CPMaverick

I would consider reapplying for an ETA more than 90 days after your previous entry. If it goes through, you should be fine. There is no problem applying for an ETA when you already have a valid ETA. The new one simply overrides the previous one.

:D!

What was this security check? You don't need to show your passport when entering security and how did he even know you had two passports? Was it just a visual inspection?

Happy

<br /><br />The security staff was at QF F check in lounge. It has nothing to do with the actual check point. After we checked in, a QF ground agent escorted us to the check point express lane that is for the F and Business passengers, to go thru the airport security check.

Visual inspection only. I guess the guy whom I asked where was QF F check in counter felt he needed to make sure we were indeed F passengers by our own right... He asked me 3 times "Are you sure you are flying First Class?" when he walked us to the QF F check in lounge. I knew there were some "bias" or even racist there but I could not care less and not get any upset. I just told him Yes twice. Then when he asked the 3rd time I laughed and told him yes, "We are on the QF 93 MEL to LAX, that departs at 10am so let's get going!"

Matter of fact, upon seeing us entering the lounge, one of the counter agents (there were 3) motioned us over to check in. But another guy walked over to stop us - that was when the man who walked us to the lounge told me, this was the security personnel and he would like to ask you some security questions.

Having traveled all over the world, we have seen similar security checks in European airports every single time on US bound flights. So not any surprise to us. The guy took a casual look to our US passports then asked whether we had another passports. Sure. Here they are. I dont care how these people feel or act. Seriously. Nor I dont blame them being suspicious. They probably have never seen QF F class passengers being dressed so casual, with so very basic and humble bags. LOL.

For flights to US, my experiences have been, there are always some kind of security questions, such as "Did you pack your bags yourself?" "Have you had your bags out of your sight or not with you after you packed them?" etc etc Such questions usually are asked either by security staff hired by the airlines or the airlines own check in agents. Happened on every single flight from Europe to US at airports like LHR, CDG, MXP (it made a special area way away from the regular check in hall, in a completely isolated area separated by a winding long walk from the main hall for the US bound flight and have a few security staff plus an Xray machine - but they did not make everyone to put thru their bags again - at least not ours, but I saw them asked a couple to put thru their backpacks.)

Slightly related - one time at CDG United Airlines employed contract security staff to do the security questions on US bound passengers. The woman wanted to know where we stayed in Paris. After she learned about we stayed at Le Grand InterContinental, she wanted to know "who paid for your hotel bill?"

Long story short, we got SSSS on our BPs on that flight. Our checked rollers were taped with many magenta color stickers and several notes about manual search required. Yet, the bags showed up on the luggage claim belt without ever opened by French authority or TSA... Talk about bureaucratic.

Can only conclude these people are ignorant and stereotyping. You learn how to not let them upset you.

Happy

We need to renew our US passports soon. Plan to do it in late Jan. Once we get back the new passports, will do exactly what you suggest, but with the US passports. This is what GuyBetsy suggested too.

But I would still finish the Form 929 and send it with the attached supporting docs. It is electronic - to an email address as explained here https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/form.../forms/929.pdf

EDIT

There is NO automated reply by the system that acknowledges receipt of email sent to [email protected].

I am quite surprised that not even a robot form is generated so tonight when I have some time to do a little research on the Form 929 - it turns out pretty useless even for those who hold the "real" Visas and have needs to update their information - because it turns out the Dept of Home Affairs would NOT inform you anything - whether it has received your submission of the Form 929 or whether your records are updated. A guy on a website posted that he had renewed his Indian passport and he is on a PR Visa that he needed to update his passport info. He sent in the form in Feb, and by May his records were still not updated when he logged in to check...

Looks like it is a futile exercise. Will just try to apply for another ETA sometime in Mar with our new US passports.

Happy

This afternoon I received an email from this email address - [email protected], that I dont believe I have ever sent anything to this address because I have no idea it exists.

My suspicion is, this is an inquiry submitted by the FIRST rep I talked to at the Global Service Center because he said he had input my data to the system but did not get any response. He did ask for my email address as he said the system wanted it.

Had I been able to find this email address, I could have inquire with them DIRECTLY without having to call multiple times and still was pretty much in the dark as to how to proceed.

They should list this email address in the Home Affairs website, at least under the FAQ for people to send in inquiries.

The upshot is, this afternoon I received an email from the e-Service Support Helpdesk, that the Helpdesk Analyst advises me this

A check of the system shows that your departmental record has your departure correctly recorded.

Although this is only related to MYSELF, because the rep did not want to try with my husband's Bio when mine did not produce any result, I think we can safely conclude that his records would also show he has exited Australia at the same time.

