Tourist Visa to Australia

[lamush]

I know this won't be easy but thinking of getting an application in the works given the wait times.  I am currently in Thailand so would be travelling with the Thai wife.  According to the guidelines I have read, this is theoretically ok without getting an exemption as immediate family.  But gather getting the visa and indeed a flight is a whole other issue.

 

Previously have obtained Tourist visas through VFS in Bangkok which was pretty straight forward.  With VFS there was no need to translate Thai docs such as marriage certificate, etc.  And certifying just meant signing each copied page.  Now I understand the only option is too apply for visas directly via an IMMI account/website.  In that case would I need to have any docs in Thai translated?  And does certifying require an "authorized person" or notary to sign and stamp?

 

One more thing.  I have noticed mentioned 3 Year Tourist Visas to Australia a couple of times on the boards.  Does anyone know if these on the table and how you go about requesting/supporting an app for one?

 

TIA for any help!

 

 

 

 

[Old Croc]

As far as I'm aware the only 3 year visa available to Australia is for Sponsored Parents.

 

Good luck getting in right now as a tourist. Sydney seems to be about to lock down as they are having a major outbreak. Other states are closing borders to NSW. 

 

Australian Visa Information - Visa Authority

https://australianvisaauthority.org/visa-info/

Currently, only Australian citizens, residents and immediate family members can travel to Australia. You may still apply for an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA), however you will not be able to enter Australia until restrictions are lifted. The ETA is valid for travel within 2-years once issued.

 

 

 

Edited July 13, 2021 by Old Croc

[4MyEgo]

16 hours ago, lamush said:

I am currently in Thailand so would be travelling with the Thai wife. 

We made tourist applications for my wife's sons with IMMI pre pandemic, then did the bio-metrics via VMF, as far as I can recall, we uploaded the docs on IMMI and paid them for the applications.

 

As Old Croc has mentioned above, good luck getting in as they are now in lockdown, and what I would be more concerned about for you, is them allowing you to leave Australia, apparently you have to have a pretty good reason.

 

Best of luck.

[GreasyFingers]

I do not understand where you need to translate Thai documents. Yes you will need them all, birth certificates, divorce etc but I never had any of then translated as it is usually a Thai that does the approval.

 

3 year visas are available if you can give them sufficient reason to issue one. I used the need for an eye operation and the follow up checks that meant I needed multiple visits over time. Also said my family there were happy to see the wife each time as they liked her. So some story that you need multiple visits over a couple of years and applying for a 6 month visa was expensive and too much trouble as we had to travel to Bangkok each time for the biometrics.

[MadMuhammad]

24 minutes ago, 4MyEgo said:

We made tourist applications for my wife's sons with IMMI pre pandemic, then did the bio-metrics via VMF, as far as I can recall, we uploaded the docs on IMMI and paid them for the applications.

 

As Old Croc has mentioned above, good luck getting in as they are now in lockdown, and what I would be more concerned about for you, is them allowing you to leave Australia, apparently you have to have a pretty good reason.

 

Best of luck.

I believe part of it is that you have to notify you're not intending to return for a minimum of 3 months (90 days?) I've got a few mates that have left Oz in the last 12 months. One on biz to HK where he stayed for 6 months and another that has been in and out of Thailand twice now (he's currently in quarantine in Oz, his 3rd. amazing). 2 others I'm not 100% aware of their plans.

 

 

Edited July 13, 2021 by MadMuhammad

[Salerno]

26 minutes ago, 4MyEgo said:

...apparently you have to have a pretty good reason.

Not if you normally reside overseas which I believe is likely the case for the OP ... no exemption required, can just rock up at the airport for your flight.

[4MyEgo]

11 minutes ago, MadMuhammad said:

I believe part of it is that you have to notify you're not intending to return for a minimum of 3 months (90 days?) I've got a few mates that have left Oz in the last 12 months. One on biz to HK where he stayed for 6 months and another that has been in and out of Thailand twice now (he's currently in quarantine in Oz, his 3rd. amazing). 2 others I'm not 100% aware of their plans.

 

 

How stupid, they can't make this stuff up, but then again, they can.

