Australian Citizenship interview

[JohnK]

But she could eat as much Green Papaya Salad as she wants?

Congratulations!

Thanks. She eats too much som tum. And it's "mai aroy" without fermented crab but she has allergy to prawns/crab etc so she puts it in for flavour but doesn't eat.

The first thing she does when we go to Pattaya is find som tum salad. Daughter loves it too. They're not allowed to eat this in hotel room when I'm around. Stinks.

By the way in Brisbane wife makes som tum salad with green Papaya or cucumber.

 

[JohnK]

Just reading through the approval letter.

After you attend your ceremony and become an Australian Citizen, you will no longer be eligible to hold an Australian visa.

Didn't think we were going to have a smooth ride? I'm not sure how we are going to manage this one. Wife currently has 5 year Resident Return Visa from June 2024 that will be cancelled.

- We are going to Thailand 4 weeks and returning 22 January 2025
- Going to Thailand 3 weeks and returning 25 April 2025
- Going to Thailand 3 weeks and returning early October 2025
- May go to Thailand end of 2025

Assuming minimum of 6 weeks for passport then end April 2025 or May 2025 are the only suitable dates for ceremony. Current wait time around 5-7 months but must attend ceremony by 25 November 2026 otherwise they can cancel Citizenship approval without good excuse.

If we cannot attend Citizenship ceremony do we go back in queue or can we request specific appointment? Do not want to jeopardise any of these trips and I don't want to pay for express passport application.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Just reading through the approval letter.



Didn't think we were going to have a smooth ride? I'm not sure how we are going to manage this one. Wife currently has 5 year Resident Return Visa from June 2024 that will be cancelled.

- We are going to Thailand 4 weeks and returning 22 January 2025
- Going to Thailand 3 weeks and returning 25 April 2025
- Going to Thailand 3 weeks and returning early October 2025
- May go to Thailand end of 2025

Assuming minimum of 6 weeks for passport then end April 2025 or May 2025 are the only suitable dates for ceremony. Current wait time around 5-7 months but must attend ceremony by 25 November 2026 otherwise they can cancel Citizenship approval without good excuse.

If we cannot attend Citizenship ceremony do we go back in queue or can we request specific appointment? Do not want to jeopardise any of these trips and I don't want to pay for express passport application.

Both the dates seem to fit perfectly?

 

[JohnK]

Both the dates seem to fit perfectly?

The first only just fits but that means no delays in passport application. They do state minimum 6 weeks.

I remember a few years back with daughters first passport renewal and they managed to drag everything out and we only just got passport with days to spare before going to Thailand and I had to push them.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

The first only just fits but that means no delays in passport application. They do state minimum 6 weeks.

I remember a few years back with daughters first passport renewal and they managed to drag everything out and we only just got passport with days to spare before going to Thailand and I had to push them.

Yes, but unless you’ve missed a trip to Thailand in your earlier post… you have May, June, July and August to get the passport?

 

[JohnK]

Yes, but unless you’ve missed a trip to Thailand in your earlier post… you have May, June, July and August to get the passport?

That's the one that is preferable and is by far the most suitable. Lots of time. But with 5-7 month waiting times for ceremony that may not be perfect.

Note wife's friend passed the test end March and was invited to ceremony end of October. They used to hold monthly ceremonies but have now put on an extra ceremony each month. Apparently current waiting list is 4600 people in Brisbane waiting for ceremony.

 

[puchu]

Thanks @puchu. Police Check returned 10 days ago.

Received call Friday from Home Affairs. Sorry I've been slack. Don't want to get photo ID. Costs ~$80 and would serve no purpose for us as wife has Thai passport. That's OK Medicare card is OK.

Uploaded Police check, rent receipt and Medicare card yesterday and received approval early this morning.

Our family now have an eclectic collection of Australian citizenship

- Immigrant
- Citizenship by descent
- Citizenship by conferral

Wife is now an Aussie. She wants to know if she can still eat som tum salad. I said sometimes but not often....

