New Bilateral Visa Program

[sriracha john]

I hope the skank whores or bargirls or whatever their called looking to go to oz can't get this visa then.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

In fear of losing your job there from the competition, are you?

[nikster]

Hi!

This is an agreement that Australia has with many countries - the only difference is that they usually don't require college degrees from these young travelers.

It's really great because it allows young people to travel Australia for a year and up their finances by taking on jobs every now and then. I met lots of english and scandinavians taking advantage of this when I was there.

That Thailand grants Australians the same is a requirement but I don't see how it would make much sense. If you are young and want to travel Thailand for a year it's always better financially to go back home and work there for a while, then come back. But hey - I imagine some might want to work here just for the experience.

This is not a visa intended for people who want to move to Australia / Thailand seriously and take up a job there, and the regulations make it so that it will not provide any benefit for that purpose.

It's nice. But not the thing to do if you wanted to work in Australia or Thailand

Nik

[dr_Pat_Pong]

It is a government to government initiative out of the Thai Australia Free Trade Agreement. How popular or useful it might be remains to be seen.

[fire and ice]

Why is everyone so surprised about this. - It was all agreed as part of the Thai-Australia FTA over a year ago.

I read the FTA agreement & this was not in it, unless I missed something. Can you point to where in the FTA agreement this was stipulated or even hinted at?

It is a government to government initiative out of the Thai Australia Free Trade Agreement. How popular or useful it might be remains to be seen.

Yes, an initiative that has stemmed from it, but not implied in the actual FTA (& I know YOU didn’t say that).

It will become clear that it isn't a "lets test run a prospective wife" visa.

Yeah sure, like as if it will be hard to treat it as such! It won’t be hard to get one. Plenty of English & other nationalities treat these visas as such already.

Be aware that when she applies for this visa she is already going to need shedloads of funds in the bank to fund the trip. Poms for instance need the equivalent AUD$5000, so there will be similar rules for Thai's.

Hmm, I hope they make it lower for Thais.

Additionally, the primary purpose of the visa is for travel. You can bet she will be asked where she is going in OZ, travelling to, quizzed about how she will get from A to B etc etc to determine if she is a legitimate traveller. They'll want to weed out the ones who aren’t.

Gee Whiz that will be tough for her to pass! (sarcasm intended)

From the DIMIA Website: “Their main reason for coming to Australia should be to holiday; any work they do should be to support themselves while they holiday. They should have a return ticket or sufficient funds for a return or onward fare as well as sufficient funds for the first part of their stay. “

Note that it does not mention “travel”, only “holiday”. Spending a period all in the one place can still be a holiday, although I admit it would be advisable to claim you are a traveller when applying.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

It was a bilateral agreement that came OUT of the ATFTA. Nothing more, nothing less. Usual Australian Immigration criteria will apply so it ain't a free ticket for ladies of the night to gain easy access to Oz.

[fire and ice]

It was a bilateral agreement that came OUT of the ATFTA. Nothing more, nothing less. Usual Australian Immigration criteria will apply so it ain't a free ticket for ladies of the night to gain easy access to Oz.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

But plenty* of such ladies have degrees (mostly freelancers), are under 30, speak English and could easily get the financial criteria satisfied. So then WHAT would stop them from qualifying for such a visa? Nothing! STOP BEING A PESSIMIST!

It is obvious from this that the normal criteria Thais have to get an Aussie visa would NOT apply (meaning the onus to convince DIMIA you have a stabel job at home etc..)

*Not a much as a percentage but still plenty of them, I've met loads.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

By the sound of it I'm inclined to believe you.

[pantsninja]

does anyone have any offical government links about this topic, as i would like to know a bit more about this in detail. as much as i trust newspaper reports......

[fire and ice]

does anyone have any offical government links about this topic, as i would like to know a bit more about this in detail. as much as i trust newspaper reports......

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

http://www.minister.immi.gov.au /media_releases/media05/v05106.htm

and

http://www.dimia.gov.au/allforms/visiting_whm.htm

hmm: i wonder what they mean by "support of their Government"?

[pantsninja]

hmmm, lack of updates on government websites,

Australia has reciprocal Working Holiday maker arrangements in effect with the United Kingdom, Canada, the Netherlands, Japan, Republic of Ireland, Republic of Korea, Malta, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) of the People's Republic of China, Finland, the Republic of Cyprus, France, and Italy, Belgium, Estonia and Taiwan

from http://www.dimia.gov.au/allforms/visiting_whm.htm

no mention of Thailand.

and what about australians wanting to go to thailand, has the thai gov. put out any information, or is everyone just relying on Vanstones words of wisdom ?

[dr_Pat_Pong]

Thai Embassies and Consulates know only what they've heard on the vine. Nothing official is to hand as yet. I still wonder how the work permit issue will be overcome.

[fire and ice]

hmmm, lack of updates on government websites,

Australia has reciprocal Working Holiday maker arrangements in effect with the United Kingdom, Canada, the Netherlands, Japan, Republic of Ireland, Republic of Korea, Malta, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) of the People's Republic of China, Finland, the Republic of Cyprus, France, and Italy, Belgium, Estonia and Taiwan

from http://www.dimia.gov.au/allforms/visiting_whm.htm

no mention of Thailand.

and what about australians wanting to go to thailand, has the thai gov. put out any information, or is everyone just relying on Vanstones words of wisdom ?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Of course there is no mention of Thailand & of course the Thai Govt has not put out any info yet - it's only just been announced by the Aust Minister: it has been agreed to and is going to happen in the near future. Patience please!