[4MyEgo]

9 minutes ago, Salerno said:

Not if you normally reside overseas which I believe is likely the case for the OP ... no exemption required, can just rock up at the airport for your flight.

That sounds fair.

 

I know of a mates Thai wife who is from Udon Thani province in the north-east.

 

Few months back, maybe 6, she couldn't leave Australia to fly to Thailand to see her dad who was ill, they had to apply 3 times, they wanting docs translated and the like and we all know how difficult it is to get a Thai in a village to do a basic task, let alone get documents translated to English, no disrespect intended, photos of him in hospital and a letter from the hospital in Thai wasn't enough, he ended up passing and she missed out on seeing her father, not sure she would have made it with quarantine rules over here and all, but she also missed the funeral as well.

 

I don't know if she still had her Thai passport, but one would think if she had her Thai passport she could of probably said I am returning home as opposed to using her Australian passport.

 

Will have to ask my mate one day but don't want to be nosy if you know what I mean.

[giddyup]

1 hour ago, Old Croc said:

As far as I'm aware the only 3 year visa available to Australia is for Sponsored Parents.

 

Good luck getting in right now as a tourist. Sydney seems to be about to lock down as they are having a major outbreak. Other states are closing borders to NSW. 

 

Australian Visa Information - Visa Authority

https://australianvisaauthority.org/visa-info/

Currently, only Australian citizens, residents and immediate family members can travel to Australia. You may still apply for an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA), however you will not be able to enter Australia until restrictions are lifted. The ETA is valid for travel within 2-years once issued.

 

 

 

My friend who is in Australia dying with cancer got a 6 month visa for his Thai girlfriend on compassionate grounds. This was just over two weeks ago. She had to do the two week quarantine but they allowed her to visit him in hospital with a police escort before the quarantine ended. Unfortunately he died a day later.

[Salerno]

3 minutes ago, 4MyEgo said:

I don't know if she still had her Thai passport, but one would think if she had her Thai passport she could of probably said I am returning home as opposed to using her Australian passport.

Sadly not, that's one of the most contentious rules in force at the moment - I can't see how it's legal for Australia to "imprison" foreign (dual) nationals but they're getting away with it.

[lamush]

2 hours ago, GreasyFingers said:

I do not understand where you need to translate Thai documents. Yes you will need them all, birth certificates, divorce etc but I never had any of then translated as it is usually a Thai that does the approval.

 

3 year visas are available if you can give them sufficient reason to issue one. I used the need for an eye operation and the follow up checks that meant I needed multiple visits over time. Also said my family there were happy to see the wife each time as they liked her. So some story that you need multiple visits over a couple of years and applying for a 6 month visa was expensive and too much trouble as we had to travel to Bangkok each time for the biometrics.

Thanks for the reply.  My concern with translating was based on thinking that if applying through the IMMI site currently, maybe the application ends up on the desk of a public servant back in Australia who would want it translated.  This would be a real pain in the proverbial given the current visa turnaround times and the likely outcome of going to the back of the line.  But I guess it would be logical to think that the applications lodged through IMMI are still being farmed back out to VFS in Bangkok or possibly the Oz embassy.  Anyone have anything on this?  

 

And when uploading docs to IMMI, it mentions for Passport and ID that they are to be "certified".  Last cpl of times we applied, I either send the originals to VFS or lodged in person (with originals and copies) so I guess they do the certifying.  

 

Cheers for the info on the 3 Yr visa too ????

[kennw]

2 hours ago, Salerno said:

Sadly not, that's one of the most contentious rules in force at the moment - I can't see how it's legal for Australia to "imprison" foreign (dual) nationals but they're getting away with it.

In my experience you have to use the same passport for both entry and departure.

[lamush]

Cheers for all the replies guys, much appreciated.

 

I just noticed that VFS Bangkok is still operating on a very limited schedule.  Mostly for taking biometrics.  Guessing this is when they would check off original docs, etc and take the applicants passport.  Anyway, will try to get in touch with them now to see what they have to say.  Will report back..

 

[BobinBKK]

Before Covid-19 I was going to take holiday and fly down to Sydney from Bangkok. I was looking to see what the tourist visa requirements were for US citizens and seen that the Australian Government wanted $100 USD from us. I got a good laugh out of it and closed the webpage. I decided to go to HCMC instead as the Vietnamese Government (who we were actually at war with) only wanted $20 USD for a tourist visa.

