Australian Citizenship

The Australian government views the Australian Citizenship as the bond that unites all Australians: those born in Australia and those who have decided to make Australia their home.

For a long time and until around 2016, the average processing time for most Citizenship applications was about 80 days.

Since April 2017, considerable delays are being experienced raising the processing period up to 12, 14, 15 and 17 months and in some cases even longer. This has coincided with the proposed Citizenship amendments that were tabled a couple of times before the Australian Parliament but did not pass.

We understand that at around August 2018, the total undecided applications before the Department of Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs are about 300,000 undecided applications. This backlog may lead to even longer waiting periods,

At Simon Diab & Associates we are on regular contact with diligent permanent residents who chose to make Australia their home and aspired to be Australian Citizens and holders of the Australian passport.

We started to see the increased frustrations of those who applied for the Australian Citizenship, met all the eligibility criteria, obtained all the necessary documents and police checks and yet no progress has taken place in their applications.

We were approached by our clients for advice and solution to their adversity as their lives and interests were affected and they became aggrieved by these Citizenship delays.

We consulted with a barrister and a QC and we are pleased to advise our clients that there is a solution and one that is expected to get them better results. We have decided to act as solicitors and barristers on behalf of every eligible citizenship applicants and an appeal for them with the Federal Court of Australia with a ‘NO WIN NO FEE’ costs agreement.