SonicBlue82

I had my photos done back in July and got my chiropractor (which is on the list) to complete the identity forms and sign my photos and then lodged my application online on 1 September

Cheers! I actually got my e-mail today for the citizenship test which is for next week

Thanks for the replies! Did you get your letters for the citizenship test by e-mail or by post?

Hi Guys, Not sure if there's already an existing citizenship 2015/2016 thread, so apologies if there is! I applied for my citizenship by conferral on 1 September online through ImmiAccount. I attached all required documents at the time, and immediately received an acknowledgement letter for my application. I believe the next step is for the department to contact me to let me know when to go to the immigration office to sit the test and provide the original documents. From what I've read on other forums, this usually occurs not long after the application has been lodged. I still haven't received an e-mail from the department though and it has been a week. Is there anyone who has applied for citizenship earlier this year that can provide some insight as to how long is usually takes for them to book me in for the citizenship test? Cheers

Really? So if a sponsoring employer makes you redundant they can get into trouble? I had no idea... Any idea what would happen? Are they fined? Or...

Thanks for your replies! Well I am on an RSMS 187 visa at the moment and I just need to get 1 year of PR under my belt to be eligible to apply for citizenship, as I've already been in Australia for 4 years and 9 months now. So my citizenship eligibility will come before completing 2 years of employment with my sponsoring employer (since the date that the visa was granted). Obviously once the citizenship is granted the visa will cease to exist and I can freely move on from my sponsoring employer. So I am hoping that if I apply for my citizenship in September my ceremony will be by Australia Day next year at the latest! If it's earlier than that, that's OK too

Hi Ladybug14, How long have to been in Australia? Do you plan on becoming a citizen? You will become eligible for citizenship after being in Australia for at least 4 years and at least 1 of the 4 years has been on PR visa. Using my situation as an example, I have been in Australia for 4 years and 9 months. Come September, I will have reached 1 year of PR on my RSMS 187 visa. I will then become eligible to apply for citizenship, which will probably occur by Australia Day next year. Once I become a citizen, any visa ceases to exist thus making any conditions and employer obligations non existent. So obtaining my citizenship after 1 year of PR will allow me to freely move on from my current employer. Not sure if any of this applies to your situation, but I hope this helps you understand how it all works? Another thing to consider... as previously mentioned in this thread, the 'rules' of the RSMS visa conditions are that you must make a 'genuine effort' to work for the sponsoring employer for at least 2 years from the date that the RSMS visa was granted. And we know that the Migration Act does not define 'genuine effort'. So the definition of 'genuine effort' is open to one's opinion and interpretation. That being said, DIBP is very unlikely to cancel a PR visa if you have worked for your sponsoring employer for at least 12 months. Maybe you and your employer have an agreement that the position you have been sponsored for is no longer available (if you catch my drift). Maybe your employer cannot keep you employed in that position any longer and therefore needs to end your employment. What kind of relationship do you have with your employer? Would they be happy for you to move on and leave on good terms? Going back to the genuine effort... if your employer ends the contract and your employment with the sponsoring employer has ended and it was initiated by the employer, that is no fault of your own and you have therefore made a 'genuine effort' to fulfill your obligations. Maybe this will give you something to work with Good luck!

Hello, I'll be applying for my citizenship in September once I'm eligible and I'm just curious if anyone on here has recently applied or gotten their citizenship and could advise on how long it took? My local council is the Unley City Council... it looks like they normally only have 2 citizenship ceremonies per year... Citizenship Day (17 September) and Australia Day. I'm guessing if I were to apply on 1 September I wouldn't make the September ceremony and would have to wait till Australia Day. Anyway if anyone has any experiences they would like to share that would be great