Oz Embassy Or Visa Application Centre

[bikkies]

Hello all just another quick question,When my fiance and I apply for her spouse visa to Australia next month is it better to apply at the Embassy or apply at the Visa application Centre all opinions welcome,I know some people say dont apply at the VFS for reasons unbeknown to me.

[david96]

If you lodge the application at VFS it will be delivered to DIAC at the Australian Embassy the next day. If you lodge at the Australian Embassy you will have to arrange an appointment by telephone and you will probably be asked to use VFS.

Processing time is exactly the same. There are no shortcuts or queue jumping. At a later date the applicant may be required to undertake an interview as part of the visa processing this would be held at the Embassy, the applicant will be notified by DIAC.

[wilbur4343]

I am currently in Australia and plan to go to Thailand in 4 weeks and lodge partner application with thai girlfriend.

After reading lots of information on here i tried calling the embassy oin Friday to arrange appointment for four weeks time. They would have nothing of it, i was very persistant that i wanted appointment as I would only be in country for 1 week (actually its 3 weeks) and that my thai girlfriends english is very poor and that if they needed to speak with her I should be with her.

After 30 minutes i gave up (but may try again next week), lady i spoke with was very insistant that we lodge at the visa centre and if we have any questions there will be a embassy person at the visa centre Tuesday and Thurday in the afternoon.

I will be very annoyed if we lodge and they want to interview her or me after I go home. If i lodge at visa centre i will put in large writing the time I am in Thailand.

Does anyone know if an interview is required if the application is complete. In what circumstances do they call you in for a interview.

Has anyone recently got an interview at the embassy without lodging at the visa centre.

[david96]

As a sponsor you are not applying for the visa. The sponsor does not need to be in the country (Thailand) for the applicant to lodge her visa application. The Embassy staff she will be dealing with are Thai. If DIAC wish to contact you they have your Australian address and telephone number. The interview is carried out in Thai at a later date after initial processing and checking of documentation of applicant and sponsor.

You will need three weeks for preparation of the application.

[wilbur4343]

As a sponsor you are not applying for the visa. The sponsor does not need to be in the country (Thailand) for the applicant to lodge her visa application. The Embassy staff she will be dealing with are Thai. If DIAC wish to contact you they have your Australian address and telephone number. The interview is carried out in Thai at a later date after initial processing and checking of documentation of applicant and sponsor.

You will need three weeks for preparation of the application.

Thanks for the reply David

I am aware i dont need to be in Thailand when she lodges it, but if i want her to lodge a complete application and not one "its okay" then i do need to be in Thailand, if she lodges it then it would mean lots of phone calls and further visits to lodge more paperwork.

Is a interview carried out in all cases, we have known each other 12 months.

[david96]

In answer to your post wilbur4343.

Take all your documents required for the sponsorship with you to Thailand for your part of the application.

There is a set procedure that DIAC use for processing visa applications and the interview is one of the last stages and is carried out in Thai with the applicant, she will be asked what she knows about you and is part of the check procedure to make sure as far as is practicable that the relationship is genuine and ongoing. If she passes the interview and then the medical the visa will be issued.

If additional documents are required from you, send by EMS to Immigration at the Embassy quoting her file number and name in the correspondence. They will give you ample time to do this.

DIAC uses the same procedures on a world wide basis.

[BAKABAS]

We have just lodged at the visa office last tuesday. We received a reply from the embassy on Friday with a interview date of the 27th of thid month. It now seems to me that lodemnet st the visa office is abetter way to go, as we were told it would of been 3 weeks before the would see us at the embassy. It is quicker process to lodge at embassy in my understanding.

Hope this helps.

Good luck.

[bikkies]

We have just lodged at the visa office last tuesday. We received a reply from the embassy on Friday with a interview date of the 27th of thid month. It now seems to me that lodemnet st the visa office is abetter way to go, as we were told it would of been 3 weeks before the would see us at the embassy. It is quicker process to lodge at embassy in my understanding.

Hope this helps.

Good luck.

