CbrLad

Well gburns, thats ok. Believe what you like, we are happily in OZ. Those snakehead comments only add to your lack of knowledge.

Best regards.

http://www.immi.gov.au/

Seeing as you only joined yesterday....I will cut you some slack...

but just to fill you in....I have been doing this for a number of years....and not just on this site...For someone with a lack of knowledge I have been reasonably successful with the applications that I have assisted with off board.....100% so far....that includes various types of visas and not just 676 visas.

Been there and done that old son.....and courtesy of this site...I will soon have the T shirt to prove it.

Gburns,

In my mind yours is the only advice i would follow since you were nothing but helpful. One question though, what is the difference between 48R visa and a class 676

Cheers

watchoufarang

He means well and is helpful, no doubt but I think it has been shown he is advising people to provide information contrary to what is being asked for, with the stat dec in particular. Provide what they ask for, if they then want a stat dec as was the case in Trolley's case then provide it then and address the issue they ask to be clarified. Don't do it as a substitute for the letter. In most cases you will probably be right, but you never know.

As to your question abour 48R and class 676. The 48R is the application form for a visitor visa, that results in a class 676 visa. But maybe you will only belive it if Mr Burns tells you so.

Well my wifes passport is ready guys, its taken exactly 3 days from submitting the application on monday.

Im cacking myself, my wife wants to know if anyone at the uk visa office could open the packet for her????

Cheers.

Scotty.........

Bloody hel_l if it took 3 days then I think you should break out the bubbly!!! BTW no one would be allowed to open it for her, so get her down there ASAP.

Well in my case i doubt we would have got a tourist visa without a stat dec. as my girlfriend d was deported from Japan after a five year overstay.

In the SD i guranteed that she would return to Thailand when the svisa expired.

We also wrote personal letters.

The more documents the better.

And just because it isn't listed on the website doesn't mean that it isn't helpful.

And thanks to GBurns and MM we are now blissfully content in Australia.

The thing is you will never know what did and didn't sway the decision, I seriously doubt you making a stat dec she would return would have been the decisive factor, as I have been saying, and Mighty Mouse just said above DIAC are not looking for you to gurantee the person will return. They cannot and do not expect you to do something you cannot physicaly do. Anyway your case seems to be an exception rather than a rule.

Come on, London to Bangkok is almost completely over land. One hour is plenty of time to get it on the ground somewhere.

It's a bit hard to comment in detail without the full report of course, but I would assume that the propellor-oparated generator (RAT, Ram Air Turbine) deployed, supplying electricity for essential systems.

The 747-400 hasn't got RAT - the windmilling four engines are sufficient for supplying the hydraulic systems. The signalling used to control the plane is mechanical rather than electrical as found in other aircraft i.e. A340 which does have RAT.

The problem with your theory is the engines were running, what they lost was the electrical power generated by the engines. Hence the need to go to batteries. However most correct even without that the control surfaces are mechanical control so they still would have been able to bring it in, just without any electrical aid or system.

Now people talk about 1 hour flying time from a suitable landing airport, but many flights already go beyond this time. For a twin the max at the moment is 207 minutes, as done by 777's flying the Atlantic.

It is funny talk is alrady going on about shoddy maintenance (by maintenance staff in dispute with Qantas), but thus far little mainteance is done offshore and certainly the fault that lead to this problem was not caused by shoddy offshore mainteance.

The bottom line is sometimes shit happens. The good thing is the aircraft have the back-up systems to get the aircraft on the ground. What more could you ask for. Even A340's and other FBW aircraft have back-up systems for this kind of fault.

I am meant to be flying on -OJM BKK-LHR on 3rd March hope it is 100%. No doubt it will be. Oh before anyone ask's I know it is going to be -OJM as this is the first aircraft that Qantas plan to fit with premium economy seating and my flight on the 3rd is being flown by such a config. At that stage it will be the only a/c so fitted.

Will the visa officer who is looking at my wifes application be the same person who contacted her today?

You will find that the person who your wife spoke to (being Thai) is a local who does all the ground work. Once she has done her thing she will hand it over the the British employee who will have a look and give their verdict.

Good luck, although it does sound positive for you.

