Next Feb my wife and I plan to visit Australia and want to take her niece.

I am Australian, have been living here for 18 yrs, now running a business with my wife, who has visited Australia 3 times.

The niece will be seven, has been living with us in Bangkok for more than 12 months and been attending school here. Her parents are in Kalasin and are happy to provide any supporting documents.

Does anybody have an idea of the procedure, required documents and our chances of the girl being granted a visa?

Just bringing this topic back up, any help would be appreciated.

How long does she plan to stay in Australia?

A tourist visa (subclass 676) or a sponsored family visit visa (subclass 679) will let her stay upto 12 months.

http://www.immi.gov.au/visitors/tourist/visa-options.htm

You will need to submit a consent form (Form 1229) signed by her parents.

If you have the documents in order, you should get the visa in a week or so.

If noone involved has any criminal records, I'd say your chances are very close to 100%!

btw, the visa is valid for entry from the date of issue, so you may not want to apply too early.

(However, the length of stay is counted from the date of entry, so all you need to do is enter before the visa expires)

The OP is not an eligible sponsor for s/c 679. And assuming his wife

isn't a permanent resident, neither is she.

Will have to be s/c 676.

Regards

Will

The OP is not an eligible sponsor for s/c 679. And assuming his wife

isn't a permanent resident, neither is she.

Will have to be s/c 676.

Regards

Will

I agree with Will the OP would not be an eligible sponsor for his wife's niece even though they are legally married. Eligible relationship do not include 'in-laws'. If the OP's wife was a permanent resident then she would be an eligible sponsor for the purposes of a s/c 679 application.

The OP is not an eligible sponsor for s/c 679. And assuming his wife

isn't a permanent resident, neither is she.

Will have to be s/c 676.

Regards

Will

We are all living in Thailand and only looking to visit for 2 weeks. Does that mean only the consent form (Form 1229) is needed?

The OP is not an eligible sponsor for s/c 679. And assuming his wife

isn't a permanent resident, neither is she.

Will have to be s/c 676.

Regards

Will

We are all living in Thailand and only looking to visit for 2 weeks. Does that mean only the consent form (Form 1229) is needed?

Yes.

You will need to fill out a s/c 676 application and a consent form.

Regards

Will