The Processing Time for Australian Citizenship Applications

Applying for Australian citizenship is the significant time in migrants’ journeys who want to make Australia their permanent home. However, one of the most common concerns among such applicants pertains to how long it will take. If you understand the timelines and can watch out for what you expect, that should ease any anxiety associated with the process. The following blog discusses the various variables that may impact how long it takes to have an Australian citizenship application processed, as well as the various options available to an applicant in case of a delay and one such option is an AAT Appeal.

The Australian Citizenship Application Process

Before discussing the various processing times, it’s essential to have a review of the major phases of the Australian citizenship application process:

1.  Eligibility Check: First and foremost, the applicant has to check whether they meet the eligibility criteria in the form of residency, English proficiency, good character, and knowledge about Australia.

2.  Lodging of the Application: The application is lodged online using the website of the Department of Home Affairs. One is obliged to support the application with identification documents regarding their personality and residence, amongst others.

3. Australian Citizenship Test: Eligible applicants are invited to take the Australian Citizenship Test after the initial processing of the application to assess how much they understand the values, history, and government of Australia.

4. Approval: The application is considered approved once the test is passed and all requirements are met.

5. Ceremony: Successful Applicants attend a Citizenship Ceremony where they pledge their commitment to Australia and get officially listed as citizens.

Factors Affecting Processing Time

Note that there is a great difference in the time it takes to process an application for Australian Citizenship:

1. Application Completeness: Applications that are incomplete or lack documents may take a much longer time to be processed. Therefore, it is essential to upload all required documents when the application is made online.

2. Demand: Demand also causes the variation in processing time. During high demand-for instance, when there are changes to immigration policy or some international event-the time one waits is expected to be even longer.

3. Provision for Security and Background Checks: Thorough security and background checks are conducted on all applicants. This generally takes a little longer for applicants from certain countries or those with complex histories.

4. Citizenship Test and Interview: Delays in scheduling the citizenship test or interview will further extend the processing time. The availability of appointments varies by location.

5. Policy or Legislative Change: Changes in immigration or citizenship policies can affect the trend in processing times. It is, therefore, significant to be duly updated with any news from the Department of Home Affairs.

Current Processing Times

Australian Citizenship Applications have varying times for processing. Most fall between 12 to 24 months from the date of application to the actual ceremony of citizenship. Others will be processed more quickly, and some could take longer depending on the factors above.

What to Do If Your Application is Delayed

Application processing delays for citizenship are not unheard of. If your citizenship has taken too long in process, there are steps that you could take:

1. Check Application Status: Check online through his or her ImmiAccount portal for the status of one’s application. The portal carries information and updates on the progress of your application.

2. Department of Home Affairs: The Department of Home Affairs may also be contacted if there is a need to ascertain why an application takes more than the average processing time. You are encouraged to have your application reference number ready whenever you make an inquiry.

3. Consider an AAT Appeal: If your application is refused, you can appeal to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal-a government-funded public service-for review of the decision. An AAT Appeal is the avenue to get an administrative review of a certain type of decision, sometimes leading to a different outcome. However, an AAT Appeal is usually quite a long and complicated procedure; therefore, seeking legal advice would be much helpful.

Knowing the AAT Appeal Process

The AAT Appeal process involves the following stages:

1.     Lodging the Appeal: You will be required to lodge your appeal with the AAT within a specified time after receiving the refusal decision. Such an appeal has to be accompanied by a detailed explanation of why one thinks that the decision arrived at was wrong.

2. Hearing: The AAT would list a hearing, and one would have an opportunity to present a case. One is also permitted to provide additional evidence in support of the appeal.

3. Decision: Once having regard to the evidence presented, the AAT makes its decision. The AAT may affirm the decision being reviewed; set it aside or remit the case to be reconsidered by the Department of Home Affairs.

It is worth noting that an AAT Appeal gives a second chance, but it does not promise the best outcome. Proper preparation, together with consultation with an immigration lawyer, will provide increased chances of success.

Conclusion

The processing time of Australian Citizenship Applications is highly unpredictable in terms of success rates. There can be many factors that might affect how much time one will spend over the process. Though a rough estimate of 12 to 24 months could be sufficient for most applicants, delays are not ruled out. A deeper understanding of the process and your options if you face delays, including possibly an AAT Appeal, may help you on your journey of getting citizenship in Australia more smoothly.