Ok....so she fills out a Stat dec saying that she promises to return at the end of the visa.....why would they believe that ?? In that case your back room guys would be suspicious...they would ask themselves...."why has she brought this up in the first place." See, my BS filter works fine

The Embassy people are looking for a third party assurance....in other words they want someone to blame...They dont want to say..."oh yeah, we granted that visa on the basis that she said she wouldnt overstay"

If the assurances have been made and the girl does a runner...it is then upto the sponsor to inform the Immigration people of the situation and assist them to track the girl down. This is stated on the website somewhere. By doing this you will not be taken to be at fault.

I didn't say she would fill out a stat dec. I said any assurances of this nature would come from the applicant. As Mighty Mouse said, by signing the application they are agreeing to abide by visa conditions hence it is coming from the applicant. You have no right to speak for the applicant, nor make any promises that you will ensure that they will abide by their conditions.

When you sponsor someone for a visitors visa, stop and think what DIAC are asking you to do. The key is in what they are asking for from YOU. They are interested to know that there is some firendship/relationship between you and the applicant (hence the letter of invite) and if you are providing financial support, hence proof of income, money in bank etc if you are providing such support. They in most cases are not asking you to gurantee the applicant will abide by thier visa conditions and as such you cannot be held responsible for that person if they do not abide.

HOWEVER if they ask that you offer an aussrance, such as for the one needed for 679 visa (for example), then they will get you to sign one of THEIR forms, and may ask you to submit a bond. In this case again there is nothing you can do to control the actions of the other party, but if they don't abide then DIAC have you by the short and curly's, but only from a financial perspective.

See the subtle difference. It is there.

Yes we did have a problem with semantics there....when I refer to "you" I am generally referring to the application as a whole and the couple involved....not just to the singular....That is one of my little idio's.....got to try and correct that.

The wonders of the english language......

People do have issues....hopefully prior to the lodgement....what we basically do here is to advise on the best course for that particular appliccation to assist them in getting their visas. One of the issues we see is the inability to provide a reason to return and as MM has said from his chat with Immi today. The stat dec with the assurances does cover that area as the sponsor is taking responsibility for the applicant while they are in the country..

You cannot take responsibity, you cannot control the actions of someone else.

The example I used was one I had encountered before....the form used for that would be the general SD form you can get from the PO...and would be between two private parties....I have utilised this previously...I was advised by the court to do this as a precursor to court action to retrieve the money...and it would show the court that I had made genuine efforts to resolve it before taking court action.

As I have said....it is unlikely that any prosecution would be brought against a sponsor who had made the assurances with good intent....but theoretically it can be done.

Interesting, as I have been in the same boat back in 2006, an ex owed me $3000. I was advised by the ACT small claims court to issue a letter of demand to the person setting out the case as to why the monies were owed and requesting payment of face legal action. This was to a specfic format, certainly not a stat dec. Under ACT law you cannot take someone to court unless you have issued a demand letter. The thing was I DID have to attach a stat dec outlining the circumstances of why the money was owed, which was used instead of an invoice but that is all.

The lady agreed to repay, but her response was as a letter, not a stat dec, which, coupled with the letter of demand could have been used in court if she failed to abide by her promise and I decided to take her to court.

Maybe WA has different laws to the ACT, but in the ACT the letter of demand is the instrument for making the claim, not a stat dec. The stat dec was used to back up a claim I couldn't have otherwise proved, ie that I had loaned her money.

PS. I did get the money back, and I was bluffing, it wouldn't have been worth the effort to take her to court. If she had taken me to court, I probably would have lost, because it would have been my word (my stat dec actually) against hers.

Good on ya Graham. I hafta give you points for sticking to your guns.

The only point that I wanted to make regarding the use of a Stat. Dec. by a sponsor of a Tourist Visa applicant, was with regard to the sponsor giving assurances that the applicant would abide by all visa conditions.

The applicant has already given this assurance by signing the declaration section in the 48R Form. If certain visa conditions are breached, the applicant is the one targeted. I'm suggesting that any additional assurance given by the sponsor, whether it be in a letter of invitation or on a Stat. Dec. form, carries no real significance.

I have just spoken with the Dept. of Immigration here in Sydney about an unrelated matter but put the discussion scenario to them. The representative that I spoke with said that a Stat. Dec. could be used to provide the compelling reason to return to Thailand, particularly in the absence of any employers letter or other proofs of the need to return, but not for the purposes of giving visa condition assurances.

Take that for what it is worth.

I am going to do it you again MM.....

Part of providing the reason to return is the assurance by the sponsor that the applicant will not overstay....

