For immigrants like you, getting a citizenship is a dream come true. It opens more job opportunities and benefits for you and your family. Should you decide to bring a family member to the Land Down Under, it will be easier now.
Yet you have a huge problem: you are denied. You can still dispute it, though. Before you do that, you have to understand the possible reasons.
1. You left the country for more than three months
Hold your grand European tour plans for a moment if you want to apply for a citizenship. Based on the eligibility requirements, you should not be absent from the country over 90 days a year before your application. You can be denied even if you’ve already been a permanent resident for the past four years.
2. You have a bad driving record
Australia expects all its present and future citizens to be in good behaviour at all times, even when they’re on the road. In the country, you should always wear your seatbelts, drive in the right lane, never be on the wheel while intoxicated or high on drugs, and follow the speed limits to a T. Any traffic offences that may result in prosecutions will form part of your public record.
This can be a huge problem since not only will you be denied citizenship application, it may be difficult for you to find a job. After all, employers can request such records from the federal police.
If you want to know if you have any court outcomes, use a national police check database with the help of Fast Police Checks. If you have a record, work closely with your lawyer to find out how to fix it and improve your chances of getting approved.
3. You’ve provided misleading or wrongful information
Got your own name spelled incorrectly? Did you write your former home address? These can affect your citizenship application and may even be a cause of denial. The ministry may consider this information as misleading or even fraudulent.
Before you submit your application, check it twice or more. Make sure you followed all the instructions and filled out all the required portions. Check the spellings are correct. Most of all, never lie. The government always has a way of knowing whether you’re truthful or not.
A denial or refusal isn’t the end of your citizenship journey. Get the right legal advice, work closely with the ministry, and, most of all, learn from your mistakes.