[Salerno]

17 minutes ago, kennw said:

In my experience you have to use the same passport for both entry and departure.

You're supposed to yes, but that doesn't address the issue I was referring to. How can the Australian government "imprison" a citizen of another country with impunity?

[Time Traveller]

28 minutes ago, BobinBKK said:

Before Covid-19 I was going to take holiday and fly down to Sydney from Bangkok. I was looking to see what the tourist visa requirements were for US citizens and seen that the Australian Government wanted $100 USD from us. I got a good laugh out of it and closed the webpage. I decided to go to HCMC instead as the Vietnamese Government (who we were actually at war with) only wanted $20 USD for a tourist visa.

Yeah Australia might not be in your price league my friend. It's definitely not the place for low budget tourists.   But I'm not sure what you're talking about,   US citizens don't need to get a tourist visa for Australia,  just the ETA, cost $20.   At least that's what my wife paid last time we went there.  Valid for 2 years with stays of 3 months or less, or something like that.

 

[Time Traveller]

31 minutes ago, Salerno said:

You're supposed to yes, but that doesn't address the issue I was referring to. How can the Australian government "imprison" a citizen of another country with impunity?

Because those people are citizens or permanent residents of Australia and legally not entitled to diplomatic representation from their other citizenship   If they don't like it they can renounce their Australian citizenship and then voluntarily be deported.  It's not that difficult, but people  like to complain.  Those "new Australians" like the benefits of Australia but don't understand the obligations

Edited July 13, 2021 by Time Traveller

[Salerno]

2 minutes ago, Time Traveller said:

If they don't like it they can renounce their Australian citizenship and then voluntarily be deported.

It's not that simple and we are losing people due to such draconian laws - which will be detrimental to Australia. 

[BobinBKK]

8 minutes ago, Time Traveller said:

Yeah Australia might not be in your price league my friend. It's definitely not the place for low budget tourists.   But I'm not sure what you're talking about,   US citizens don't need to get a tourist visa for Australia,  just the ETA, cost $20.   At least that's what my wife paid last time we went there.  Valid for 2 years with stays of 3 months or less, or something like that.

 

I retired years early due to financial wealth, so it has absolutely nothing to do with "my price league" and not very intelligent of you to suggest or imply. It's all about principle, principle and reading comprehension don't seem to be in your wheelhouse...  

[Will27]

41 minutes ago, Salerno said:

You're supposed to yes, but that doesn't address the issue I was referring to. How can the Australian government "imprison" a citizen of another country with impunity?

If the person 4MyEgo referred to used her Thai passport, she could've been repatriated back to Thailand by going through the Thai Embassy.

 

I know several Thai's who did this.

 

So they're not really imprisoning non-citizens at all IMO.

[Salerno]

6 minutes ago, Will27 said:

So they're not really imprisoning non-citizens at all IMO.

There are numerous accounts of dual citizens being refused exemption to leave even with family members dying/just died. Dual national Thais getting repat flights is a new one on me and not sure how it would work - border force would still need to grant an exemption.

[Will27]

4 minutes ago, Salerno said:

There are numerous accounts of dual citizens being refused exemption to leave even with family members dying/just died. Dual national Thais getting repat flights is a new one on me and not sure how it would work - border force would still need to grant an exemption.

I'm not sure what being a dual national has to do with TBH.

 

Just use your Thai passport and get on a flight arranged by the Thai Embassy.

[Salerno]

6 minutes ago, Will27 said:

I'm not sure what being a dual national has to do with TBH.

 

Just use your Thai passport and get on a flight arranged by the Thai Embassy.

1. Because people with Australian citizenship need an exemption to leave Australia unless classed as normally resident overseas.
2. If Australian citizen you are supposed to enter on Australian passport - if the Thais you referred to just showed their Thai passport on exiting they would be questioned about not entering on their Thai passport. See 1.

[Will27]

4 minutes ago, Salerno said:

1. Because people with Australian citizenship need an exemption to leave Australia unless classed as normally resident overseas.
2. If Australian citizen you are supposed to enter on Australian passport - if the Thais you referred to just showed their Thai passport on exiting they would be questioned about not entering on their Thai passport. See 1.

