Mixology Posted July 11, 2021 Share Posted July 11, 2021 Does anyone know the what is the availability for test slots in Melbourne vs Ballarat vs Bendigo vs Shepparton etc. I live in Melbourne and going to be applying for citizenship soon. In most other states such as NSW, the citizenship application processing time is very fast. In Victoria wait time is around a year before you can take the test. The only reason I can think of why it is this different is because we had a lockdown and that probably delayed the citizenship tests for a lot of people during lockdown and that caused a huge backlog of tests which has not been cleared yet. Would it make sense for me to put Ballarat as my preferred test location during the application? May be they have lesser load than Melbourne and my citizenship application will be processed faster? Has anyone tried it or looked at this before? What do you think? I don't mind going to any of these locations to be in the test earlier. To be honest, I don't even mind going to Sydney for the test if it means my processing time will drop from a year and half (including ceremony) to six months. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
galisuman Posted July 11, 2021 Share Posted July 11, 2021 On 09/07/2021 at 13:14, Chennaiguy said: Nope. When was your application approved?? If you have noticed 600 per ceremony and there are thousands waiting. I was told not to contact immigration for virtual ceremony with regards to HECS HELP as I dont qualify under emergency category so I think indirectly they are saying wait Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amy.K Posted July 11, 2021 Share Posted July 11, 2021 I Have silently been observing this forum for a while. My Timeline: Came to Aus on a student visa: 2012 Applied for PR via Spouse: Aug 2017 received TR: May 2019 Received PR: March 2020 Applied for Citizenship: 12 May 2021 Invitation for Test and Interview received on 15 June 2021 for 15 July 2021 Rescheduled myself to 25 June 2021 Approved 25 June 2021 Same day - received my official letter by mail a few days after Awaiting invite from Moreton Bay Council :) 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nora Posted July 12, 2021 Share Posted July 12, 2021 1 hour ago, Amy.K said: I Have silently been observing this forum for a while. My Timeline: Came to Aus on a student visa: 2012 Applied for PR via Spouse: Aug 2017 received TR: May 2019 Received PR: March 2020 Applied for Citizenship: 12 May 2021 Invitation for Test and Interview received on 15 June 2021 for 15 July 2021 Rescheduled myself to 25 June 2021 Approved 25 June 2021 Same day - received my official letter by mail a few days after Awaiting invite from Moreton Bay Council Also waiting in Moreton Bay. Hopefully we hear from them soon. We've been waiting since late Feb 2021, still within their wait times though. Congratulations! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
galisuman Posted July 12, 2021 Share Posted July 12, 2021 1 hour ago, Nora said: Also waiting in Moreton Bay. Hopefully we hear from them soon. We've been waiting since late Feb 2021, still within their wait times though. Congratulations! Congrats I have been waiting since December 2020 with no updates 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MNB Posted July 12, 2021 Share Posted July 12, 2021 Finally OZ ! Had a VC today. Test held on 30 Jan 2021, approved on 30th March. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ding Posted July 12, 2021 Share Posted July 12, 2021 I have a question, during the time between test and approval, what kind of checking is on-going? National security, integrity checking? I've seen bunch of guys got approval on the same day of test, but someone have to wait for 1-2 month to get approval. Don't know what's the difference behind the scene. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phoenix2135 Posted July 12, 2021 Share Posted July 12, 2021 Hi All, Below is my timeline. Applied: 26/08/2020 Invitation: 25/06/2021 to take test 06/08/2021 Test Re-scheduled to 30/06/2021 Approved: 30/06/201 Invitation for Ceremony: 12/07/2021( just in 12 days) Date of Ceremony: 04/08/2021 (face to face but no guests allowed). Council: Greater Dandenong / Victoria. