He was a good boy....
17 August 2006
15 August 2006
Signed, sealed and almost delivered...
I had my citizenship interview this morning and it went well. It took thirty minutes and at the end of that thirty minutes I got approved. I will have to get an official letter of approval which should come in the next few days. The next and final step is that I will need to attend a swearing in ceremony which is scheduled for the 17 September, which also happens to be Australian Citizenship Day. Once I attend that ceremony I'll get my official paperwork and then I can apply for my passport. As I have said before it has taken James and I a long eight years but it is finally with in sight and it has been so worth it....
Oh one thing, when I was asked to recite the rights and responsibilities for an Australian citizen I did fine except I forgot one responsibility. Which one is that you might ask???
Responsibility to
1)obey all the laws
That was probably a bad one for me to forget but the woman doing the interview promoted me by saying it's something we should all do in every country which then I remembered. Oh well no one's perfect.
Oh one thing, when I was asked to recite the rights and responsibilities for an Australian citizen I did fine except I forgot one responsibility. Which one is that you might ask???
Responsibility to
1)obey all the laws
That was probably a bad one for me to forget but the woman doing the interview promoted me by saying it's something we should all do in every country which then I remembered. Oh well no one's perfect.
14 August 2006
It's all happening...
Well, I called about my citizenship interview and I thought it would be in a month or so but I was wrong. I called last Monday and the woman asked if I wanted to do the interview on the Wednesday. I said I had a previous appointment so what was next available time and she said anytime after that. So I said how about Tuesday the 15th August and she said no problem. I am scheduled for tomorrow morning at 9:30 and as far as we can tell this is really a formality in which, as I stated below, I need to recite the rights and responsibilities of being an Australian citizen and as long as I understand those then all I have to do next is attend a swearing in ceremony.
On another note they have put my dad in ICU which does not surprise me. I find it fascinating that just when I start something in my life on this side of the world, something else happens around on the other side that could have implications for what I am planning. Oh well time will tell...
On another note they have put my dad in ICU which does not surprise me. I find it fascinating that just when I start something in my life on this side of the world, something else happens around on the other side that could have implications for what I am planning. Oh well time will tell...
6 August 2006
Step one...
Ok, so I filled in my application for citizenship yesterday and paid my $120.00. Now I have to get our friend to come over today, which he is, and fill out a form that says I am who I say I am. Then once that is signed sealed and delivered, I will call the regional immigration office here in Hobart on Monday to make a interview time where I will have to recite the rights and responsibilities of being an Australian citizen. They are:
Privileges of Australian Citizens
It entitles you to privileges of Australian citizenship giving you the right to:
* live in Australia
* apply for an Australian passport and to leave and re-enter Australia without applying for a resident return visa
* seek assistance from Australian diplomatic representatives while overseas
* vote to help elect Australia's governments
* stand for Parliament
* work in the public service
* serve in the armed forces
* register as Australian citizens by descent any of your children born overseas after you become an Australian citizen.
Responsibilities of Australian Citizens
Citizenship also brings with it responsibilities. For example, citizens are required to:
* obey Australian laws
* enrol on Federal and state/territory electoral registers
* vote in elections
* defend Australia should the need arise
* serve on a jury if called to do so.
I can do that... After the interview if I don't forget one of the things above I will then be told when the next swearing in ceremony will be and all I have to do is wait and show up un the day. I can also do that... So on the step two the interview...
Privileges of Australian Citizens
It entitles you to privileges of Australian citizenship giving you the right to:
* live in Australia
* apply for an Australian passport and to leave and re-enter Australia without applying for a resident return visa
* seek assistance from Australian diplomatic representatives while overseas
* vote to help elect Australia's governments
* stand for Parliament
* work in the public service
* serve in the armed forces
* register as Australian citizens by descent any of your children born overseas after you become an Australian citizen.