The three Thai's I know were not dual nationals.

 

The one 4MyEgo is referring to could've just shown her Thai passport and gone home.

Some people can enter on a foreign passport and the become an Australian citizen and

no obtain an Australian passport.

 

The point I'm trying to make is, that she could've gone back to Thailand using her Thai passport.

[GreasyFingers]

1 hour ago, lamush said:

But I guess it would be logical to think that the applications lodged through IMMI are still being farmed back out to VFS in Bangkok or possibly the Oz embassy.  Anyone have anything on this?  

 

And when uploading docs to IMMI, it mentions for Passport and ID that they are to be "certified". 

Do not know where they are processed but whenever I have to contact anyone to fix a problem it was a Thai who sent the emails.

 

Certified docs must be a new one, make sure you are reading it correctly. Never had to do it.

[Salerno]

6 minutes ago, Will27 said:

The one 4MyEgo is referring to could've just shown her Thai passport and gone home.

The point I'm trying to make is, that she could've gone back to Thailand using her Thai passport.

 

No she couldn't:

 

4 hours ago, 4MyEgo said:

... one would think if she had her Thai passport she could of probably said I am returning home as opposed to using her Australian passport.

 

[Will27]

14 minutes ago, Salerno said:

No she couldn't:

 

 

Looks as if you're correct.

 

Edit** looks as if she would've had to apply  an exemption.

 

International travel ban for Australian citizens and Permanent Residents

Australian citizens and permanent residents cannot travel overseas due to COVID-19 restrictions. These restrictions will remain in force until 17 September 2021.

Dual nationals, or foreign nationals with permanent residency status in Australia, need to secure an exemption from the ABF Commissioner before they can leave Australia, even if using the passport of their other nationality. The reason behind this is the fact that dual citizens and permanent residents have the right to return to and enter Australia again at a later date. Individuals can apply online for an exemption on the Department of Home Affairs website: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-support/departmental-forms/online-forms/covid19-enquiry-form.

Applications should include as much detailed information and supporting documentation as possible.  For example, individuals should include proof that they do not usually reside in Australia through evidence of working arrangements, school/university enrolments or property ownership.

The application should include other compelling and compassionate grounds as appropriate, including details on the reasons compelling the individual to travel – for example, care for elderly parents who live overseas, other family circumstances or medical issues. Any supporting documentation to verify family relationships and other claims will help to strengthen their case.

Edited July 13, 2021 by Will27

[simple1]

54 minutes ago, Salerno said:

There are numerous accounts of dual citizens being refused exemption to leave even with family members dying/just died. Dual national Thais getting repat flights is a new one on me and not sure how it would work - border force would still need to grant an exemption.

I am a triple citizen. One would assume dual citizens are those declined are residing in Oz on their Oz citizenship as I am. If that is the case why should such people be exempted from criteria applied to solely Oz citizens?

 

Overall stats have been published, As of June 30, 2021 there have been almost 363,800 applications, with  94,178  denied for exemption, although criteria are clearly documented on relevant government website.

 

Here in Oz there is non stop whining regards Covid restrictions, vaccinations etc across media outlets, gives a lie to Oz toughness. Personally I wish they would shut the !@#$ up.

Edited July 13, 2021 by simple1

[Salerno]

3 minutes ago, simple1 said:

If that is the case why should such people be exempted from criteria applied to Oz citizens?

Wrong question IMO, why should there be restrictions for anyone leaving is the question. 

 

 

[simple1]

1 minute ago, Salerno said:

Wrong question IMO, why should there be restrictions for anyone leaving is the question. 

 

 

Fine if they agree not to return until Covid declared under control, but at the moment only 9% of the population are fully vaccinated. Still lots of people refusing to vaccinate 'cause of conspiracy BS and so on. Some people returning to Oz after arrival are tested Covid positive; how do you think Covid delta got into the country? Unfortunately there are numerous loopholes for spread into the community e.g. not complying to quarantine criteria , drivers for international arrivals not fully vaccinated etc etc  In short a number of stuff ups for which we pay the price, especially caused by people demanding their 'rights' a la USA.