Is Visa Evidence Label Required For Thai Wife Flying Bkk - Gold Coast?

[LeonJ24]

Hi,

As per subj:

My Thai wife is applying for a partner visa, she is currently on a BVA, due to family issues she has to leave and return to Thailand, she's attained a BVB and will be flying out shortly intending to return around late July, early August. I noted that as of late last year all visas have become electronic and that in order to get a visa label a fee must be paid, namely Visa Evidence Charge (VEC).

Is a visa evidence label required for flying from Bangkok to the Gold coast?

The lady we spoke to at immigration Brisbane said that the majority of countries didn't require one and should have no issue whatsoever, she did note however that a Thai person recently had difficulties returning to Australia due to this, but also stated she was unsure as to whether the Thai person even had a visa, etc, etc,

I'm looking to know other's experience and to know if any form of visa label evidence is required when flying from Bangkok?

Kind regards

Leon.

[David48]

Leon ... you sort of have a mixed question.

If you are asking about flying into Australia from Thailand, does your partner need a physical copy of the Visa ... the answer is no.

If however, you are asking about other countries, then the question is different.

Since you mention flying into Gold Coast, is it Scoot or AirAsia the carrier?

If yes to either Scoot or AirAsia as the carrier, both Airlines offer a fly through service where a passenger simply goes through the transit lounge and doesn't have to proceed through Immigration at either Singapore (Scoot) or AirAsia (KL)

With Scoot, from memory, the charge is $13*, with AirAsia it is free.

Your partner will be checked at the Thailand port of departure for evidence of the Visa, but that is done electronically and does not need a physical Visa.

The only choke point potentially is, when using AirAsia, they recheck the Passport prior to departure for the KL-OOL leg for physical identification of the Passenger, they might enquire there as they don't have a computer at that Gate within the LCCC

Hope that helps.

* I wrote about that here in the Travel Forum.

.

[GrantSmith]

If you are booked point-to-point i.e BKK-OOL with either a transit in KUL or SIN then you won't need any 'visual' evidence of the visa as you aren't clearing immigration at either KUL or SIN.

The customs officers at KUL and SIN are simply checking that the passport details match the passenger standing in front of them.

If you've booked separate flights e.g BKK-SIN and then SIN-OOL, you might strike some issues and then have to pay some convenience fee to have the itineraries linked together.

David48 isn't the 'scoot thru' fee only for flights separate to Scoot i.e arriving on Scoot and departing on Tiger?

[David48]

David48 isn't the 'scoot thru' fee only for flights separate to Scoot i.e arriving on Scoot and departing on Tiger?

No ... I paid the fee for the gf who is Scoot all the way.

Scoot-Thru: The fastest way between flights.

In collaboration with Changi Airport, Scoot is pleased to introduce Scoot-Thru with Changi Connects, a service specially created for guests connecting between Scoot flights or flights operated by our partner airlines at Singapore Airport.

Here

[LeonJ24]

Thanks for the replies guys. I was interested in whether it would be an issue from Thailand, it appears not.

Thanks again

[GrantSmith]

Shouldn't be any issues from the Thai end, as they will scan your wife's passport which will indicate that she has the relevant visa for Australia.

Also, not sure if this changed with the new visas, but she should have also received a non-descript piece of paper that outlined the visa type, the validity, the length of stay permitted and a visa reference number (or something to that effect) - she could carry this with her if there's any worry about facing problems with Immigration.

I think David48 posted a picture of the "document" that I'm referring to in a post regarding his other half's visa process.

[GrantSmith]

No ... I paid the fee for the gf who is Scoot all the way.

Scoot-Thru: The fastest way between flights.

In collaboration with Changi Airport, Scoot is pleased to introduce Scoot-Thru with Changi Connects, a service specially created for guests connecting between Scoot flights or flights operated by our partner airlines at Singapore Airport.

Here

I happily sit corrected

Not having this "Scoot-thru" option would be extremely frustrating having to collect bags, go through immigration and then go upstairs to check-in (with the rest of the masses) then go through immigration again. Granted Singapore Changi airport is efficient in terms of all of the above but still run the risk of getting stuck behind a travel group from our sub-continental friends or our mainland chinese friends.

For the price of a beer in Changi airport, I'd happily forgo the above risk for "Scoot-thru"

[David48]

^^ Actually doing that in Chaingi wasn't so bad.

But to do that in the LCCC @KL was a pain in the proverbial ...

Waited for up to 40 mins standing in the Immigration line, just to collect your bags then find the check-in counter and redo the whole process.

Thankfully, if you buy the combined ticket ... don't have to do any more.

.

[David48]

I think David48 posted a picture of the "document" that I'm referring to in a post regarding his other half's visa process.

That post can be found here ...

.

[GrantSmith]

^ That's the one David48

[LeonJ24]

Yeah, I remember getting that small document the last time my wife just visited on tourist visas. I wasn't given one or anything like it from OZ immigration when we saw them. They did however give us a 5 page document about the bridging visa B with lots of reference numbers and other things, that should more than suffice I hope

[LeonJ24]

Okay, just received notice that my wife has been granted with the partner (temporary) (Class UK) Partner (Subclass 820) Visa today.