Responsibilities of Australian Citizens
Citizenship also brings with it responsibilities. For example, citizens are required to:
* obey Australian laws
* enrol on Federal and state/territory electoral registers
* vote in elections
* defend Australia should the need arise
* serve on a jury if called to do so.
I can do that... After the interview if I don't forget one of the things above I will then be told when the next swearing in ceremony will be and all I have to do is wait and show up un the day. I can also do that... So on the step two the interview...
4 August 2006
Advance Australia Fair
Well it's finally here, as of tomorrow Saturday August 4 2006 I will be able to officially lodge my application for Australian citizenship. It's been two years and one month since I won the right to live here as a permanent resident in Australia. James and I spent two more years before that going through the long drawn out process of convincing the Australia immigration department that we were an actual couple and that we kind of "liked each other". (If they only knew that we actually loved each other). Anyway, it's been a very long road but in some ways it seems like only yesterday and in others time has flown by and here we are.
I will lodge the application online and pay my $120.00 tomorrow but of course since it is a weekend no one will look at the paperwork until Monday but I will feel better once it's done. Then all I have to do is wait for a little interview in which they ask me if I understand the rights and responsibilities of being an Australian citizen, which I do and then once I pass that little hurdle I just have to wait for the swearing in ceremony or as a frind of our calls it my sterilisation ceremony. All up most people I've talked to say it should happen in about thirty days. I say what's a few more days compared to the past four. Oh, I almost forgot we also had to spend an additional two years together here in Australia even before we could start the whole process four years ago so all up it has taken us 6 years. We of course had the additional two years before all of that flying back and forth overseas to be with one another but apparently that didn't count as proof that we "liked each other". Eight years altogether...
Probably the most amazing and funny thing during the process was when James and I were asked to have a psychological assessment to make sure we were sane and also that we're not trying to pull a fast one. I am pleased to announce that according to the assessment not only are we sane but we apparently are soul mates and our relationship could be seen as a model for heterosexual couples. It really said that! Oh well what do we know about relationships were gay right. All of this work just because I'm HIV positive but in the end it has been so worth it to be with the person I love and see myself growing old with (which I'm doing well at right now as 50 is only a year away).
Anyway, I just thought I would share this with you. Everything I've been through in my life and I never thought I would end up here. Hell I never thought I would live this long. Life is good and the winter here in Tassie will soon be over. Spring is on it's way and the next chapter of our life is about to begin. I say Advance Australia Fair (it's their national anthem)...
I will lodge the application online and pay my $120.00 tomorrow but of course since it is a weekend no one will look at the paperwork until Monday but I will feel better once it's done. Then all I have to do is wait for a little interview in which they ask me if I understand the rights and responsibilities of being an Australian citizen, which I do and then once I pass that little hurdle I just have to wait for the swearing in ceremony or as a frind of our calls it my sterilisation ceremony. All up most people I've talked to say it should happen in about thirty days. I say what's a few more days compared to the past four. Oh, I almost forgot we also had to spend an additional two years together here in Australia even before we could start the whole process four years ago so all up it has taken us 6 years. We of course had the additional two years before all of that flying back and forth overseas to be with one another but apparently that didn't count as proof that we "liked each other". Eight years altogether...
Probably the most amazing and funny thing during the process was when James and I were asked to have a psychological assessment to make sure we were sane and also that we're not trying to pull a fast one. I am pleased to announce that according to the assessment not only are we sane but we apparently are soul mates and our relationship could be seen as a model for heterosexual couples. It really said that! Oh well what do we know about relationships were gay right. All of this work just because I'm HIV positive but in the end it has been so worth it to be with the person I love and see myself growing old with (which I'm doing well at right now as 50 is only a year away).
Anyway, I just thought I would share this with you. Everything I've been through in my life and I never thought I would end up here. Hell I never thought I would live this long. Life is good and the winter here in Tassie will soon be over. Spring is on it's way and the next chapter of our life is about to begin. I say Advance Australia Fair (it's their national anthem)...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)