Except of course that as the "sponsor" it is not for you to say and declare, because you have NO control over the actions of the other person, the applicant in this case. It becomes yet another hollow promise that has no real meaning. Any stat dec of this nature would have to come from the applicant. You can only make a declartion about yourself and your actions. Ie I decalare that I earn xxxx number of dollars from these sources bla bla bla.

In my case I made a statement in my letter about my current situaton which went in some ways to back up my missus's argument of why she is will leave Australia. What I couldn't do is offer any gurantee she will comply. For all I know she may get to Aus, ditch me and run off and be a gypsy. See the point?

I would be loathed to see gys running off making stat dec's saying that their partner will comply with visa conditions and requriements.

It would appear that his partner, like mine submitted EXACTLY what immigration asked for, they looked at the whole packed and issued said visa. Maybe one of the reasons you guys have so much trouble is you go over the top, which gets back to my point above about too much raising suspicion.

Exactly what did your partner submit then ??

I have been talking about the whole package......the complete application....not just what the sponsor has to submit.

With a 100% success rate personally and with the success rate that has been achieved on this site with the advice given by myself and others.....what makes you think anyone has had trouble...Quite the opposite.

Probably 50% of the applications I have been involved in have used SD's and not letters....No applications have been refused and no one has been told that it wasnt required....in every case the SD was accepted.

As you well know mate, most of the knowledge I have garnered is through my own and others experiences.....not through reading every page of the website...I use the website for reference purposes but I have found that to use it as the be all and end all...causes more dilemmas then not.

I am not going to get into the semantics of what should or should not be declared....Suffice to say that the use of the SD instead of a letter has not caused anyone any problems....and in some cases probably has assisted the applications....forget the website mate....the proof is in the amount of successful applications made as against those refused....those figures will do me mate.

I was talking about what I provided as part of the app, not what the missus submitted as a whole. She submitted all the extra's that were asked for on the link that I have. She didn't provide everything from the information you copied from the Bangkok embassy website.

As for troubles, reading this sight there are so many tales of whoa just made the assumption people had issues. Guess if no one had an issue there would be no need for this board.

Also as you know my advice is not just from reading the DIAC website. It is from experiance too and from the advice of some of my collegues who foreign wives who have been through it all before and a friends who worked at DIAC who in the past has been posted to countries in SE Asia. Thats how I know what goes on 'out' the back.

Also I never said an SD won't work, for most strong applications it is a rubber staming exercise anyway.

Good on ya Graham. I hafta give you points for sticking to your guns.

The only point that I wanted to make regarding the use of a Stat. Dec. by a sponsor of a Tourist Visa applicant, was with regard to the sponsor giving assurances that the applicant would abide by all visa conditions.

The applicant has already given this assurance by signing the declaration section in the 48R Form. If certain visa conditions are breached, the applicant is the one targeted. I'm suggesting that any additional assurance given by the sponsor, whether it be in a letter of invitation or on a Stat. Dec. form, carries no real significance.

I have just spoken with the Dept. of Immigration here in Sydney about an unrelated matter but put the discussion scenario to them. The representative that I spoke with said that a Stat. Dec. could be used to provide the compelling reason to return to Thailand, particularly in the absence of any employers letter or other proofs of the need to return, but not for the purposes of giving visa condition assurances.

Take that for what it is worth.

Indeed most correct, especially on the aussuance matter. The only way DIAC can make someone else accountable and I repeat accountable is to get them to sign THEIR paperwork and maybe give a financial bond which they loose if the visa holder fails to comply. It would be very rare for a tourist visa issued in Thailand, but common for business and family visitor. No one can sign anything, SD or otherwise to say that someone else will abide by their visa conditions and as I said all along about SD they are used when you want to say something that you cannot otherwise prove. That is when you put your hand on your heart and write an SD. If all you are doing is asking someone to come to Aus and are paying for them, just write a business style letter saying so, it is a statement no a decleration. Easy as if you keep it simple.

I guess no one will back down on the matter, so we will have to agree to disagree. What I will concede is your 'method' would appear to work, but so does the method that several others including myself have used too. Indeed I have done EXACTLY what the DIAC website has asked for with NO variations. So anyone intending to invite their partner to Aus and be their fiscal 'sponsor', read the whole lot and do what you think is right.

