Robin’s Emigrating Posted February 14, 2021 Share Posted February 14, 2021 Anyone have any updates on the latest citizenship by descent timelines? We applied for ours for our daughters around 2 months ago (we’re based in the UK) but no response yet. Have heard it can take around 3 months, and its within the 75% timeline of 5 months on the website, however am hoping we can get it within the next months or two or it will start causing us a headache with our move plans. Anything anyone can share about recent experiences would be really appreciated. Alternatively, if you think we could still migrate prior to the citizenships arrival, then let me know how this would work. Note that they both have UK passports, just waiting on the Aussie citizenships and passports Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Zorzi Posted February 18, 2021 Share Posted February 18, 2021 From experience, two months without any communication from them is not a long time. If it is urgent, you can contact the Australian High Commission in London and explain the urgency, they are very responsive. The alternative can be for your daughters to enter on a visitor visa and wait for their Australian citizenship onshore. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin’s Emigrating Posted February 18, 2021 Author Share Posted February 18, 2021 Thanks Laura. I assume that our daughters would still be able to enter Australia, even with the current travel restrictions and using their British passports, on the grounds that they're dependents of an Australian Citizen (my wife) and an Australian Permanent Resident (myself)? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Zorzi Posted February 18, 2021 Share Posted February 18, 2021 Yes, they can use their British passports, but they also need a visa & travel exemption if their Australian citizenship is not approved before departing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newjez Posted February 18, 2021 Share Posted February 18, 2021 51 minutes ago, Laura Zorzi said: Yes, they can use their British passports, but they also need a visa & travel exemption if their Australian citizenship is not approved before departing. If their Australian citizenship is approved before departing, they won't be able to use their British passports, as an Australian citizen can't get a visa to enter Australia. I've been here before. They would need to get their Australian passport. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin’s Emigrating Posted February 18, 2021 Author Share Posted February 18, 2021 Thanks. Here's another quick question...what happens is their citizenship is approved but we haven't had enough time to get their Passports? Could they travel on their British passports and show some type of certification of their citizenship, or would we have to wait until their passport has arrived? My understanding from reading the government website is that visas cannot be issued to Australian citizens for use in overseas passports. As such am wondering if we could show some type of citizenship proof, or would have to rush getting a passport through. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Zorzi Posted February 18, 2021 Share Posted February 18, 2021 For dual citizens without their Australian passport, there is the option of the ADV Australian Declaratory visa (not really a visa though!) - Form 931. It allows dual citizens to have their Australian citizenship status linked to their foreign passport in some circumstances: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/form-listing/forms/931.pdf 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin’s Emigrating Posted February 18, 2021 Author Share Posted February 18, 2021 That's super helpful. Thank you! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Zorzi Posted February 19, 2021 Share Posted February 19, 2021 14 hours ago, newjez said: If their Australian citizenship is approved before departing, they won't be able to use their British passports, as an Australian citizen can't get a visa to enter Australia. I've been here before. They would need to get their Australian passport. " they also need a visa & travel exemption if their Australian citizenship IS NOT approved before departing. " Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AliG Posted February 19, 2021 Share Posted February 19, 2021 On 14/02/2021 at 23:51, Robin’s Emigrating said: Anyone have any updates on the latest citizenship by descent timelines? We applied for ours for our daughters around 2 months ago (we’re based in the UK) but no response yet. Have heard it can take around 3 months, and its within the 75% timeline of 5 months on the website, however am hoping we can get it within the next months or two or it will start causing us a headache with our move plans. Anything anyone can share about recent experiences would be really appreciated. Alternatively, if you think we could still migrate prior to the citizenships arrival, then let me know how this would work. Note that they both have UK passports, just waiting on the Aussie citizenships and passports Apologies if this is off topic (is that allowed?) but are you doing kids citizenship application separate from a partner/spouse 309 application? This is my current dilemma. My wife is Australian and Im British. We live in UK and have 2 x UK born kids. I'm wondering whether to do a single Aus visa application covering both me and kids, or whether to do seperately (either in parallel or kids first then me). I suspect there might be a clear winner and I'd love to know what it is! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin’s Emigrating Posted February 19, 2021 Author Share Posted February 19, 2021 Yes that correct. While you can’t do a 309 visa for your kids (that’s for spouses only), you can technically do a visa application for them instead of applying for citizenship. I can’t remember the number for the visa, but it’s out there. However there’s little point in doing so as they’ve a direct claim to citizenship from your wife, so easier to apply directly for citizenship and then an Australian passport. Typically the 309 will take longer than the citizenship anyway. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AliG Posted February 19, 2021 Share Posted February 19, 2021 1 hour ago, Robin’s Emigrating said: Yes that correct. While you can’t do a 309 visa for your kids (that’s for spouses only), you can technically do a visa application for them instead of applying for citizenship. I can’t remember the number for the visa, but it’s out there. However there’s little point in doing so as they’ve a direct claim to citizenship from your wife, so easier to apply directly for citizenship and then an Australian passport. Typically the 309 will take longer than the citizenship anyway. Thanks - Im guessing its best to get the kids citizenship first, and then I apply - rather than running the applications in parallel which could get messy when I have to declare dependants and their citizenship.