Thankyou all. Sounds like I will probably have to go with the Visa application centre(probably will be quicker)Hope to lodge the application in about 4 weeks still have some paperwork to chase up for my stepdaughter and of course get married(then make sure I get the right paperwork).All going well I should lodge the application mid September.

[bikkies]

Any tips or, Do's and Dont's when at the VFS centre.I am reasonable confident about the application though not over confident,you never can be when dealing with government departments.We have been together for nearly 2 years we have a heap of supporting documents photos etc.Though I am an Australian citizen I was not born here(Ireland) my passport is Australian,I am still waiting on my Citizenship papers to arrive before I go if they do not arrive in time of my depature to Thailand will this be a problem or will I have to have them forwarded to me when I am in Thailand.Any thoughts comments would be appreciated.

[gburns57au]

Take all your documentation with you, Get the medical and Police check done before lodgement, these are a part of the application but also start the time ticking as the entry date to Australia starts from the day of the police check, it will take the Police check 2-3 weeks to reach the Embassy, Your lady can provide the Police receipt for the application.

Once this has been done and the application is complete and ready for lodging, you can contact the Embassy and ask for an interview date...this could be a further 2-3 weeks away...usually the visa is issued soon after that interview if successful.

Lodging at the VFS office will take longer as they will give the interview date, again usually 2-3 weeks after lodgement...it can take a further 4 weeks or so before the visa is issued.

I guess it depends on your circumstances how you go about it....for me I am happy to go with the VFS as I am in no hurry, I want her to have some time at Xmas with her family especially her Mother who doesnt live in Thailand and is going there for a holiday at that time and my stepson who I prefer to start school here at the start of a new School year.

If you are in a bit of a hurry then you can with the Embassy.

Your Aussie passport front page can be copied and certified and that is proof you are an Aussie citizen, the Citizenship cert is not necessary if you have an Aussie passport

At the VFS office....dress reasonably well and dont lose your temper.

[bikkies]

Take all your documentation with you, Get the medical and Police check done before lodgement, these are a part of the application but also start the time ticking as the entry date to Australia starts from the day of the police check, it will take the Police check 2-3 weeks to reach the Embassy, Your lady can provide the Police receipt for the application.

Once this has been done and the application is complete and ready for lodging, you can contact the Embassy and ask for an interview date...this could be a further 2-3 weeks away...usually the visa is issued soon after that interview if successful.

Lodging at the VFS office will take longer as they will give the interview date, again usually 2-3 weeks after lodgement...it can take a further 4 weeks or so before the visa is issued.

I guess it depends on your circumstances how you go about it....for me I am happy to go with the VFS as I am in no hurry, I want her to have some time at Xmas with her family especially her Mother who doesnt live in Thailand and is going there for a holiday at that time and my stepson who I prefer to start school here at the start of a new School year.

If you are in a bit of a hurry then you can with the Embassy.

Your Aussie passport front page can be copied and certified and that is proof you are an Aussie citizen, the Citizenship cert is not necessary if you have an Aussie passport

At the VFS office....dress reasonably well and dont lose your temper.

Thanks once again gburns you help as usual has been much appreciated.One other thing with the police check will they forward it to my fiance or the embassy or do I pick it up.

Cheers Mike

[gburns57au]

Thanks once again gburns you help as usual has been much appreciated.One other thing with the police check will they forward it to my fiance or the embassy or do I pick it up.

Cheers Mike

I will tell you that for sure tomorrow

My wife has just done her medical and hopefully will do the police check tomorrow, the medical gets sent to the embassy....

Edited August 20, 2007 by gburns57au

[bikkies]

Thanks once again gburns you help as usual has been much appreciated.One other thing with the police check will they forward it to my fiance or the embassy or do I pick it up.

Cheers Mike

I will tell you that for sure tomorrow

My wife has just done her medical and hopefully will do the police check tomorrow, the medical gets sent to the embassy....

Thanks again gburns

Hope it all goes well

[gburns57au]

The Police clearance is free....

You can elect to pick it up, have it posted to the Embassy or posted to a home address

They will charge for postage....40 baht.

That is as of today.