PS Gburns, your example about using stat dec's to pay back money, you got to be careful. One thing I know about stat dec's is they are made in reference to something in law or government legislation, hence why in Aus we have Commonwealth stat dec's and seperate state stat dec's. You cannot write a stat dec about a civil matter, which unless monies were owed to government would mean a stat dec is wrong. As for an Immigration matter it does relate to a commonwealth legislation issue so would be valid, provided it was done for the right reason. Inviting one to Aus IMI is not the right reason.

You are being way too pedantic on this CBRlad.....

We have agreed that an SD is not compulsary.....My point is that it can help a weaker application especially on the issue of reason to return.....

Yes, same with you.....

Now you have hit the nail on the head, it MAY help a weaker application I will agree to that. In that case the stat dec should address the potential area's of weakness. I will not backdown on my assertion that it should, in no way, shape or form be used as a SUBSTITUTE for a letter of invitation and would be needed only in exception circumstances not as a normal thing as suggested. Again the stat dec should address matters of fact to alleivate the concerncs of DIAC and should not be used to make promises that the missus will comply with the regulations. That is one thing you cannot do, make assurances someone will do as they say.

The example given is sufficient.....It states WHY the applicant wants to come to Oz...for a holiday......proof of relationship, finances, employment is given in other evidence such as letters, photos, payslips, all of which are required if you are supporting the applicant. They want proof that you actually know the person making the application, they want proof that you have sufficient funds or access to funds enough to support the applicant. They will not take your word for it in a letter and this is not a recent thing either....I had to supply this proof with my first wifes application in 1995. I also had to fill out a maintenance undertaking form. I noticed afterwards that they actually kept one letter and some photos which I thought was strange.

Your example didn't give any proof of anything, it was mearly a statement. You are correct the proof is elsewhere. A stat dec becomes needed when there is something that you cannot prove. I also beg to differ about the level of proof required though. My experiance is exactly the same as aquablue, and mirrors EXACTLY the advice that DIAC gives, follow the links I provided. Now yes I know that you cut and pasted this info sheet http://www.vfs-au.net/forms/Info_Sheet_5_V...lish_July06.pdf and it has some extra requirements, most of which would be more than suitable to be covered in said letter of invitation.

I am aware of the BS filters....I use them in my job too...But if someone submits a SD rather than a letter, would this really raise suspicions??....I doubt it very much. It is more likely that a lack of supporting evidence such as photos, letters etc... would raise more alarms than a Stat Dec.

Maybe, maybe not, it is the whole package remember. I would throw it in the bin though because what has been asked to be provided hasn't, which is a letter of invitation.

Which brings me to this point....

Aquablue

It is very unlikely that you would have been granted a visa without supporting evidence...for instance....what you have listed in no way gives a reason to return (which is stated on the application document checklist)....for that the applicant needs to show something like property ownership, employment with leave permission, business ownership. And as I have said previously...thay are not going to take your word in a letter that you have known the applicant for however long....they require some proof of that, letters, photos, phone bills.

What you are telling me is that you and your partner submitted an application...a letter of invitation from you and a bank statement showing that you have a regular income or sufficient funds and that is all....with lax Immi processes like that it is no wonder that so many can overstay and the snakeheads have such an easy time. Personally from my own and other peoples experiences and that includes the many applications I have personally assisted here in Oz away from this site....I just cant believe that.

My experiance mirrors that of Aquablue for a 100% success rate too, and I don't in any way think it is an example of lax immigration process. It would appear that his partner, like mine submitted EXACTLY what immigration asked for, they looked at the whole packed and issued said visa. Maybe one of the reasons you guys have so much trouble is you go over the top, which gets back to my point above about too much raising suspicion.

Im telling you the truth gburns. An application, letter of invitation, copy of bank statement and thats it! I had the letter of invitation signed by a JP and the bank statement too. But immigration has told us that isnt required. Just those 2 documents signed by yourself and its ok.

Many people told me we would have a hard time getting my girfriend a visa to Oz, but as with most things look at the home page for OZ immigration and do what they say and you get it.

Application, letter of invitation, and bank statement. Chest XRay if longer than 6 months.

The same here too for both my soon to be wife and her sister, exactly what you have written, which is what I have been saying all along.

Just to clarify with the X-ray's I am assuming it is only if the visa is valid for a single stay of longer than 6 months? Because it isn't a requirement if for example the visa is 12 month ME but with a max stay of 3 months per visit.

