Right, it's getting near the time when my GF will be applying for a tourist visa to come to Oz.

The Oz embassy in BKK website states that applications can be lodged with VFS. Why? What is the advantage, other than costing 500 THB extra per application?

I suppose it's a moot point as there is no VFS office in Udon Thani, but what is wrong with ordinary recorded delivery post?

Do the Thais not have such a system of posting things, or is the postal system inefficient, otherwise I can see no point in using VFS. Now I am not having a go at VFS, just wondered what is the advantage of using them.

Cheers.

Maybe Fingerprints required But I could be wrong. No doubt someone will chip in

Maybe Fingerprints required But I could be wrong. No doubt someone will chip in

No, no fingerprints required.

The website says you can use VFS, or alternatively mail it yourself to the Embassy, so why wouldn't you mail it?

No problems at all sending it in. Just use return registered mail from the post office (which can be tracked) and ensure you have the correct payment and the right type of bank draft. One thing though allow a few weeks as the last one we did took about 2 weeks to get back but most about 7 to 10 days.

No problems at all sending it in. Just use return registered mail from the post office (which can be tracked) and ensure you have the correct payment and the right type of bank draft. One thing though allow a few weeks as the last one we did took about 2 weeks to get back but most about 7 to 10 days.

Thanks for that.

VFS told me that they would not return the passports etc by registered mail to any location they considered to be accessible to Bangkok (despite what the website says). They wouldn't send them to Chantaburi we had to return and pick them up even though its a 9hour return trip from my place. Another difference to the website noted was that they said there was no need to get Thai documents translated for the Tourist Visa. The SMS service to track your application is no reason to pay the 500 bt either, they wont tell you the one thing you really want to know which is, have the visa's been granted or not. That issue is between the applicant and the Delegate at the Embassy, and VFS will not open the envelope. Also you may want to check on this but I believe if you post your applications to the Embassy they will forward it to VFS for processing anyway and you may be up for the fee regardless. Australian Public Service commercial outsourcing arrangements cannot be trusted in my opinion.

From my experience, lodging with VFS, processing is a lot faster than sending directly to the Embassy.

How long is the tourist visa valid? 12 months multiple entry? or 6 months multiple entry like the UK?

An Australain Tourist Visa TR676 is valid for one entry within 3 months of the grant and you can stay for 3 months, so I guess not the same as UK

The VFS is merely a collection point for applications, they do check the applications and will let you know if there is any essential documents missing. This took a lot of load off the Embassy allowing them to process applications quicker.

The Embassy does not forward applications to the VFS, waste of their time and money that would be.

http://vfs-au.net/

http://vfs-au.net/courierapplication.html

Read the above links for info on courier applications using the Regional Offices.

Hi Pete,

Having just gone through the process of getting a tourist visa for my girlfriend, I can give you a very good reason. We used VFS and when the documentation was given to them, we were told two things.

1. one of the forms was not correct

2. they needed a copy of my passport

We were able to sort these things out straight away, the visa was granted and everything back to my girlfriend in 5 days, just before christmas.

If we had mailed it in , who knows how long the process would have taken.

Finally the cost was only $15, not much when you consider the overall cost of coming to Australia.

Money well spent in my opinion