So now we can STOP guessing on how the immigration system works - OBVIOUSLY they can match the Bios of a person despite the person entered and exited with different passports, and properly record the exit. This matches with the first phone rep at the Global Service Center, who told me that on entry, Australia definitely checks proper Visa is attached to the passport used to enter. On exit, the system is a bit more lenient and would not be as picky when I asked why the US passport opens the eGate.

This email response will be filed away in case we need to revisit the issue. But for the time being, the situation is CLEARED and everything is well.

I hope this thread would serve as future reference should others inadvertently ran into the same predicament.

Mwenenzi

The ivisa.com.au does not appear to be a Aust government web site/email address. Usually (always?) have gov.au
Any publicly available email would get bombarded with questions/spammers/what ever and become unusable.

Anyway good you have it sorted (may be?). But as you have indicated, I would keep all records:- boarding pass, e-ticket etc as proof you have left Australia.

LHR/MEL/Europe FF

Doesn't seem like an official Aust government website.

Ivisas is a Perth immigration agent - although upfront they say they don't provide ETAs and are not associated with a government department. They provide the direct links to government at the end of page linked here (should be immi . gov. au) Migration Agents Perth, Western Australia - iVisas

Mwenenzi

Slight different spelling Ivisas vs Ivisa:- No "s"
ivisa.com is another agency.

No doubt of a lot of people get sucked in by these non government visa web sites.
Some are scams, but going to the other end some provide a real service.

LHR/MEL/Europe FF

Appreciate it was ivisas (with s) - and indeed they distinguish themselves from ivisa (no s) - the useful part was that they provide the links for the actual government website.

Happy

I dont know why FT site kept garbling up posts when one tried to edit it.

To clarify The email I received is from [email protected]
Text of the email is below -
Good Morning,

Thank you for your recent contact with the Department.

A check of the system shows that your departmental record has your departure correctly recorded.

E-Service Support mailbox is a technical support mailbox and cannot advise on any general or processing issues.If you have any general or processing related enquiries please use the following link to find the most appropriate area to respond to your enquiries - https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-support/contact-us/offices-and-locations.
Regards,
Analyst's Name
Helpdesk Analyst
e-Service Support Helpdesk
Channel Management Branch | Visa Delivery Transformation Division
Immigration and Citizenship Services Group
Department of Home Affairs

Then it followed with this

On 4/12/2018 11:50 AM, [email protected] wrote:
The following query has been received from WebETAS
Enquiry Type: Do I still hold a valid ETA?
Enquirer Name: My Name
Enquirer Email: My email address
Passport Number: HKSAR
Nationality: Hong Kong
Date of Birth: Date
Reference Number:
Query Description:

So you tell me, is this from the Australian Government Home Affairs or from some other commercial parties.

Happy

It is ivisa.com.au

I now also have the "official" government email address

[email protected]

The email is from the above address.

Besides, the personal data is nothing sensitive - nationality, passport number, DoB, PoB, they are all over the places in many governmets / airlines / hotels system. Nothing sinister can be done with those, unlike way way back in the past. Now, if an American's SSN got misused - that is far more serious than the passport info being stolen. With the ePassport, (both nationalities are ePassports), the easy to fake passport is long gone.

LHR/MEL/Europe FF

Sorry. Didn't appreciate you had two different emails. The ivisa doesn't look like an official government one. The home affairs (.gov.au) definitely is.

Happy

Final thing

ETA indeed does NOT have any reference number. It is NOT a real Visa regardless what official ordinances say.

Australian Home Affairs does not provide reference number for ETA. Therefore, it is not possible to check the status or the entry/exit records online. This is kind of dumb design.

I have found an example of ETA from one of the commercial sites, it looks exactly like the one Guy Betsy sent me (remember he provides this service as a Pay Forward ongoing project with the STICKY at the top of this forum)

There is no reference number anywhere to be found on the example shown on the commercial site.

Happy

I agree on both.
Dont know how the ivisa got in there but somehow the government e-service support did the checking and sent the reply.
So even the ivisa is a commercial site, it does not do any harm but help. Just how that happens, you got me.

Closure
Confirm our status are OFFSHORE. So we are Good.

Cannot be emphasize enough - Auystralia immigration has enough technology to match your e-Passports and properly recording your exit from the country even though you inadvertently used a different passport other than the one with ETA attached, to exit Australia.

Now I can definitely incl PER into the mini-RTW on Aeroplan miles, even though we might need to get a new ETA if the trip starts after current ETA expire.

Texter

Curious. Why do you use your HKSAR passport rather than your US one?