And the reason why a JP wasn't needed to counter sign your letter is also the same reason why a stat dec is not required.

In my experience, If you want a tourist visa for your girlfriend, she submits the application along with a letter of invitation from you and your bank statement showing funds in Oz. If the visa is for 6 months or more a chest XRay may be required. Thats IT! We have had 2 visas already.

You are spot on, that is all they ask for and all they want, well from the 'sponsor' anyway.

Ok what was the substance of the stat dec? I.e. what was it a declaration of?

As for this debate, I agree that Gburns advice is generally sound, but on this issue I would strongly disagree. You see the purpose of a stat dec is to make a declaration about something in the past. I.e. something that cannot be easily proved by supporting documents, it is not there to make a ‘promise’ about something in the future which is what has been suggested.

Why cant you make a SD for a future action ??.

One may also make a SD as an agreement to repay monies owed

If it covers the same ground as a letter of invite, then why not use it as a substitute ??

Bottom line is if DIAC wanted a stat dec they would ask for it and they would make it pretty clear what you are making the declaration for. What they do ask for is a letter of invite which covers the nature of the relationship, why the applicant is planning to go to Australia and what support you or others will be providing.

If you read my first post on this thread you will see it is an extract from the website concerning the requirements for a visitors visa....It does not mention a letter of invite.

As I have also said on numerous occasions and no one seems to believe me, giving too much information can be bad also. The thing it does is arouses suspicion and futher investigation. If the case is strong and clear just provide what they ask.

Too much information of the wrong type can be bad....I always advocate the KISS principle...The SD should only pertain to the facts and not be a long drawn out statement....I stated before that most people because a SD is a legal document people generally keep it short and to the point. Whereas when people write a letter, they do so in the same manner as they would a letter to Mum.

This is like banging my head up against a wall!!!!! For one read the document check list for a 676 visa (link in previous post) as to what is required to be presented for a visitors visa, you have missed the letter in you first post. It QUITE CLEARLY states under Other Documents, point C that if the purpose of the visit is to visit faimily or friends that a letter of invite is required. See letter, not stat dec. It goes futher to say if they (you) are paying for the vist that they are to provide evidence of sufficent funds to pay for the trip. Again no mention of stat dec ANYWHERE.

You are right on one point the letter shouldn't be rambling, it should just state the facts and be addressed like any BUSINESS letter. Do some searches for UK visa's and you will see some great examples of letters of invitation. The letter(which the stat dec example above does not cover) should cover more the aspects of your relationship to the applicatant (not just how long you have known them), WHY the person is coming to Australia, your employment status, how much money your earn etc etc. You should be able to do it in 1 page by keeping to the point.

This is a link to the AG's site on Federal Stat Decs (you are aware there are several types aren't you?)

http://www.ag.gov.au/www/agd/agd.nsf/Page/...mationsheet#s16

As for too much information it can be bad. I will tell you why. When processing these things the staff have a bullshit filter. They know what people do to cover things and providing too much information is one way of doing it. So too much information goes into the lets look deeper file. Keep it to what they want, keep it honest and the processing is much simplier. If your case is sound then there will be no issue at all.

I strongly recommend a stat dec.

It seems to be very favorably viewed.

I was advised to provide one for my first and second tourist visa along with supporting letters, photos, payslips, bank statements, copy of western union transfers, copy of her tabien bahn, telephone records etc

Thanks to the advice on this board we still managed to get a tourist visa despite the fact that my girl have been deported from Japan after a five year over stay and we never mentioned it on the initial application. We also had numerous telephone interviews.

Ok what was the substance of the stat dec? I.e. what was it a declaration of?

As for this debate, I agree that Gburns advice is generally sound, but on this issue I would strongly disagree. You see the purpose of a stat dec is to make a declaration about something in the past. I.e. something that cannot be easily proved by supporting documents, it is not there to make a ‘promise’ about something in the future which is what has been suggested.

For example one might make a stat dec about how they met their partner, or about your income if, for example you were a casual or self employed and didn’t have a wage and hence a fixed salary that could be proved. Like I said you don’t make a stat dec for something that might happen in the future. If DIAC want you to make a binding commitment of support they will get you to sign their specific forms.