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XoXo11 Posted July 12, 2021 Share Posted July 12, 2021 Hi Guys Applying for citizenship on my own next month ! Can someone please advise the process , been reading on the website and seems like overseas pci is required can I start filling the application online in advance And even apply for overseas oci or aus poloce clearance now ? any tips and advice will be appreciated on this matter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sub7er Posted July 12, 2021 Share Posted July 12, 2021 Hi Amy, i saw your msg on the citizenship forum, can i ask if you applied to Brisbane regional office? how did you get through with a date for the test within a month of application. Did you apply in May 2021 or was it May 2020? My daughter applied early June 2021 and still have not received anything? Do you think she should give them a call and ask? look forward to hearing from you. Thanks in advance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnkitC Posted July 12, 2021 Share Posted July 12, 2021 (edited) Hi Everyone, Thought I would share my timeline after my application was approved today. Citizenship applied - 08 June 2021 Test Invite received - 07 July 2021 for 05 August 2021. Rescheduled Test to 12 July 2021 Test Passed and Application approved in immi account straight after - 12 July 2021 Current location - Brisbane Nationality - New Zealand Now awaiting formal approval letter and ceremony. Edited July 12, 2021 by AnkitC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
galisuman Posted July 12, 2021 Share Posted July 12, 2021 11 minutes ago, AnkitC said: Hi Everyone, Thought I would share my timeline after my application was approved today. Citizenship applied - 08 June 2021 Test Invite received - 07 July 2021 for 05 August 2021. Rescheduled Test to 12 July 2021 Test Passed and Application approved in immi account straight after - 12 July 2021 Current location - Brisbane Nationality - New Zealand Now awaiting formal approval letter and ceremony. There are no formal approval letter, its just in you immi messages, current waiting time in Brisbane is more than 12months for ceremony, unfortunately as everything immigration works at their own pace. I suggest keep checking your post box as usually you will get a letter 30 days before the ceremony. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
galisuman Posted July 12, 2021 Share Posted July 12, 2021 (edited) On 01/07/2021 at 19:09, Chennaiguy said: I was told by DHA that virtual ceremonies have stopped in QLD as of now. Having said that, I have seen people(from QLD) in other forums requesting virtual ceremonies in different states and got their ceremony done. The key is you need to prove (with evidence) why you wanna "rush" with your ceremony??! Few stated their job demands or others need to access HECS, etc.. This one is from another forum: You can try your luck.. Universal Email IDs virtual.ceremony@homeaffairs.gov.au virtual.citz.ceremony@homeaffairs.gov.au State Specific Email IDs ceremony.act@homeaffairs.gov.au ceremony.nsw@homeaffairs.gov.au ceremony.qld@homeaffairs.gov.au perth.citizenship@homeaffairs.gov.au sydney.citizenship@homeaffairs.gov.au virtual.ceremony.act@homeaffairs.gov.au virtual.ceremony.nsw@homeaffairs.gov.au virtual.ceremony.qld@homeaffairs.gov.au virtual.ceremony.vic@homeaffairs.gov.au Hi Mate called the citizenship number today as my approval is sitting for 7months with no ceremony in site and the lady told me to wait a little longer, apparently current waiting time is more than 12 months due to COVID-19 and there are no virtual ceremonies getting conducted in Brisbane council as the team who does that are severely understaffed and cannot accommodate any more applications for this year, over all all Brisbane applicants are mightily screwed Edited July 12, 2021 by galisuman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randall Posted July 12, 2021 Share Posted July 12, 2021 (edited) 3 hours ago, Ding said: I have a question, during the time between test and approval, what kind of checking is on-going? National security, integrity checking? I've seen bunch of guys got approval on the same day of test, but someone have to wait for 1-2 month to get approval. Don't know what's the difference behind the scene. Yeap. That’s it. ID and Security checks. For some countries it’s quicker to do that, for other a bit slower. Plus, whether you did your test at Home Affairs or Centrelink also makes a difference; the latter takes up to 8 weeks. Edited July 12, 2021 by Randall Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptainR Posted July 12, 2021 Share Posted July 12, 2021 2 minutes ago, Randall said: Yeap. That’s it. ID and Security checks. For some countries it’s quicker to do that, for other a bit slower. Plus, whether you did your test at Home Affairs or Centrelink also makes a difference; the latter takes up to 8 weeks. I'm one of those 'centrelink' tested people, had my test not the 3rd June and still not approved, hopefully it'll be sorted at the 8 week mark. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randall Posted July 12, 2021 Share Posted July 12, 2021 5 minutes ago, CaptainR said: I'm one of those 'centrelink' tested people, had my test not the 3rd June and still not approved, hopefully it'll be sorted at the 8 week mark. Me too. I had to wait 7 weeks, my partner waited 8 weeks. @Chelsearoxanna Have you done your ceremony yet? I think you had a date for when the lockdown happened, no? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amy.K Posted July 12, 2021 Share Posted July 12, 2021 16 hours ago, sub7er said: Hi Amy, i saw your msg on the citizenship forum, can i ask if you applied to Brisbane regional office? how did you get through with a date for the test within a month of application. Did you apply in May 2021 or was it May 2020? My daughter applied early June 2021 and still have not received anything? Do you think she should give them a call and ask? look forward to hearing from you. Thanks in advance I applied in May 2021 and heard back for an interview/test just under 5 weeks, I think it just depends how long you have been in Australia for and how much have you travelled overseas. I think your daughter is still within her time frame, no harm in calling them but I reckon they will ask to wait. from what I have gathered from this forum that its case by case, they seem to give priority to people who have been in Australia for a quite a while. I could be wrong though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Athens07 Posted July 13, 2021 Share Posted July 13, 2021 On 08/06/2021 at 19:26, Ding said: Have you contacted CO, and request FOI to get clear information about it? What we have to write in the form ? Thank you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chennaiguy Posted July 13, 2021 Share Posted July 13, 2021 18 hours ago, galisuman said: Hi Mate called the citizenship number today as my approval is sitting for 7months with no ceremony in site and the lady told me to wait a little longer, apparently current waiting time is more than 12 months due to COVID-19 and there are no virtual ceremonies getting conducted in Brisbane council as the team who does that are severely understaffed and cannot accommodate any more applications for this year, over all all Brisbane applicants are mightily screwed Sorry to hear that. I wish they speed up the process or conduct some 'Mega' ceremonies to clear the backlogs. I am hoping to get my ceremony invite for 4/Aug (fingers crossed) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jul Posted July 13, 2021 Share Posted July 13, 2021 Hi experts, Going to apply for citizenship next week and just found this group. Wondering if anyone please confirm document list. Myself: * form 1195 * Passport copy * Photo (back & front) * birth certificate. * Police clearance (both AU & overseas) Kid: * form 1195 * Passport copy * Photo (back & front) * birth certificate. Am I missing anything? Thanks in advance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rammygirl Posted July 13, 2021 Share Posted July 13, 2021 (edited) 2 hours ago, Jul said: Hi experts, Going to apply for citizenship next week and just found this group. Wondering if anyone please confirm document list. Myself: * form 1195 * Passport copy * Photo (back & front) * birth certificate. * Police clearance (both AU & overseas) Kid: * form 1195 * Passport copy * Photo (back & front) * birth certificate. Am I missing anything? Thanks in advance Yes you will need other id documents. There is a choice for some when you start filling in the form and a checklist will appear at the end. Nothing you shouldn’t have though. You do not need an Aus police check as they do that for you. You may not need an overseas one either depending on circumstances. Edited July 13, 2021 by rammygirl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mukesh665544 Posted July 13, 2021 Share Posted July 13, 2021 All done and dusted [emoji106]Applied 21st AprilTest 9 JuneApproved 23 JuneCeremony 13 JulyTotal process took 83 Days Quicker than my expectations. City of Charls Sturt ,Adelaide Thanks everyone [emoji120] 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jul Posted July 13, 2021 Share Posted July 13, 2021 2 hours ago, rammygirl said: Yes you will need other id documents. There is a choice for some when you start filling in the form and a checklist will appear at the end. Nothing you shouldn’t have though. You do not need an Aus police check as they do that for you. You may not need an overseas one either depending on circumstances. Thanks a lot. Another query is, how test date can be rescheduled? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rammygirl Posted July 13, 2021 Share Posted July 13, 2021 5 minutes ago, Jul said: Thanks a lot. Another query is, how test date can be rescheduled? When you get it the information will tell you how to access and change it on line. It will depend where you are. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slav Posted July 13, 2021 Share Posted July 13, 2021 On 09/07/2021 at 13:14, Chennaiguy said: Nope. When was your application approved?? Back on January 2021. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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