In September I am going to an International Grassland Conference in Sydney with two of my young researchers. I am very impressed with the service offered by VFS Global through the Thai Post Office.

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

No doubt many others have done this before but for me it was the first time. I don't need a visa (New Zealander) but the two young Thais do. I applied for them under the Visitor visa - Business Visitor stream. Filled out the forms, attached copies of air tickets, prepaid accommodation, prepaid conference registration, attached a covering letter and photocopies of their passports, plus photos. At the Ubon Post Office the man at the counter also asked for the passports to be sent, even though it does state in the visa forms not to send the passports.

(They have no forms at the Post Office. You must print them out yourself from the Visa Website).

Passports and the visa on a sheet of paper took 16 days to get back.

Total cost was 4,800 baht/visa, which included EMS postage to and from Bangkok.

I am very impressed with this service and wish other countries would also offer this service beside just Australia and I believe India. Congratulations to Australia.

Before I have just posted all the requirements direct to the Aus embassy without the need for VFS and no problems back comes your passport and visa.

That's the nicest thing a New Zealanders ever said about Australia I think!...

It is only a recent addition to the Ubon Post Office I believe and it sure made it easier for me when I used it three months ago for my niece and nephew to come over for a visit. Good service and much easier if you are getting the actual applicant to apply instead of you trying to organise it for them.

To the OP, Michael ... I have a pinned topic australian-tourist-visa-application over in the Visa forum and your information would be a valuable contribution.

No need to change anything, maybe just pick up the OP and drop it in as a post.

Cheers

David48