Australian Citizenship interview

[pagingjoan]

The Thai practice tests (See Post #8 above), in tandem with the English practice tests, should help clarify the terms used?

 

[puchu]

Up to them. My wife will try to pass the test. That is all. We have no time for anything else.

P.S. I am allowed to think the current regulations are dumb and I'm reading they're wanting to have stricter English tests where you'd have needed to finish high school to pass. Silly idea.

You could always speak with your federal MP and ask them to lobby on your behalf to make the test have more simple language?

 

[JohnK]

Unfortunately then what you think and want are at complete odds with what the Government conisiders to be appropriate for what it expects from its citizens, both new and existing. Politics has nothing to do with it. This is reality.

P.P.S Apologies but I don't think the government has a clue of what they're doing.

So my wife is 50 years old, permanent resident and works and pays taxes in Australia and both her husband and daughter are Australian citizens.

Those covered by other scenarios (such as those aged under 18 or over 60, or people who suffer from a substantial impairment or loss of hearing, speech or sight) are not required to sit the test.

So the government knows what they are doing for a 50 year old but it's OK you do not need to sit a test if over 60 years old. Very clever. Makes zero sense to any person using even the smallest amount of logic. Why? It's a dumb rule. It's almost discrimination to certain people who have little hope of passing the test.

P.S. I found another website last night that has 20 practice tests and I did the first 10 tests and 95% was my highest mark but I failed Australia values each and everytime. Lucky I got citizenship in 1983. My wife did the first practice test this morning while I was taking her to work this morning. She struggles to pronounce most words on these tests. How is she going to pass if she does not understand what she's reading? And please don't tell me my wife is the type of person the government does not want to become a citizen because that's just a poor excuse justifying a dumb decision in 2017.

I feel sorry for her because she really wants citizenship but has little hope of getting it until she's 60 years old. In the meantime we have to make sure she has a resident return visa each time we leave the country. That's another nice little rort.

 

[muppet]

With respect to JohnK and his wife, I’m comfortable with the required English. Unlike visa holders and permanent residents, citizens vote and influence our society - if they can’t speak the language they can’t fully engage with the issues they are voting on.

 

[JohnK]

Wife had 2nd interview today and got 65% on first attempt and 80% on 2nd attempt and has passed citizenship test. Yay.

Now need to wait for citizenship ceremony letter and ceremony is likely to be 4 weeks after letter. We're going to Thailand in 6 weeks which means we'll need to apply for one off Resident Return Visa.

@muppet I'd agree with your statement that's important to know English to vote but then why do they hand out citizenship at 60 years of age without any tests? Not only have they not bothered to learn English but now older. Anyway when wife registers to vote she will vote exactly the same as me which is more than likely informal as that is the only way I can think of rejecting every candidate.

 

[Quickstatus]

ceremony

Tedious when a politician is giving out a certificate.

 

[andye]

I'm guessing the over 60 rule is to minimise the situation and potential disputes of those permanent residents who have gone on to develop memory troubles since their visa medical

I personally view Australian citizenship as a very valuable thing. It can seem unfair that you are required to understand the constitution to a higher level than most local-born Australians, but obtaining valuable things usually needs some effort

(I really enjoyed our citizenship ceremony -even though mstr andye2 burnt his mouth on a party pie)

 

[MEL_Traveller]

…

And also wife said something to me about a question regarding lower house or something like that. I vaguely recall seeing some question about house of representatives. Why are they including upper house/ lower house on the test? A lot of questions are regarding politics of which many have no interest and will never develop any interest. I've been here 52 years and I cannot remember the last time I took any interest in politics or political parties.

Directly related to some of your thoughts in this thread, the government proposed to make the English requirements of the citizenship test even harder back in 2017. Those proposals were blocked by the Senate.

So prospective citizens having an understanding of how government works, and how they can use their vote to influence outcomes and policy is a likely driver here.

 

[SuePa]

As I always teach my students, people fought to earn us the right to vote and it's a great privilege that many people around the world are denied.
People love to go on about their rights, but forget the other side of the coin, their responsibilities.
I've noticed it's often the people who whinge or refuse to engage in the electoral process, who are the quickest to complain about the way the country is run.

 

[bam71]

As I always teach my students, people fought to earn us the right to vote and it's a great privilege that many people around the world are denied.
People love to go on about their rights, but forget the other side of the coin, their responsibilities.
I've noticed it's often the people who whinge or refuse to engage in the electoral process, who are the quickest to complain about the way the country is run.

This ……

 

[JohnK]

I've noticed it's often the people who whinge or refuse to engage in the electoral process, who are the quickest to complain about the way the country is run.

I liked your post but could not disagree more.

If you keep voting year after year and you see the same sort of junk recycled over and over there comes a time when enough is enough. I'm not interested in stroking egos. I'm not interested in broken promises. I do not believe the next candidate is going to do any better than previous candidate. Unfortunately that's reality. I've lost all hope that things can improve. Just look around the world. Look at whats occurring all over Europe. I'll leave the voting for those who have hope things can get better.

I wanted citizenship for my wife for the Australian passport and any other benefits that come from citizenship over permanent residency.