If someone wanted to provide a stat dec with an application then go ahead, but don’t do it as a substitute for the letter of invitation. You need one of those too, their documentation says so. Sure some here may have got away without one and used a stat dec, but I would bet my left and right goolies that those instances the cases pretty much stood for themselves anyway. A would also bet those who have been asked to provide one have been asked to do so to clarify a past issue and not as a form of assurance for something in the future.

Bottom line is if DIAC wanted a stat dec they would ask for it and they would make it pretty clear what you are making the declaration for. What they do ask for is a letter of invite which covers the nature of the relationship, why the applicant is planning to go to Australia and what support you or others will be providing.

As I have also said on numerous occasions and no one seems to believe me, giving too much information can be bad also. The thing it does is arouses suspicion and futher investigation. If the case is strong and clear just provide what they ask.

There is no way it would be legally binding simply because you are not acknowledging the obligations and the penalities of being a sponsor. I am surprised someone from DIAC would ask for something over an above what their offical requirements are. Maybe it was extra bluff, but that is about all.

Take a look at this form: http://www.immi.gov.au/allforms/pdf/1149.pdf this is the form used by the sponsor when sponsing someone for a 679 visa, in particular the last page. Now unless your stat dec had that information in it, it would be usless and DIAC couldn't hold you liable for anything.

On the general Stat Dec form that is available from any post office it states that if you give false or misleading information then you may be jailed for 4 years. (it used to be 3 years and/or $10,000)

Once a document is signed by you and co signed by an authorised person then it is a legal document. And the penalties for giving false or misleading information applies.

The application forms are not co signed....therefore they do not have legality....However the Department reserves the right to refuse the application if they discover that the information given is not true or correct. Punishment enough methinks. Also on the form you mentioned...a security bond is required....if the visa is breached the sponsor will forfeit the bond...again, Punishment enough.

Application forms are not legal documants....merely an application, however if they are co signed and witnessed then it is a legal document. For instance you apply for a loan, It is not a binding agreement until accepted by the loans manager by his signature on the application.

Statutory Declarations once co signed by someone with the correct authority are legal documents and as such breaches can be dealt with under the criminal code.

That is all well and good and yes you can be taken to court if found liable of giving false or missleading information on a stat dec. But if you were to write one saying I will pay the costs of my GF's trip and ensure that she complies with visa conditions then she failed to comply you could not be held accountable, so it is not worth a peice of pidgon poop. To be held accountable you need to either sign the deparments form, or acknowledge the requirements and subsiquent penalty for non compliance in the stat dec. The form is a whole lot easier. By the way official form, as you point out isn't counter signed is still legally binding. By signing you are agreeing to the conditions and penalties to which you are signing.

As to the whole thing, the bottom line is for a tourist visa you only need a letter of invitation, not a stat dec. Anything more may be good but you know by the same token it may work against some people too. Belive me when you see how the guys processing these things work (which I have in my previous employment), you would keep it as simple as possible for them and provide them only what they ask and don't complicate things.

CBRLad.....for my wifes first visa application, I rang immigration here and asked them about the Stat Dec....they advised me that it would be an asset to the application because of the documents legality as against a covering letter or letter of invite. If you state in it that you will accept responsibility for her while she is here, then you are making a gaurantee that she will abide by the visa conditions. Failure to do that COULD result in you being fined and/or jailed....Although that is very unlikely to happen, it is an option that they can follow. That is the strength of the Stat Dec and why it gives a reason to return....If I thought I might go to jail or be fined a huge amount....I would make sure that she didnt breach the visa.

There is no way it would be legally binding simply because you are not acknowledging the obligations and the penalities of being a sponsor. I am surprised someone from DIAC would ask for something over an above what their offical requirements are. Maybe it was extra bluff, but that is about all.

Take a look at this form: http://www.immi.gov.au/allforms/pdf/1149.pdf this is the form used by the sponsor when sponsing someone for a 679 visa, in particular the last page. Now unless your stat dec had that information in it, it would be usless and DIAC couldn't hold you liable for anything.

And if you get a visa condition 8503, here is the reason.

Why condition 8503 is imposed on some visas

Use of condition 8503 allows the Department of Immigration and Citizenship to grant more visas in those cases where extra surety may be needed that a visa applicant will depart Australia at the end of the period of stay allowed for by the visa.

It has been successful in increasing the number of visas that are granted while reducing the number of people who try to stay in Australia beyond the period allowed for by the visa.

Source http://www.immi.gov.au/media/fact-sheets/5...a_condition.htm

Yeah all well and good, but what are you getting at and what is the relivance to this thread?

