What Documents To Keep For A Tourist Visa ( Aus )

[Zeugie]

Hello people,

I will be applying for a tourist visa in the next 2 or 3 months but want to get a head start on the application by gathering the right documents and enough of them. I met my girlfriend on the 14th of july 07 but up untill around december the records i have of us contacting each other are very small ( i have the visa stamps,1 phone call on my phone card statement in november, a few sms's in the same month and a western union receipt for a whopping $100 dated 16/8/07), the reason being for this is that i wasn't sure at the time if i wanted a relationship with her. From December up untill i went there again for the Xmas holidays i called her and sms'd her pretty much every day. When i got back on the 13th of Jan i have called her every day and sms'd her about 3 or 4 times a day without fail ( except for a 4 day period ) and have the phone records and printed off my and her sms's to prove this. So at the moment i have:

54 Pages of sms's ( and will keep adding untill i apply)

4 months of phone records ( 3 months of those showing that i have have called her every day and will keep adding untill i apply )

1 bank statement with decent funds and alot showing i'm not loaded.

Some photos of us together

Visa stamps for 3 trips ( well it will be 3 times i have been there when i go back in April, will have been 3 times in about 10 months)

1 and a half years worth of pay slips.

One hotel reservation receipt but only shows my name on it but it is booked for 2 adults.

Should this be enough or should i be adding other documents and should i write a letter telling them how we met and that this trip is basically to see if she would like it here with the possibility of coming over here on a fiancee visa next year?. I will wait till i have about 4 or 5 thousand dollars in the bank too before i apply for this visa.

By the time i apply for this visa i will be only 23 and she will be 18 only... would this go against us?

Thank you.

[ProThaiExpat]

Your questions suggest you know what you are up against.

Certainly have all of your documents available but I would summarize them in such a fashion that the reviewer could ask for only one or two of them to verify the authenticity of your statements without having to wade through them.

Example, "text messages from blank to blank numbering blank or an average of blank per day or week, (Exhibits A-Z) available upon request", or include them in a package well tabulated.

[david96]

Your TGF will be applying for a 676 visa for Australia,one of the requirements is that she will need a good reason to return for the application for the visa to be considered.

This DIAC website will answer your questions, just follow the links at the top of web page.

http://www.immi.gov.au/visitors/tourist/676/index.htm

[gburns57au]

First thing to remember is that for a tourist visa, she dont need to prove a relationship, She needs to show that she has known you for a reasonable length of time. Usually that is about 6 months but can be less.

Instead of keeping mountains of phone and sms records.....just keep a few to show the length of time. 54+ sms records is probably way over the top.

Any photos, letters etc are good evidence to support this.

If you are financially supporting her then you will need to show proof of income, ...not how much you have in the bank. You will also need to write a letter of invite or a Stat dec detailing that support. 6 months worth of payslips is sufficient.

The biggest hurdle I see is the age factor.....she may require a letter from her Mother stating that she is allowed to leave the country....this needs to be translated and copied for both the application and the Immigration at the airport. 3 copies should enough.

[Zeugie]

Instead of keeping mountains of phone and sms records.....just keep a few to show the length of time. 54+ sms records is probably way over the top.

If you are financially supporting her then you will need to show proof of income, ...not how much you have in the bank. You will also need to write a letter of invite or a Stat dec detailing that support. 6 months worth of payslips is sufficient.

The biggest hurdle I see is the age factor.....she may require a letter from her Mother stating that she is allowed to leave the country....this needs to be translated and copied for both the application and the Immigration at the airport. 3 copies should enough.

I agree i have a lot of sms records but i have been reading this forum for a while and i am keeping them for the future fiancee visa if it goes ahead . Never even considered getting a letter from her mother so thank you for alerting me to that. as the proof of income i'm guessing that a letter from my boss and some pay slips would be enough? and i might throw in the latest bank statement for good measure.

