Aus Citizenship/Passport -> Overseas Travel

SydOzber on 29/07/2016 - 11:47

Hi Friends,

I have attended my citizenship ceremony on 13/07 and was given a commemorative citizenship certificate(without any unique number on it), in place of an Original certificate. Along with the certificate, department has issued a letter that we need to visit the passport office with the commemorative citizenship certificate for a limited validity passport for any “urgent” overseas travel.

This is due to the fact that there was no minister for immigration or border protection during that period(as the government wasn’t formed by then post 02/07 elections).

My situation:
Travel: Have tickets booked to Bali – flying out on 21/08
Overseas Passport: Current overseas passport expires on 11/09.(Bali Visa on Arrival requires passport which is valid for at least 6 months)
Aus passport: Can’t apply for a passport until I receive the Aus Citizenship certificate– when called up the immigration help desk, they reckon it might take 4-5 weeks from now.

I visited the passport office, and they advised me that “urgent” travel means any overseas travel in the next 3-4 days.

My question:
1) Has anyone got the Limited validity/temporary passport issued ? If yes, it would be helpful if you can share your experiences.
2) What would be the situation if I receive a certificate on 15/08 and even if I apply for a full passport, it takes up to 10 business days.. so I can’t get it before my travel date i.e. 21/08

Travel

Comments

  • SnoozeAndLose on 29/07/2016 - 11:58

    if I were you under this case you should have either defer your ceremony and apply for a oversea passport prior.

    There is a urgent option take 2 business days and pick up from the immigration office if you needed it urgently but it cost $100 more(don't remember the exact amount), however you need to get the picture and the application document ready.

    • SydOzber on 29/07/2016 - 13:20

      thanks
      but i didn't knew they were not issuing certificates till i attended

  • retiredfeline on 29/07/2016 - 12:00

    Can you renew your previous passport in time?

    • SydOzber on 29/07/2016 - 13:21
      +1

      Can't renew my old passport as I am an Australian citizen now
      and my old nationality doesn't support dual citizenship.

      • leiiv on 29/07/2016 - 14:11

        They may not know of it yet, so you can try your chances..

  • zappy32 on 29/07/2016 - 13:16
    +1

    Surely you can renew your other passport in a month? Australian passports are expensive and a hassle to apply for the first time so wait until you have everything and not in a hurry to get it.

  • dcuksuop on 29/07/2016 - 15:18
    +2

    Even if OP renews his other passport, he's supposed to leave and enter Australia with an Australian passport.

  • airzone on 29/07/2016 - 18:04
    +2

    You'll probably find that your resident return visa has been revoked in light of you being a citizen, not a PR. Do not attempt to renew and use your old passport.

    My wife is in the same boat as you now, although our trip is planned for October. But waiting for the citizenship paper, then applying for a passport, then updating the flight details (don't forget because they typically record nationality on the ticket) doesn't leave a lot of time. Furthermore, she is getting conflicting information from the Dept of Immigration and passport office.

    • SydOzber on 30/07/2016 - 22:15

      Thanks for that

  • Franconian on 29/07/2016 - 18:06
    +2

    wkapri is correct. As soon as you became an Australian citizen (by attending the ceremony) your current visa was cancelled. You must travel from and to Australia on your Australian passport. If you cannot get one in time you cannot travel, i. e. immigration's will not let you leave the country.

    • SydOzber on 30/07/2016 - 22:17

      I'll search on VEVO to see the current status

  • nikhi24 on 30/07/2016 - 09:35

    Australia is strange the way they operate at times. Procedures have to be followed strictly and then they throw in a strange curve ball to suit them that leaves people in limbo and not all information offered by departments is correct. Other than that its great :)

    • SydOzber on 30/07/2016 - 22:16

      Very true

  • nikhi24 on 30/07/2016 - 09:40

    When I applied for citizenship I applied one day early so it took them 4 months to return my online application with all my information sent back by post but said I could re apply again within 3 months for free and best to do it online…..but you cant do it online without submitting payment first lol.

  • Gershom on 30/07/2016 - 09:52
    -6

    Postpone the travel. Why on earth would you book travel anyway when you knew you had impending passport issues to resolve? Are you special?

    • SydOzber on 30/07/2016 - 22:18

      I am no special.
      I booked my tickets earlier than my citizenship ceremony, never expected this would happen.

  • smilearchitect on 30/07/2016 - 10:46
    +1

    Hi

    I have done it .
    My citizenship ceremony was on 26 Jan , I have got a witness who knows me to sign for it , took 2 days for that on passport application form and after that applied for passport , Australian post has its own dramas and it wants it a certain way and I applied for a faster passport and paid extra I got it the day before I travelled collected it from perth city instead of them mailing me because it would cut travel …
    I specifically asked Aus post lad to write a note that it's an urgent passport and I need to collect it …
    Doing it from gpo in city centre , having witness ready to sign for you , having exact proportion of photo and collecting it again from city centre and documents attested the right way am certain you can get a new Aussie passport in 48 hrs …

    • SydOzber on 30/07/2016 - 22:19

      Something good to hear finally

  • simmos on 30/07/2016 - 10:52

    You cannot re-enter Australia on any foreign passport once you obtain Australian citizenship. They will not issue you an ETA (electronic travel authority) or Visa which is needed to fly back if you are a citizen. This is regardless of dual nationality. Leaving on a foreign passport may indeed be possible, but it is your return that you need to worry about. If you want to prove it, make an online ETA application and you will be flagged in small red fonts "You cannot apply for this class of ETA because you are an Australian Citizen".

    I think you need to go see your MP. DIMEA is a mess.

    • SydOzber on 30/07/2016 - 22:20

      Need to speed up on this from next week

  • SydOzber on 10/08/2016 - 15:08

    Further to my post,I have received my citizenship certificate yesterday - 09/08 and submitted my passport application in Sydney Passport office today morning.
    My application was submitted as an ordinary application and the expected collection date is 24-Aug on the receipt.
    However, the staff there advised me that it wouldn't take that long and I should be receiving it by 19-Aug, right in time for my travel.

    I was asked to pay the priority processing fee of $127 if I need it in 2 business days, and staff has advised me to submit a refund request, which may or may not go through.

    I have just tracked the progress online and its 40% completed and I still have an option to pay priority processing fee. Any suggestions/experiences on the average time taken for Aus passport.

    • ols108 on 10/08/2016 - 22:25

      Are you seriously saying you haven't already paid for the priority processing?
      and you only put the application in yesterday? and you're expecting it by next Friday?

      • SydOzber on 10/08/2016 - 23:22

        yes, considering I still have option to pay for priority for the next 2 days

  • SydOzber on 13/08/2016 - 13:27

    Hi Friends, I paid priority processing fee and finally got my passport, in time for my travel to Bali.
    I am planning to submit a Refund request(for priority processing fee) to Passport office, as it wasn't my mistake that the certificate was not issued in time.

  • great-price on 21/05/2019 - 21:42

    My wife became an Australian citizen today. No citizenship certificates were issued. It really does create a mess. Can't apply for an Australian passport without the certificate and can't travel on foreign passport. Some sort of fix needs to be implemented so this doesn't happen every time their is an election.

    • Aus-J on 30/11/2019 - 23:53

      I will be in the same situation very soon. Did your wife obtain a passport in time for her travel? How long did it take her to receive the official certificate?

      • Metallermark on 24/01/2020 - 00:31

        Hi Aus-J, how come you will be in the same situation very soon? Is there another election or are they issuing commemorative certificates again? Reason I as is my ceremony is in a few weeks time (feb 2020), cheers.

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