If you raised this in relation to the Stat Dec discussion, sorry bzzzt, if someone gets one of these conditions, the person doing the sponsoring signs a different form legally binding them to provide the support they say they are going to provide.

Guys, i'm sure its easy ie goto the Embassy. But she asked me to ask. How will she get her new Thai passport in Sydney? Is there a form that she can send in. Or does she indeed have to goto the Embassy(i believe that would be in Canberra?) But i believe there is a visa office in the city. Could she go there? Help needed please and thank you.

Get her to check with the embassy, should be simple and no doubt you will be able to use the mail. But here is the link.

http://www.thaiembassy.org.au/

Hi I dont have many Post's, but I have my gf staying with me at the moment, on her second 3 mth visa.

One thing to watchout for, The Sponsor letter does need to be a Statutory Declaratin.

The list of witness's is long but the only ones Thailand are working in the Embassy,,,,,,appointment required. Hard to get in there but the one I dealt with, were generally helpfull

My little Protest Thai BCC tower should have someone authorised to sign

Considering all that work at the VFS are locals it is a bit hard for them to sign a stat dec and besides there is no reason why anyone needs to submit a stat dec to DIAC unless asked to do. The consular section of the embassy is who provides notarial services to Australian citizens. Not sure why you say it is hard to get an appointment, the embassy website actually states that no appointment is needed. See here:

http://www.austembassy.or.th/bkok/consular.html

Now where does it state that the letter has to be a stat dec? My GF and now her sister got her visa no problems at all without a stat dec, just a letter of invitation from me stating the facts of the application, their intended reason to be in Aus and what support I would be providing. Very simple 1 page document. I also provided internet banking printouts of my bank account's showing money to support them.

In fact the application check-list in the link below (see 2nd page) quite clearly states that a letter of invitation is required no mention of stat dec. If they expected one they would ask for one. Also be clear that a letter of invitation is not a stat dec. The reason is simple, you are not offering any legally binding guarantee of support so it doesn't have to be sign sealed and delivered in stat dec form, that is what a stat dec is, a legal statement. Simple as that. By comparison there are visa classes, 679 Sponsored family visitor visa for example where a binding guarantee from the sponsor is required, but this is done by the sponsor filling out another form, thus committing themselves to ensuring the applicant complies with their visa conditions, see even no need for a stat dec either.

Here is the check-list for the normal every day class 676 visa.

http://www.immi.gov.au/visitors/_pdf/676-visa-checklist.pdf

So the golden rule is keep it simple. Provide what they ask for in the check-list and try not to complicate it for yourself or your partner by going over the top.

As this is not visa related....can it be moved to a more appropiate topic.

Well, it is related to migration to another country though . . .

Quite true and after all this secion is Visa and Migration. Now although the person doing the shipping appears to be an expat heading home, the information could be of value to somone bringing their partner home. I know I will be getting my missus to go an see some of these shipping guys soon.

Gburns you assisted me greatly in my gf getting her first visa against the odds. We are going for a second one in a few months. I dont have as much savings this time round but have a relatively ok paid job and can provide a similar amount of documentation. I submitted a typed letter but I daresay this was a Stat Declaration since I said I would fully support her for the time she was here. I think I have most of the stuff i gave them last time. You think all should be ok? She is still working and has all her docs. Some of the stuff I sent last time was not even looked at!

Cheers

watchoutfarang

It only becomes a stat dec if it follows the form of a stat dec (see attached) AND is signed and witnessed by someone who is legaly allowed to witness stat decs. Although Gburn's advice is sound, I personally don't think it makes too much difference as to weather your 'sponsorship' letter is just a letter or if it is a stat dec, the intention is more important than the form, and besides even if you make a stat dec it is not as if anyone can use it against you if you fail to provide the support you say you will provide. Now provided you have funds and can prove it and she has a reason to return, or leave Aus there should be no major issue.

CWEATHStatDec.doc

Anything wooden, made from plant material (basically anything - that is a that could even be vaugely be seen as bio-hazard) should be packed seperately. Aust customs will want to know about them. I got tut-tutted for not declaring a kitchen wooden spoon once. Golf stuff they might be interested in, especially any soil which may be attached.

