Jp1

Hi,

I am a PR living in Sydney and will be eligible to apply for citizesnhip
in a month or so.

Does anyone know how long the process takes (i.e. from applying for, to
the grant of, citizenship) and how much it costs?

I assume that I will have to be in Australia to attend an interview and
to attend the ceremony? I had been toying with working for a while back
in the UK but I am not sure if that is feasible.

Thank you.

Ptlabs

> Hi,
>
> I am a PR living in Sydney and will be eligible to apply for
> citizesnhip in a month or so.
>
> Does anyone know how long the process takes (i.e. from applying for,
> to the grant of, citizenship) and how much it costs?
>
> I assume that I will have to be in Australia to attend an interview
> and to attend the ceremony? I had been toying with working for a
> while back in the UK but I am not sure if that is feasible.
>
> Thank you.

In Sydney metro area, you'll looking at about 6 to 9 months from date of
application to citizenship ceremony. Costs of applying can be found at
www.citizenship.gov.au

Present policy dictates that you need to be in Australia to be conferred
citizenship at a local ceremony.

Also, once you have been granted your citizenship certificate, you need
an Australian passport to travel in/out of Australia. Your visa is no
longer valid as citizens cannot be granted or hold visas.

Peter

R Guruge

Now there is a queue for applying for the citizenship.
If you not in a hurry, you could wait for another 'month or so' until
you complete the residency requirements and then lodge your application
online via www.citizenship.gov.au. DIMA will then contact you for an
interview appointment.
If you in a hurry to get it soon, phone DIMA and make an appointment
for a citizenship interview and tell them you will be bringing the
necessary paperwork on the interview day. Make sure you will have
completed your residency requirements by the appointment day. Download
the forms from www.citizenship.gov.au and arrange the supporting
documents before the interview. Within two weeks after the interview,
you will hear whether you will get it not.
Actual conferring of the citizenship is done by the state government
(or the council, I don't know) and you'll have to wait until they find
a slot for you in their citizenship ceremony.

Jaj

> In Sydney metro area, you'll looking at about 6 to 9 months from date
> of application to citizenship ceremony. Costs of applying can be found
> at www.citizenship.gov.au
>
> Present policy dictates that you need to be in Australia to be
> conferred citizenship at a local ceremony.
>
> Also, once you have been granted your citizenship certificate, you
> need an Australian passport to travel in/out of Australia. Your visa
> is no longer valid as citizens cannot be granted or hold visas.
>
> Peter

There are two components here. Firstly the time to approval by DIMA,
then the wait for a citizenship ceremony. This depends on council area.

Unless things have changed recently, the majority get the process
completed within 6 months.



There are exceptions to this, but not many.

Also bear in mind that citizenship applicants must intend to continue to
reside in Australia or maintain a "close and continuing association"
with Australia. Your citizenship application can be refused for this
reason so be careful.



In limited circumstances there is the Australian Declaratory Visa:
http://www.immi.gov.au/allforms/pdf/931.pdf

Jp1

> There are two components here. Firstly the time to approval by
> DIMA, then the wait for a citizenship ceremony. This depends on
> council area.
>
> Unless things have changed recently, the majority get the process
> completed within 6 months.
>
>
>
> There are exceptions to this, but not many.
>
> Also bear in mind that citizenship applicants must intend to continue
> to reside in Australia or maintain a "close and continuing
> association" with Australia. Your citizenship application can be
> refused for this reason so be careful.
>
>
>
> In limited circumstances there is the Australian Declaratory Visa:
> http://www.immi.gov.au/allforms/pdf/931.pdf

Many thanks.

Do you know why it takes 6-9 months?

Do you have your interview quite soon after applying? I assume you can
not have the interview off-shore (very doubtful!)?

Also, I assume you can not apply for citizenship before the two years of
PR are up?

