If an American marries an Australian do they have dual citizenship?

NO you are NOT an automatic PR just because you got married.

http://www.immi.gov.au/migrants/family/partner-inside.htm

Assuming you want to be in Australia with your spouse - you will need to apply for this visa.
http://www.immi.gov.au/migrants/family/same-sex-changes.htm
And this is how you know if you are eligible.
http://www.immi.gov.au/migrants/family/same-sex-changes.htm

This means your spouse MUST have a job or income of some sort as he will be supporting you. You cannot work and you will NOT be a permanent resident. You will only be a visitor and you will STAY a visitor for 2 years and you CANNOT WORK OR STUDY during this time. Your life will be on hold until you are granted or refused permanent residency.

Your marriage has to be at least 2 years old before you can be granted permanent residency. So you will be visiting Australia temporarily for those 2 years while you get to know your spouse and your marriage either works or falls apart.

Being a visitor means no working, no studying, maybe medicare or not (I dont know for sure). Make sure you have a HOBBY you can do to fill in the time when you are not cleaning the apartment or doing his laundry or cooking his dinner. He must be working or have an income because HIS money will be paying for the both of you for two years.

USA has the same rule. Marriages less than 2 years old only get a temporary green card and they dont become eligible for a permanent green card until after their 2 year anniversary.

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(this is in the discussion as well)

I am a US citizen who has married an Australian citizen. I do not think that the first answer was accurate. Once you marry your partner, you can apply for permanent residency right away (this cost use about $2000) - subclass 801, spouse visa. You will then go onto a Temporary Residency Visa, which entitles you to medicare and to be able to work in Australia. You will NOT have to put your life on hold, you CAN work and be entitled to medicare. You can also study if you want (international rates).


During this time you must have "Assurance of Support" from Australian citizens. In my case, my husband and I were studying and didn't have jobs, so my mother in law co-signed with my husband to support me during the two years that I won't have access to benefits (pensions, dole). Your husband does NOT have to have a job or income for you to pass this requirement.


After two years on a temporary residency visa, given that your permanent residency application was approved, you will be a permanent resident! Then you can apply for cheaper study and centrelink benefits.


Once you have been a resident in Australia for at least 4 years (1 year must have been as a permanent resident), you can apply for citizenship.


This is how I have experienced the process. I think there is a lot of inaccurate information in the first answer. You certainly do not have to put your life on hold waiting for a permanent residency visa, you definitely can work and study. Your husband also does not have to have a job or income, you just need family members or someone who is Australian to promise to pay the government for any financial support you may need while on a temporary visa.