It wasn't really a glorious story. There was a bit of a funny drama behind it.
We weren't planing to get Australian passport immediately. We didn't have any plans to go overseas soon where Australian passports are useful. We thought we'd do just fine with our Philippine passport for now. We were wrong.
Uh, I think we need new passports
During our oath-taking, we realised that our Australian Permanent Residence will no longer be valid as soon as we receive our citizenship certificates. That is, we can no longer re-enter Australia using our Philippine passports, because the visa we had (PR) was no longer valid. This is all well and good except Lani has a scheduled trip to the Philippines on the 26th!
I don't have a drivers license
Right after oath-taking, we immediately headed to the post office to apply. We thought there's plenty of time. But then we found that AusPost only accept Drivers License or Photo Card issued by the drivers license office as valid proofs of identity. Lani didn't have any. She has a learners drivers license that expired almost 2 years ago. She had to get a Photo Card.
We went to the Photo card and queued up for about an hour. After all the registrations and photo-taking, she was told that the Photo card will be delivered in the mail within 5 days. Five days! That makes it the 19th if we're being optimistic. Then we'd have 7 days to apply for a passport.
Passport application
On the 20th, we received Lani's card in the mail. The following morning, we called the Passport Office and inquired. We were advised that we still have to wait 3 days at least, which makes is the 24th, a Friday. Well, good luck then.
Lani headed to the nearest Aus Post and applied. Lani had to do 4 round trip because of various minor issues: First, we printed the application form back-to-back. Apparently, the passport office don't like this, so we had to reprint. Second, our guarantor made a small erasure on the certification on the back of the photo, so the post office guy asked that it be initialed. Third, Lani forgot to bring the first page of the application form (the instructions page) which had the control number and barcode in it. And lastly, the next guy who spoke to us was not happy with the initialed erasure on the photo so he asked that a new photo (and certification) be prepared.
After about 1hour of going back and forth between the office and Aus Post, the passport application was lodged. This was on the 21st.
Finally, a passport
The following day, 22nd, the passport office called Lani to confirm some details on her application (ie, whether to write the city or the province in her place of birth). Lani took that opportunity to tell the officer that it is needed soon and asked when it'll be ready. The officer said it can be picked up the next day.
At 8:30am on the 23rd, we arrived at the Passport Office where Lani received her brand new sparkling proof of Australian identity. Hurrah!
And so the flights and accommodation are now booked. See you soon Manila!
