Other Visas
Australian Citizenship
The Good news!
On 20 April 2017, the Australian Government announced the strengthening of requirements for Australian Citizenship. In part, this included changing the English language level and a minimum of four-year permanent residence requirement immediately prior to the Citizenship Application.
However, as the Minister did not meet a Senate deadline the Bill did not proceed.
On 18 October 2017, the Government proposed amendments to the legislation so that Applications lodged on and after 1 July 2018 will be assessed against the new criteria, subject to the passage of legislation through the Australian Parliament.
This means that if you lodge your Citizenship Application prior to the 1 July 2018 your application will be assessed against the existing eligibility criteria for Australian citizenship. 😊
Australian Citizenship Summary:
There are several ways to apply for Australian Citizenship and the application process will vary depending upon your visa and residency history.
To become an Australian Citizen, you need to meet certain requirements.
For most applicants these require that you:
- are a permanent resident at time of application and time of decision
- meet the residence requirements
- are of good character
- have a basic knowledge of the English language
- intend to reside or maintain a close and continuing association with Australia
- have an adequate knowledge of the responsibilities and privileges of Australian citizenship.
If you are 60 years of age or over you are not required to sit the citizenship test.
The general residence requirement is based on the amount of time you have lived in Australia.
At the moment, you must meet all the following:
- have lived in Australia on a valid Australian visa for four years immediately before applying
- must have been a permanent resident for the 12 months immediately before making an application and not have been absent from Australia for more than one year in total, during the four-year period, including no more than 90 days in the 12 months before applying.
This excellent article from SBS Work News explains the benefits of Australian Citizenship. http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2017/09/15/10-benefits-australian-citizenship
Contact the team at Aussie Visa Solutions and we will assist you become an Australian Citizen. Email us at: admin@aussievisasolutions.com or call (08) 9375 3295
Refugee & Humanitarian
Australia is one of 146 signatory countries to the United Nations 1951 Convention and/or 1967 Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees.
The Convention defines refugees as people who: are outside their country of nationality or their usual country of residence
- are unable or unwilling to return or to seek the protection of that country due to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion
- are not war criminals or people who have committed serious non-political crimes.
Australias Refugee and Humanitarian program consists of an offshore permanent Refugee and Humanitarian visas and also an onshore component comprising Protection and Temporary Protection Visas (PV). Julie has many years experience interviewing and assessing offshore applicants from West & East Africa and has also been part of DIACs Onshore Protection teams that processed PV applicants from a wide range of countries of origin, in Manus Island and a number of Australian Detention Centres.
Julie provides advice and information to Sponsors under the Refugee and Humanitarian program. This can include reviewing an applicants claims and advising of the need to make applicants claims specific to themselves rather than making general claims, and clearly stating their well founded fear of return to their country of origin and claims of substantial discrimination. She is unable to manage full applications under this Visa Class however can refer clients to other Agencies that are better resourced to assist Sponsors with Refugee Humanitarian applications.
The Australian government has many other visas and it is beyond the scope of this website to provide information about all Australian visas however if you contact us we will be able to assess your eligibility in more detail.
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Nelson Mandela.
