dual citizen confusion - help needed!!

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Permalink Reply by Paul Johnson on February 18, 2010 at 3:20pm

I would have thought that if you were born there than you are a citizen, no matter what. I take it you have an Aussie birth certificate?

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Permalink Reply by Sera Hayden Hill on February 18, 2010 at 3:28pm

Yes I have an Australian birth certificate but I am re-newing my passport and they require you to have an interview to assess if you're still a citizen and on alot of websites it says things like you may have involuntarily given up your citizenship by living and working in another country. So I'm a bit concerned! I've lived in the UK for most of my life so I have worked, schooled and everything here!

Paul Johnson said:

I would have thought that if you were born there than you are a citizen, no matter what. I take it you have an Aussie birth certificate?

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Permalink Reply by Paul Johnson on February 18, 2010 at 3:36pm

Hmm, I see your point. I would have thought speaking to someone at the AHC would be your best bet to get clarification.

Sera Hayden Hill said:

Yes I have an Australian birth certificate but I am re-newing my passport and they require you to have an interview to assess if you're still a citizen and on alot of websites it says things like you may have involuntarily given up your citizenship by living and working in another country. So I'm a bit concerned! I've lived in the UK for most of my life so I have worked, schooled and everything here!

Paul Johnson said:

I would have thought that if you were born there than you are a citizen, no matter what. I take it you have an Aussie birth certificate?

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Permalink Reply by Sera Hayden Hill on February 18, 2010 at 4:53pm

I have tried but they can't say without looking into it - I guess I just need to take a day off work and go down there! Thanks!

Paul Johnson said:

Hmm, I see your point. I would have thought speaking to someone at the AHC would be your best bet to get clarification.

Sera Hayden Hill said:

Yes I have an Australian birth certificate but I am re-newing my passport and they require you to have an interview to assess if you're still a citizen and on alot of websites it says things like you may have involuntarily given up your citizenship by living and working in another country. So I'm a bit concerned! I've lived in the UK for most of my life so I have worked, schooled and everything here!

Paul Johnson said:

I would have thought that if you were born there than you are a citizen, no matter what. I take it you have an Aussie birth certificate?

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Permalink Reply by Michael J Kelly on February 18, 2010 at 10:03pm

If you were born in Australia pre 1984 you are an Australian citizen, all you need to do is go to Australia house with the passport form, your birth cirtificate and the cash. I know this as I took my sister, she was born in Adelaide, our parents are both British. She only spent the first 3 months of her life in Oz, they had a quick glance at her birth certificate and said the passport will be in the post! Made me sick it was so easy! Not so for me!

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Permalink Reply by Cam on February 18, 2010 at 11:34pm

Hi Sera,

I think you're citizenship should be fine, have you gone through the citizenship wizard on the AE website? The only thing will be when you get to Australia & are applying for Medicare you'll need to demonstrate that you are returning to Australia with the intention of 'residing permanently', which basically means opening a bank account, getting a lease & bills, or sale of a UK house, driving licence, etc. I found I got a better answer by writing a really specific email to their 'ask a question' part of the website, whereas when I spoke to people at the embassy they were a bit wishy-washy. I'm sure you literally could just apply for your passport & send through your stuff. I've never had to go to the embassy for my passport & I've got citizenship by descent, & have lived most of my life in the UK. Just beware the photos, they are much stricter than the UK!!

Re: your husband we got mine a spouse visa which came through really quickly & he got fast-tracked from temporary to permanent as we had joint record of things, ie bills, bank accounts, lease agreements, statements from friends about our relationship, so start collecting these now & it will make it much easier for you. Also, start saving as it's way more expensive here than in London, great place, though!!

Good luck

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Permalink Reply by Sera Hayden Hill on February 19, 2010 at 9:39am

thanks for the advice guys - cam some great tips there, we're only heading to sydney as my parents loved it there - granted they lived there nearly 30 years ago so alot must have changed!! We're looking at suburbs of the city - there's alot to choose from!

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Permalink Reply by Michael J Kelly on February 19, 2010 at 8:58pm

Yes Sydney will have changed a lot in this time! My mother remembers Adelaide as it was in the late 60s and still imagines its the same! When you go to Australia house to get your passport you get to use the nice entrance, the one for Oz citizens. A uniformed consierge opens the door for you, carpets and open plan desk areas, everyone is very pleasant. Unlike the other entrance that resembles a 1970s dole office!
The person that dealt with my sisters passport aplicaton was very nice, no questions just a quick glance at her birth cirtificate, then it was handed back to her. Good luck.

Sera Hayden Hill said:

thanks for the advice guys - cam some great tips there, we're only heading to sydney as my parents loved it there - granted they lived there nearly 30 years ago so alot must have changed!! We're looking at suburbs of the city - there's alot to choose from!

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Permalink Reply by Stephen Storey on February 27, 2010 at 8:34am

Hi,

I was born to two British parents in Adelaide, pre 1984. I applied to Oz house using my Australian birth certificate and they duly sent me a passport within 3 weeks. That was 8 years ago. I still travel back and forth into Oz on it, with no problems. I intend to take my partner into Australia on it to on a de-facto or spouse visa and don't expect any problems.

I also hold a UK passport and it poses no problems or issues.

I believe that you need to apply for an Australian passport through Oz house and hey presto........... it should all be fine.

Good luck, and welcome home when you get there.

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