I'm certain this post will be deleted which is a shame because we should all be entitled to make an assessment that may not necessarily agree with common opinion.

 

[drron]

Even if many politicians are how you describe @JohnK their are still some very honest and good ones. You need to do a little more research so you don't throw the baby out with the bathwater.
And I felt our local member did not have the best interests of the voters so rather than vote informal I actually stood as a candidate in our electorate. And I am sure I didn't do it to stroke my ego and I genuinely felt I could do a better job than the sitting member.

 

[JohnK]

@drron the good politicians are few and far between.

If you're ever in Sydney drive up or down Canterbury Road and look at the mess that's been created with every single warehouse or factory now a 4-6 story apartment block. Canterbury Road is an old road that is very narrow and the traffic there now is horrendous.

How many politicians lined their pockets on that approval?

 

[drron]

Having been quite involved I met more than a few politicians who were honest and good.And on all sides.

 

[puchu]

Wife had 2nd interview today and got 65% on first attempt and 80% on 2nd attempt and has passed citizenship test. Yay.

Now need to wait for citizenship ceremony letter and ceremony is likely to be 4 weeks after letter. We're going to Thailand in 6 weeks which means we'll need to apply for one off Resident Return Visa.

Massive congrats to your wife, JohnK. She must have put a lot of effort in to studying up for the test. Hopefully the wait for a ceremony isn’t too long - I personally received approval for citizenship a couple of months ago and have yet to receive any comms about a ceremony date.

 

[JohnK]

Massive congrats to your wife, JohnK. She must have put a lot of effort in to studying up for the test. Hopefully the wait for a ceremony isn’t too long - I personally received approval for citizenship a couple of months ago and have yet to receive any comms about a ceremony date.

Thanks. Oh she was studying a lot. The difference this time was wife used the headphones provided to listen to questions as well as trying to read. I'm proud of her and she now knows some things I don't.

I don't think ceremony will be quick. We'll apply for resident return visa as we have 3 week trip Thailand mid June.

 

[pagingjoan]

Wife had 2nd interview today and got 65% on first attempt and 80% on 2nd attempt and has passed citizenship test. Yay.

Now need to wait for citizenship ceremony letter and ceremony is likely to be 4 weeks after letter. We're going to Thailand in 6 weeks which means we'll need to apply for one off Resident Return Visa.

@muppet I'd agree with your statement that's important to know English to vote but then why do they hand out citizenship at 60 years of age without any tests? Not only have they not bothered to learn English but now older. Anyway when wife registers to vote she will vote exactly the same as me which is more than likely informal as that is the only way I can think of rejecting every candidate.

Pass on a bunch of Congrats to your partner, JohnK. You had massively underestimated her capacity to perform well on the citizenship test.
She is obviously made of stern stuff.

(You may find that she also has the capacity to vote as she sees fit, when the time comes to exercise her new rights and responsibilities. )
Edit: Written before post #36 above.

 

[JohnK]

(You may find that she also has the capacity to vote as she sees fit, when the time comes to exercise her new rights and responsibilities. )
Edit: Written before post #36 above.

Thanks. People totally misunderstand me. I don't explain things properly.

I know my wife. She's not interested in Australian politics. She cannot read English and she follows Thai news daily. A couple of years ago she actually wanted to go back to Thailand just to vote.

So fast forward to her first Australian election whether that'd be local, state or federal.

"Darling, I don't know what to do. Can you please help me?"

"Sure, sweetie. Just mark the ballot slip this way."

It's that easy. That's how most things that require a decision go with my wife. It's not like I force her to do anything.

 

[JohnK]

Chalk this one down to travel mistake.

So wife's permanent residency travel facility expired Jan 2024. There was option if travelling overseas to get 3 month resident return visa which was $150 from memory or 5 year resident return visa which was $465. Let's wait and see what happens with citizenship.

Fast forward to today. Called Home Affairs and told wife is not yet Citizen and need to have valid travel facility. Resident return visa? Yep.

Go to apply and pay for application. $465 thank you for 5 year resident return visa. What? We only need 3 month resident return visa. Gone. Cannot apply. It's 5 year or stay home. Argh.

I really want to cry. This is becoming a very expensive exercise with money we don't have. I can understand how some are upset on those coming to Australia for free with all the benefits. It's the honest ones that pay for everything.

 

[puchu]

Chalk this one down to travel mistake.

So wife's permanent residency travel facility expired Jan 2024. There was option if travelling overseas to get 3 month resident return visa which was $150 from memory or 5 year resident return visa which was $465. Let's wait and see what happens with citizenship.

Fast forward to today. Called Home Affairs and told wife is not yet Citizen and need to have valid travel facility. Resident return visa? Yep.

Go to apply and pay for application. $465 thank you for 5 year resident return visa. What? We only need 3 month resident return visa. Gone. Cannot apply. It's 5 year or stay home. Argh.

I really want to cry. This is becoming a very expensive exercise with money we don't have. I can understand how some are upset on those coming to Australia for free with all the benefits. It's the honest ones that pay for everything.

Hey JohnK, I understand that there’s an option to get urgent citizenship. Have you considered speaking to them about that?