Thank you

R Guruge

Hi Peter,

> Also, once you have been granted your citizenship certificate, you need
> an Australian passport to travel in/out of Australia. Your visa is no
> longer valid as citizens cannot be granted or hold visas.

Can't he/she leave and enter Australia on the (non-Australian) passport
he/she currently holds?

Is there a requirement that an Australian Citizen MUST use an
Australian passport to enter and leave Australia, regardless of other
citizenships and passports they hold?

Thanks
Ranga

R Guruge

> Also, I assume you can not apply for citizenship before the two years of
> PR are up?

http://www.citizenship.gov.au/becoming-a-citizen/application-process/index.htm

Jaj

> Many thanks.
>
> Do you know why it takes 6-9 months?
>
> Do you have your interview quite soon after applying? I assume you
> can not have the interview off-shore (very doubtful!)?
>
> Also, I assume you can not apply for citizenship before the two years
> of PR are up?
>
> Thank you

It doesn't, normally. 4-6 months is more typical unless things have
changed a lot recently. But every case is different.




Normally interview is fairly quick. Not normally possible
offshore, sorry.

And it's strongly recommended you familiarise yourself thoroughly with
this requirement for citizenship:


----------

7. Requirement of Intention

You must intend to reside in Australia or maintain a close and
continuing association with Australia. This requirement is mandatory.


---------



Short answer - NO!

Tass

> Hi,
>
> I am a PR living in Sydney and will be eligible to apply for
> citizesnhip in a month or so.
>
> Does anyone know how long the process takes (i.e. from applying for,
> to the grant of, citizenship) and how much it costs?
>
> I assume that I will have to be in Australia to attend an interview
> and to attend the ceremony? I had been toying with working for a
> while back in the UK but I am not sure if that is feasible.
>
> Thank you.

Hi ! We were eligible beginning of Nov 2006. Applied on line , the day
that we became valid. (FRIDAY NIGHT)Got a phone call at work on the
WEDNESDAY after - day 5 and asked to attend for interview 2 weeks
later.We were straight forward, no complications. Apparently due to the
up-coming citizenship changes , Sydney are processing at weekends too.
We had our interview on a Sat morning in Paramatta (our choice of
office.)However, when I contacted my local council office to find out
when the ceremony would be , they advised me that it takes 3 MONTHS for
the government to send them confirmation of grant of citizenship and
therefore we won't have our ceremony until at least March. We have
letters from DIMIA confirming our grant of citizenship but obviously
have to wait until the ceremony.On the whole , an enjoyable experience.
Relatively stress free.Hope this helps,
All the best,
Tass.

Jp1

> Hi ! We were eligible beginning of Nov 2006. Applied on line , the day
> that we became valid. (FRIDAY NIGHT)Got a phone call at work on the
> WEDNESDAY after - day 5 and asked to attend for interview 2 weeks
> later.We were straight forward, no complications. Apparently due to
> the up-coming citizenship changes , Sydney are processing at weekends
> too. We had our interview on a Sat morning in Paramatta (our choice of
> office.)However, when I contacted my local council office to find out
> when the ceremony would be , they advised me that it takes 3 MONTHS
> for the government to send them confirmation of grant of citizenship
> and therefore we won't have our ceremony until at least March. We have
> letters from DIMIA confirming our grant of citizenship but obviously
> have to wait until the ceremony.On the whole , an enjoyable
> experience. Relatively stress free.Hope this helps,
> All the best,
> Tass.

Thanks everyone.

It sounds as if the main hold-up is with the Dept of Immigration, rather
than the Council. I've no idea why it takes the Dept 3 months to
contact the council!!

Given the above, I guess that it wouldn't really make much difference if
I am living in the City of Sydney Council area, as opposed to another
Council area?

I did see it mentioned that if you have a valid really to have your
application fast-tracked you can ask for a ceremony at the Dept of
Immigration offices. Has anyone ever down this route? I appreciate I
would have to be very careful what reason I give.