What is commonwealth child migration scheme?
After World War II, a slogan concerning immigration gained ample popularity which was ‘The Child, the best immigrant’. Children were considered more adaptable who had a long work career ahead and could be easily accommodated in dormitory style homes at a much cheaper expense. It was between 22 September 1947 till 31 December 1967, when hundreds of children and unaccompanied minors immigrated to Australia who came from Malta, UK and other European countries.
Acquiring Australian citizenship under the scheme
This scheme helped the immigrants with a citizenship, which they declined at that time, but these are now eligible to apply for the same. In case any person wishes to apply for a citizen of Australia under the Commonwealth Child Migration Scheme they must produce proof of child migrant status along with an application that is duly filled and the same can be obtained at the Child Migrants Trust without paying any fee.
When applying online for citizenship under this scheme
The applicant must fulfill the below mentioned criteria for the same. Also, any person who has not travelled out of Australia since 1990 cannot fill an online application
Any applicant who arrived as a child and is unable to produce the proof of permanent residents due to the absence of passports and other supporting documents of parents, can just mention the month and year of their arrival and the name of the ship through which they came and the name of the port, if they came via the sea.
In Canberra, the National Australian Archives have the Ships Manifestos of early migrant arrivals, and telling the details will help in getting the proof of arrival easily.
Any person who is a British subject and does not have any proof, but came to Australia before 1st January 1975 can submit documents of taxation, employment or school records, in order to become eligible for the citizenship of Australia. Any of these documents can be shown during the interview in order to prove that the person has been residing in Australia since before 1st January 1975.
The form required
The application form can be easily downloaded and printed at the official website of Australia government. The form required is 124; also one must download the form 1927i which can help in filling the form 124 easily. In case the person is able to produce evidence of him/her being eligible under the Commonwealth Migration Scheme, they can easily earn an exemption in the fee.