They should have thrown the book at you over the wooden spoon, how silly not to declare that, they ask for anything wooden and a wooden spoon is, well made of wood!!! Most correct about the golf equipment and shoes, make sure they are 100% clean, not a spec of dirt or soil anywhere. Even if clean be prepared to have to pay for it to be disinfected. With the camping gear if it is a cheapish tent, my advice would be to throw the bloody thing away. With tents they will go through every part of it looking for dirt and more importantly seeds. I have had it done at a normal airport check which was free, but no doubt with a shipment such as yours it will be pay by the minute type stuff. The funny thing in my case they found seeds in my tent and gave me the option of plucking each one out or destroying the tent. As it was Aus government property I got them to destroy it and give me a receipt.

As I understand that many European countries have just approved new regulations that will end passport controls among them (except UK and Ireland), does anyone know if this means that my Thai girl friend will now be be to travel by train to vsit me in Berlin without showing her passport? I should add that she has a valid visa to work in the Czech Republic.

Frankly I don't knpw about a Thai citizen traveling in Europe. If as you say she has a valid work visa for the Czech Republic, I would expect that she would not need visas to travel in Europe. I am an American working in Greeece. You will find two lines at immigration on entering at airports, one for nationals of EU countries and one for non EU country nationals. You will be asked to show your passport on initial entry if you are from a non EU member country. You will have an entry visa stamped (depending on agreements with your country and EU). Usually that is the only time that traveling thru Europe that a stamp will be required. But non EU country nationals may be asked to show passports at entrance immigration points. However, sometimes you will find that immigration officials are just not present when you travel by bus or train in Europe. The immigration desk is often empty.

I would have her carry her passport, and her work card or work visa, just in case. But I doubt that there will be too much of a problem, especially if she can show a valid visa to work in the Czech Republic.

Different issue to what you have just written about. What has happened is the Czech republic (along with several other eastern european countries) has just joing the Schengen Accord meaning that once you have a valid visa for a Schengen country movement among Schengen countries is pretty free. In the case of Greece, where you are working it would be like arriving from Rome, you get off plane, collect your bag and exit. Ie there is no immigration check at all. The issue of EU and non EU immigration lines only applies when arriving from a non Schegnen country, such as the UK, or Thailand. If someone arrives from a Schengen member country there are no such controls and hence lines.

As to the question at hand, it does mean that in theory your friend could travel from the Czech Rebublic to Germany without any border controls, however even when moving among Schengen countries you should always carry ID from you native country which in your friends case would be a Thai passport. Now you note I did say in theory, what I would do is get your GF to get in contact with the office of who ever issues visa in the Czech Republic and see if her Czech visa is valid or if it needs to be transfered to a Schengen visa. There may be some interim/changeover arrangements that may override normal Schengen protocol and a call to them will be the only 100% sure way to find out.

What most reputable airlines do is they put the lost bag report into a system that a company called SITA run's. If the bag turns up somewhere (like Paris for example) then who ever finds it reports it being found on the SITA system and if a match is found they then sort out with the carrier it was reported with as to how to get it back to the custimer.

SITA is a co-op style company set-up by the airlines to handle IT issues and inter carrier IT interoperability. Most international airports only have SITA terminals, when Qantas in BKK checks someone in they use SITA to access the database on the Qantas system and away you go. Many of the low cost carriers don't use SITA, hence if you fly one of them then lost baggage location and return is much more complex.

When you final destination is a foreign country quite often you will have to fill out a customs declaration form for the lost bag, which enables the carrier who finally finds it to clear it through customs for you.

The funniest lost bag report I ever made was at Heathrow with Air France. Made the report and the guy told me the bag was still in Paris. Whilst filling out the customs report a guy came from out the back with the bag. As it was put to me in the time I was standing there the report went to France, where they checked their records showing it was shipped to Heathrow, they then reported that back to Heathrow who went and found it out the back. Took all of 5 minutes. Apparently my bag had made it onto the flight before me. It is a great system when it works......

The embassy called us today and my wife was told that they needed one daughter's birth certificate, and extra bank statements from.

I spoke to a lady and she said that they couldn't proceed with my wife's until I had got my ETA visa, which i got today.

Does anyone know if the 3 monhs it's valid for is from today or from when I arrive in OZ?

ETA's are normally valid for 12 months, however you are only permited to stay in Australia for max of 3 months.

The clock on the 12 month validity starts when issued, so in theory you could enter Australia as late as 3/1/2009 and stay until 2/4/2009.