We fly on the early morning of the 17th, so I guess the visa grant letter is now our proof of visa as she has indefinite stay in Australia with the allowance of multiple entries and the availability of coming and going as she wishes. I also assume the BVB is now void, and the $125 I spent 1 week ago is not refundable . Is this accurate?

Thanks again for all the help.

Leon.

[Will27]

Okay, just received notice that my wife has been granted with the partner (temporary) (Class UK) Partner (Subclass 820) Visa today.

We fly on the early morning of the 17th, so I guess the visa grant letter is now our proof of visa as she has indefinite stay in Australia with the allowance of multiple entries and the availability of coming and going as she wishes. I also assume the BVB is now void, and the $125 I spent 1 week ago is not refundable . Is this accurate?

Thanks again for all the help.

Leon.

Yep, your wife is now on a S/C 820 visa.

Not sure why you'd think the $125 would be refundable.

A BVB visa was applied for and granted, it was still processed.

You were just a bit unlucky with the time frames I guess but at least

your wife now has her 820 visa.

Regards

Will

[LeonJ24]

Yes, it was a nice surprise for sure. My response was a bit tongue in cheek, just unlucky regarding the timing as you say, didn't for a second think I could actually get a refund lol.

Cheers,

Leon.

[chiangmaibruce]

Shouldn't be any issues from the Thai end, as they will scan your wife's passport which will indicate that she has the relevant visa for Australia.

<snip>

Who is "they" in the above sentence? My wife has just today been granted a resident return visa. In the advice letter they say that the Oz gov't doesn't require a sticker but that we have to find out if other govts will, but I would have thought that the airlines are the real worry. They also state online in the Imm dept web site that airlines can check whether the passport holder has visa clearance ... but how? and do they actually do this in real life at the check-in counter? Can someone pls advise us on this point.

We just found out today about the $70 charge simply to put the sticker in the passport, on top of what has already been paid for the visa itself! I'm gobsmacked about that one

Edited May 16, 2013 by chiangmaibruce

[GrantSmith]

The 'they' I was referring to was the Thai Immigration Officers at the port of entry...

Airlines are a fickle bunch, most will look for stamps and stickers, however as Australia's are now electronic the question is now what happens.

As shown in above posts, produce the peice of paper that came back with your wife's passport indicating her successful application for said visa, if questioned at checkin by a member of the airlines staff.

[David48]

Agreeing with the poster above ...

What happens is that is (if your partner is flying Thai), at the point of Check-In the passenger will be checked for a valid Visa. So, technically, from what I understand, the passport doesn't have an electronic Visa, but the Passport Number is checked against a database and that way the Visa will be 'seen'.

Frequently Asked Questions: Visa Evidence Charge version 1.01

Last reviewed November 2012

Visa Evidence Charge and travelling without a visa label - FAQ's for visa holders

What is the Visa Evidence Charge (VEC)?

The Australian Government does not require visa holders to have a visa label in their passport.

From 24 November 2012, if you still need or request a label you will need to pay a fee for it. This cost for a visa label is called the VEC.

Do I need a visa label?

You do not need a visa label when you travel to Australia.

The Australia n Government does not require a person holding a valid Australian visa to have a label in their passport to travel to, enter or remain in Australia.

Governments of other countries may require you to have a visa label to transit through or to depart their country. In this case, you can request a visa label. It is your responsibility to confirm other countries’ transit or exit requirements before travel to Australia. The Australian Government cannot advise on other countries’ requirements.

How will I know I have been issued a visa if I don’t have a visa label?

People who receive an Australian visa are issued with a visa grant notice that will explain the conditions of the visa including period of validity and entry requirements.

It is advised that you carry this visa grant notice for your own reference.

How will visas be checked at the airport without a visa label?

When you check-in to fly to Australia, airline staff will electronically confirm that you have a valid visa to travel to Australia before you board the plane.

Hope that helps ...

.

[chiangmaibruce]

Noted with thanks. Yes, this is the statement that I was referring to:

"How will visas be checked at the airport without a visa label?

When you check-in to fly to Australia, airline staff will electronically confirm that you have a valid visa to travel to Australia before you board the plane."

Sounds great in theory, I just wonder if it works in real life, or whether (for e.g.) you will have to leave the queue and go to the airlines airport office to sort it out. Carrying the letter is a good idea but obviously a bit of a pain to keep track of another piece of paper when shifting the family about.

Edited May 16, 2013 by chiangmaibruce

[David48]

^^ my Lady has flown 3 times egressing from Bangkok on Thai, Scoot and AirAsia ... all with no problem.

If the computer system went down ... sure, there would be issues, hence I have her keep that slip of paper in post#9 above.

.

[Will27]

The $70 VEC is basically a deterrent as they don't want to really issue

paper visa's.

You don't have to carry the visa grant letter but it's preferable. I don't

think it's a big impost anyway. Most passports have covers so just slip

it inside.

Regards

Will

[GrantSmith]

^^ my Lady has flown 3 times egressing from Bangkok on Thai, Scoot and AirAsia ... all with no problem.

If the computer system went down ... sure, there would be issues, hence I have her keep that slip of paper in post#9 above.

.

+1

Both my wife and mother-in-law have traveled a number of times on this "electronic visa" with both TG and SQ and no issues.

As David48 posted a few posts above (#9) that peice of paper fits inside the passport, hardly cumbersome to carry and worth it's weight "should" you strike a less than accommodating airline agent.