Congrats mate. Now the wait for the ceremony! She will probably have to get photo ID in the form of the Australian passport soon

 

[puchu]

That's the one that is preferable and is by far the most suitable. Lots of time. But with 5-7 month waiting times for ceremony that may not be perfect.

Note wife's friend passed the test end March and was invited to ceremony end of October. They used to hold monthly ceremonies but have now put on an extra ceremony each month. Apparently current waiting list is 4600 people in Brisbane waiting for ceremony.

By the way, you should be able to tell them that you need an urgent ceremony, and then explain your circumstances.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Great to read she made it.
Now: ...
Now, she will have to vote every 3 years for the fed side, and every 4 years for the Qld state side, and can get called up for jury duty.
Not to mention all the political parties mail that they send out, with the next fed election, in 2025, and the next Qld state election in 2028.
That is automatic, once you become an Aus citizen, your data is passed to the AEC, and its a pain in the prosterior, to vote at all elections, and referendums and then also to be up for jury duty.
She might be excused, if she gets the letter, than her English is not too great.
I became an Aus citizen in 2010, and have had to stand to vote in all the state and fed elections and that one referendum since then.
No jury duty letter yet, touch wood.
===
First passport application, will be another pain, have to get the Aus citizenship parchement copied and notarized, and maybe other forms of id to make 100.
Also, need to get a friend to note back of photo, as like your daughters one.
Proof of 100 points of id, lah lah.
After the first Aus passport, the new ones after 10 years, are easier.
===
Request an Urgent Citizenship Ceremony", $$$.

 

[Quickstatus]

Now

You forgot about the bit where you genuflect to a foreign monarch

 

[JohnK]

By the way, you should be able to tell them that you need an urgent ceremony, and then explain your circumstances.

We don't need urgent. We would like to attend ceremony May/June otherwise complicated.

But you're right we should contact them and explain.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

We don't need urgent. We would like to attend ceremony May/June otherwise complicated.

But you're right we should contact them and explain.

Yes, my apologies. I thought either May or June was a confirmed option for you to choose… not that you’d have to go on a waiting list!

Ridiculous that they can’t just schedule them to meet demand. Why does everything need to take so long?!

 

[DC3]

Great to read she made it.
Now: ...

Poochie is certainly on top of this

 

[Quickstatus]

Why does everything need to take so long?!

Possibly to fit in with the local mp's schedule?

 

[JohnK]

Yes, my apologies. I thought either May or June was a confirmed option for you to choose… not that you’d have to go on a waiting list!

Ridiculous that they can’t just schedule them to meet demand. Why does everything need to take so long?!

There must be some sort of limit. Once a month ceremonies now fortnightly until they clear backlog.

At this stage May/June may not be a possibility. We'll see.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Possibly to fit in with the local mp's schedule?

Hmmm… you’d think the local MP would be wanting to ‘welcome’ as many new electors as possible, as quickly as possible!

But yes, fair point, maybe the local MP is busy doing other community stuff?

 

[JohnK]

Called Brisbane council and Home Affairs.

- BCC only facilitates citizenship ceremonies
- Home Affairs sends out invitations based on sequence, capacity
- if cannot make citizenship ceremony you go to back of queue
- All visas cancelled after becoming Australian citizen but that may take time before its processed
- Can travel on Thai passport after becoming citizen without Australian passport but could be difficult so not worth it
- if not attending citizenship within 12 months does not automatically cancel but will need please explain

Curren BCC wait time is 5-7 months which should hopefully see us with appointment April-June. We have all July/August to get passport before travelling September.

 

[Quickstatus]

maybe the local MP is busy doing other community stuff?

I'm not sure they do anything other than. Photo ops.

(Ok maybe turn up to Parliament House from time to time)

 

[SydneySwan]

Citizenship ceremonies are organised at local council level. Contact one of your ward councillors and explain your situation and ask for a ceremony date that fits your schedule.

 

[JohnK]

Citizenship ceremonies are organised at local council level. Contact one of your ward councillors and explain your situation and ask for a ceremony date that fits your schedule.

I called both Council and Home Affairs today as per my notes above.

Home Affairs organises the attendees, council provides facilities only. If you cannot make allocated ceremony you go to back of queue.