Your TGF will be applying for a 676 visa for Australia,one of the requirements is that she will need a good reason to return for the application for the visa to be considered.

I would give them the reason of return would be that it would negatively affect our chances of a fiancee visa and it is also against the law to over stay. She also has a job that she has been at for about 2 years that she would be going back to.

Edited March 9, 2008 by Zeugie

[gburns57au]

Instead of keeping mountains of phone and sms records.....just keep a few to show the length of time. 54+ sms records is probably way over the top.

If you are financially supporting her then you will need to show proof of income, ...not how much you have in the bank. You will also need to write a letter of invite or a Stat dec detailing that support. 6 months worth of payslips is sufficient.

The biggest hurdle I see is the age factor.....she may require a letter from her Mother stating that she is allowed to leave the country....this needs to be translated and copied for both the application and the Immigration at the airport. 3 copies should enough.

I agree i have a lot of sms records but i have been reading this forum for a while and i am keeping them for the future fiancee visa if it goes ahead . Never even considered getting a letter from her mother so thank you for alerting me to that. as the proof of income i'm guessing that a letter from my boss and some pay slips would be enough? and i might throw in the latest bank statement for good measure.

Your TGF will be applying for a 676 visa for Australia,one of the requirements is that she will need a good reason to return for the application for the visa to be considered.

I would give them the reason of return would be that it would negatively affect our chances of a fiancee visa and it is also against the law to over stay. She also has a job that she has been at for about 2 years that she would be going back to.

She will need a letter from the boss stating that she will have a job to return to....on a company letterhead.

[aussie_21]

Visitor visa questions

What are the requirements for obtaining a visitor visa?

You must demonstrate that you:

• intend a genuine visit to Australia

• are unlikely to remain in Australia after your visa has expired

• have access to adequate funds for your proposed travel in Australia

• are of good health (X-ray required if visit is for more that 3 months)

• are of good character (no criminal convictions).

Can my relative sponsor me to obtain a visitor visa?

An Australian sponsor can provide an undertaking that their visitor will abide by visa conditions, including that they depart Australia before their visa expires. In some cases, a financial security bond may be requested to ensure that the person leaves at the end of their visit.

The aim of the sponsored visitor visa is to:

• accommodate the many requests from relatives in Australia who wish to guarantee that their nominated guest will leave Australia before the expiry of their visa

• reduce the high non-return rates for applicants from some countries

• emphasise to sponsors the importance of their undertakings, and

• emphasise to visitors the need to abide by their visa conditions.

Conditions attached to sponsored visitor visas include:

• an applicant may not work

• an applicant must leave Australia by the end of their authorised visit

• the visa can be granted for a maximum of three months

• the visa cannot be extended in Australia.

Penalties apply when a sponsored visitor breaches their visa conditions.

The penalties include forfeiture of any bond, and a five-year bar on the sponsor for further sponsorships.

See: Sponsored Family Visitor Visa

Why may my visa application be refused?

Your application may be refused the grant of a Visitor visa if you have:

• provided insufficient documentation when you lodged as evidence of your claims

• submitted fraudulent documentation

• lodged an application that was incomplete

• you do not meet health or character requirements

What can I do if my visitor application is refused?

You would be advised the reasons for the refusal to grant you a visa. You will also be advised if you can seek a review on the decision to refuse. See: Review of Visa Decisions.

You may wish to apply again only if you have new or further information that will assit you to meet the legal criteria of the Migration Regulations for a visa grant. You should refer to the refusal advice and reasons provided with your previous refused application as a guide for submitting supporting documents and information.

[david96]

From the DIAC website,

Applying for this visa.

http://www.immi.gov.au/visitors/visiting-f...ow-to-apply.htm

http://www.immi.gov.au/visitors/tourist/676/how-to-apply.htm

If you have a TGF she will be applying for a 676 visa not a 679.

[aussie_21]

Ok, Sorry, Thanks for letting me know.

Cheers

Aussie_22