Electronic Visa
Apr 9, 2013 | 3:30 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: JFK/LGA
Programs: HHonors Lifetime Diamond, AA EXP
Posts: 281
Electronic Visa
Last week I left JFK for CBR. Upon checking in at Terminal 8, I was repeatedly questioned about my AU visa. Visas for AU are a bit complicated (I feel for good reason), but a 457 (which I run under) is an "electronic visa", meaning there's no sticker or other paperwork like many other visas I have in my passport.
If the issuing country doesn't give you a paper visa, and the checkin process doesn't have the capability to check this with the issuing country, I feel the airline has the opportunity to be random about issuing a boarding pass.
Luckily I finally convinced the lady what an electronic visa was. I've had this visa for a couple years now and this was the first time it was challenged, but I am unsure why the airline is challenges it when they don't know (or this particular person didn't know) how to verify it.
Does anyone have ideas on how to nix this the next time? Do I need to go back to the high commission and insist I receive some kind of paper travel documentation?
If the issuing country doesn't give you a paper visa, and the checkin process doesn't have the capability to check this with the issuing country, I feel the airline has the opportunity to be random about issuing a boarding pass.
Luckily I finally convinced the lady what an electronic visa was. I've had this visa for a couple years now and this was the first time it was challenged, but I am unsure why the airline is challenges it when they don't know (or this particular person didn't know) how to verify it.
Does anyone have ideas on how to nix this the next time? Do I need to go back to the high commission and insist I receive some kind of paper travel documentation?
Apr 9, 2013 | 3:45 pm
#2
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: BGM/ PHL
Programs: US (Silver, *A Silver), AA, Starbucks (Gold)
Posts: 2,242
Most airlines flying into Australia have access to the DIAC's online system to verify a given traveler has a valid visa. As a backup you could always carry a copy of your visa grant letter/ e-mail.
Apr 10, 2013 | 5:13 am
#3
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Join Date: Jul 2001
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Posts: 102,077
Last week I left JFK for CBR. Upon checking in at Terminal 8, I was repeatedly questioned about my AU visa. Visas for AU are a bit complicated (I feel for good reason), but a 457 (which I run under) is an "electronic visa", meaning there's no sticker or other paperwork like many other visas I have in my passport.
If the issuing country doesn't give you a paper visa, and the checkin process doesn't have the capability to check this with the issuing country, I feel the airline has the opportunity to be random about issuing a boarding pass.
Luckily I finally convinced the lady what an electronic visa was. I've had this visa for a couple years now and this was the first time it was challenged, but I am unsure why the airline is challenges it when they don't know (or this particular person didn't know) how to verify it.
Does anyone have ideas on how to nix this the next time? Do I need to go back to the high commission and insist I receive some kind of paper travel documentation?
If the issuing country doesn't give you a paper visa, and the checkin process doesn't have the capability to check this with the issuing country, I feel the airline has the opportunity to be random about issuing a boarding pass.
Luckily I finally convinced the lady what an electronic visa was. I've had this visa for a couple years now and this was the first time it was challenged, but I am unsure why the airline is challenges it when they don't know (or this particular person didn't know) how to verify it.
Does anyone have ideas on how to nix this the next time? Do I need to go back to the high commission and insist I receive some kind of paper travel documentation?
Apr 10, 2013 | 2:44 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: JFK/LGA
Programs: HHonors Lifetime Diamond, AA EXP
Posts: 281
Is your ticketed names an exact match in name and order term to the names in your passport and to the names used to file for the electronic authorization which was approved? If not, that can sometimes result in an issue, more frequently with the airlines than with Australian passport control on arrival in Australia.
I have a real problem thinking that an email printout or document printout is going to help (what thomwithanh mentioned) ... anyone can doctor these documents.
Anyways, it only happened once out of many many times traveled so far, it could just be a red herring, it just makes me nervous.
Apr 12, 2013 | 2:31 am
#5
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: VIE
Programs: AFKL Platinum, SAS EBG (STE+), TK Elite (*G), Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond
Posts: 7,371
I had UAE visa which were delivered by e-mail and then just printed and airline accepted it without any problem.