Job Discussion Forums

ajc19810 · Joined: 22 May 2008 Posts: 214

Thats great. I will go for the 3 year TRC. That will make our lives so much easier i will be applying for it with my son either next month or in January and will let you know how it pans out.

spycatcher reincarnated · Joined: 19 May 2005 Posts: 236

Not exactly sure what "...with my son..." means, but if you are a foreigner with a Vietnamese spouse and you have a son through this union, then maybe you should consider dual nationality for your son?

IE: If you are American: Your son leaves and enters Vietnam on his Vietnamese passport, and leaves and enters America on his American passport. No visas or residency cards needed for your son.

ajc19810 · Joined: 22 May 2008 Posts: 214

I am Australian with a Vietnamese wife. We have a son together.

My son was born in Aus and my wife has perm res (not citizenship) in Oz. I will explore the dual nationality side of things. I have a few months off before i start work again in Jan in PT so i'll spend a bit of time in Saigon going through the process. It sounds like i will be going into a few government offices, so i had better pack the trousers.

FYI: Anybody in a similar situation to me might like to know that you still get paid the family tax benefit (base rate) while overseas for 3 years and the baby bonus is continued to be paid until it reaches $5k. And on a side note for all the ozzies you can get austudy or youth allowance for up to 3 months while you are out of the country. This is fantastic for people finishing their degrees who need to come over to study CELTA/TESOL.

spycatcher reincarnated · Joined: 19 May 2005 Posts: 236

Right...

If I were you I would only consider Vietnamese nationality for your son if you thought he were going to be living in Vietnam for multiple years.

I see the following possible issues with dual nationality for offspring of people in your position:

Child custody issues in divorce cases- possible reduced rights for you

I believe more and more governments will be taxing their citizens whilst they are abroad, so having multiple nationalities could become a burden

ajc19810 · Joined: 22 May 2008 Posts: 214

Cheers. I know most of that was completely irrelevant, but it took me an hour and half to get that info on the phone from Centrelink today so i had to share it with someone. Confused

Will deal with the dual nationality thing after i try the TRC.

thanks again.

snollygoster · Joined: 04 Jun 2009 Posts: 478

My son was born in Viuetnam- Viet mum, Ozzie dad. He has Viet birth certificate. Applied and got citizenship by descent for him, and he has an Ozzie passport.
He can also get a Viet one if he wants it, but at one year old, I guess he isnt fazed. At this age neither my wife nor I see the need for a Viet passport.
For Aussies, citizenship by descent is not so difficult- With an Aussie passport he can leave Vn at a whim, BUT his mum cant so easily, as she has only Viet passport, and no visa for Oz.
Thought provoking if I ever am unlucky enough to have access problems if it all turns sour at a later date.

By the way, trying to get info from Centrelink is so difficult- You were lucky to find out what you did. Such a complicated, unhelpful web site too. I was trying for months to find out if I can get Oz pension and stay in Vn when the time eventually comes. Lots of conflicting info and the usual tun around with no answer at the end.
Eventually, the dude at the other end of the endless e-mails conceded I was an Aussie citizen and entitled, but there are some hoops to jump through- eg must be IN Aus at the time of application, have to turn around twice and do the Eagle Rock....blah blag....