A misdemeanor guilty plea is considered a criminal conviction/offense.
The proper advice is to apply for the 600 visa. Assuming you are a US citizen, you should have no problem obtaining a 600 visa and well within your timeframe. Risking a lie on the ETA may work, but if it doesn't, you may struggle with getting the 600 visa in time.
Originally Posted by
astros
Under the "ETA Conditions" tab on the site:
- You must not have any criminal convictions for which you have been sentenced for a total combined period of 12 months or more, whether or not you served the sentence/s.
Unfortunately this wording is obsolete and the official ETA documentation has dropped the 12 month wording. It still pops up here and there in FAQ, which creates a lot of confusion.
More information here:
https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/trav/...#tab-content-1
If you have had any criminal convictions in any country, you should apply for a
Visitor visa (subclass 600), rather than an ETA. If you arrive on an ETA with criminal convictions, you could be refused entry to Australia.
That wording is pretty clear. Many people see the 12 month wording and decide to click 'no' on their ETA. This may work out just fine. In my opinion (and I am not a lawyer, this is not legal advice), it is safer to adhere to the above language.
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