line. Not so long ago I read about some kids throwing lighter fluid on a girl and setting her on fire - in Ontario. These incidents are isolated and happen everywhere.

Just a thought. A 16 year old possibly has a very good chance of returning anyway, and getting his/her own citizenship at a later stage, as so many hundreds have done. He/She may well have a skill by then that would qualify them to apply for their own citizenship a bit further down the line. If they decide to return at a later stage in life, they may well be eligible to apply for their own citizenship. I personally don't think it's a good enough reason to hang on, feeling unhappy and not wanting to be here, just to get the kids citizenship.

Depends on the child I guess - many many people would not have the smills to migrate that way - I wouldn't have, wrong field of expertise etc. Its just one thing that might make the older child less resistant to a move home.

Just think things through carefully. If you decide to go home, that's all your decisions but I would have to agree with trying to get citizenship before you go if you can because the grass isn't always greener on the other side of the pond!
My cousin lives in WA, she's English, OH Aussie. 2 kids both born in Oz, 1 on way! Had lived there over 5 years. Wanted to come home, she was homesick, miserable, missed her family. Her OH refused to live in UK, he's Australian wanted to stay there, had visited (that's how they met) didn't want to go back to live. The kids didn't know anything else other than Aus. Things really came to a head. She said she was going back regardless and taking children, he wouldn't budge. Eventually she and the kids came back for my sisters wedding and 6 week hol. She was adamament she would be staying in UK and not returning to Aus. DIVORCE the whole lot discussed. 3 weeks into their visit to UK she couldn't wait to return to "home" to Aus. Both her and the kids were miserable. The memories of her life in UK just weren't realistic, kind of rose tinted, like alot people's going to Aus could be. Anyway outcome she's back in Aus and wouldn't live anywhere else.
Sorry much longer post than I intended but just wanted to offer a little word of caution. May be worth a trip home for those who want to return. Grass is not always greener. You can't tell. Some get back to UK and it's right and best decision they ever made. Some get back and it's wrong, worst decision they ever make and they want to return to Aus. If you're a citizen you can live where you want then!

Hi,

I know how you feel as my husband and son love it here but my daughter and I have some very down days.

However, I would recommend that you get your citizenship as well.

I met an elderly couple who had lived in Australia years ago. They had never applied for citizenship and came back to the UK when their son was only 5 as they missed friends and family. They were very happy living back in the UK but years later when their son emigrated to Australia they wanted to move with him. This meant that they had to go through a very expensive and time consuming emigration process again. They said with hindsight they definitely should have got citizenship as you never know what the future might bring.

Also you mention that you need to sort out their education as soon as possible. My friend's son had to pay overseas education fees when he went back to the UK at 18 to go to University. This was because students have to be in the UK for 3 years before they start university. Hope this does not affect you but it is something to find out about if you do go back.