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Zorzi Posted February 19, 2021 Share Posted February 19, 2021 Even if the 309 is based on your de facto/spouse relationship, you can add your kids as secondary applicants. However, if you were an Australian citizen at the time of their birth, it is cheaper and easier to apply for their Australian citizenship by descent instead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin’s Emigrating Posted February 19, 2021 Author Share Posted February 19, 2021 @AliGWe had the same concern but ended up submitting both in parallel (with the kids citizenship listed as ‘other’ in my 309/100 application). Visa was approved so didn’t seem to cause any issues. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krolley Posted March 6, 2021 Share Posted March 6, 2021 Hi @Robin’s Emigrating, did you get any news on your kids citizenship as yet? We’re in the same boat, we applied 1st of December ‘20 and are still waiting to hear anything almost 3.5 months later. Online the status is still only “received”. Reading on this forum some people got them in a week! (pre-COVID though). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin’s Emigrating Posted March 6, 2021 Author Share Posted March 6, 2021 Hey @krolley. We’re in the same boat and are starting to get concerned as our flights are booked for May 3rd. How long do you have before flying? Any folks have thoughts about whether we should apply for a visa using their British citizenship now in case their Oz citizenship doesn’t arrive in time? My understanding is that if their Oz citizenship is granted, we can no longer apply for a visa so would have to eother wait for their Oz passport or try and get their citizenship linked to their British passports using an ADV Declaratory 931 visa, as mentioned by @Laura Zorzi above. Any thoughts welcome! Perhaps we should also consider sending a letter to the embassy? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin’s Emigrating Posted March 17, 2021 Author Share Posted March 17, 2021 Hey All - We've still not received the kids citizenships. Does anyone what would happen if we applied for a visa and an exemption using their British passports, and the Australia citizenship was then approved after the visa was issues, but before we flew? Would we still be able to use the visa to enter the country, or would we have to then wait for their passport to arrive (or seek an ADV)? We fly on May 3rd and I'm considering just getting the visas and exemptions now, particularly if they would remain valid after issuing of the citizenship as we could then be sure they've a path into the country on the date of our flights. Also, if anyone knows what type of visa the kids would need, it would be greatly appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulhand Posted March 17, 2021 Share Posted March 17, 2021 3 hours ago, Robin’s Emigrating said: Hey All - We've still not received the kids citizenships. Does anyone what would happen if we applied for a visa and an exemption using their British passports, and the Australia citizenship was then approved after the visa was issues, but before we flew? Would we still be able to use the visa to enter the country, or would we have to then wait for their passport to arrive (or seek an ADV)? We fly on May 3rd and I'm considering just getting the visas and exemptions now, particularly if they would remain valid after issuing of the citizenship as we could then be sure they've a path into the country on the date of our flights. Also, if anyone knows what type of visa the kids would need, it would be greatly appreciated. An Australian citizen cannot hold a visa. However, an Australian citizen cannot be refused entry to Australia, so the issue is more likely getting the airline to uplift you. An ADV is an option as is an ‘undocumented uplift’ as detailed here: https://uk.embassy.gov.au/lhlh/PassportsWelcomePage.html. The AHC is, now, offering a limited number of emergency appointments. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin’s Emigrating Posted March 17, 2021 Author Share Posted March 17, 2021 Thanks @paulhand. That’s useful. I guess the question that comes to mind is at what point we should apply for the visa if we’ve still not heard anything about the citizenship? I don’t know the name of the visa, how long it takes or how much it costs, but I’ve we’ve still not heard about the citizenship soon then I’m thinking we should apply for the visa - otherwise we could find ourselves with neither citizenship or visa come the day of our flight. I assume we’ll also have to apply for an exemption if they’re using the visa route. Not sure how long that takes, but would also need to factor that in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DOLmayfromLK Posted March 29, 2021 Share Posted March 29, 2021 Hi All , im also in the same boat, applied for citizenship by decent for my child on last December, its still in recieved state. When we contacted the embasy here they pointed that the Visa is processed in Australia.. does anyone know the contact email in australia who is processing the visa i ve applied my 309 before the child is born , now i got the 309 granted but still the child visa is pending Can we link him to the 309 , he was born while uts processing .. Any input on this will be very help full , thanks in advance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bowbow Posted March 29, 2021 Share Posted March 29, 2021 If it's helpful as an (anecdotal) indication of timelines - our daughter's citizenship by descent application was approved today, having been submitted on 4 January. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin’s Emigrating Posted March 29, 2021 Author Share Posted March 29, 2021 Congrats @bowbow. We submitted ours in early December so fingers crossed they'll get to it soon too. We fly in about a month, so if we don't hear anything within about 10 days or so we'll probably apply for a visa using their British passports too as a backup. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin’s Emigrating Posted March 29, 2021 Author Share Posted March 29, 2021 On a related note, did any of you get a message from the embassy in the lead up to approving your application, asking that you ensure all of the right documentation is uploaded? If so, how long before they approved did you receive it? we received one a few days ago so hoping that means it will get approved shortly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bowbow Posted March 29, 2021 Share Posted March 29, 2021 Hi Robin, yes we received that email on Friday 19th, so a bit over a week before the application itself was approved. Good luck. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin’s Emigrating Posted April 8, 2021 Author Share Posted April 8, 2021 Does anybody know what visa we would apply for if we're still not received our citizenship? Would this be a 600 Family Stream visa? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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