Australian visa
 

I have some friends who want to visit Australia in May but they´re not eligable for an ETA visa. They will go to the Australian embassy in Germany on Monday. Does anybody have any experiences how long it could take till the visa is issued?

Tim

I got a visa in Los Angeles in the mid 1990's before ETA were introduced. I dropped it off and picked it up the next day. However, I qualify for an ETA now which may explain the fast turnaround.

I too got a visa very quickly in Los Angeles in the 90's. I brought a note from my boss on company letterhead announcing my reasons for visiting Australia, and my plane tickets. So I recommend bringing as much documentation as you can. Especially in Germany where the average official can be very officious!

To get a visa your friends will need proof of paid-in-full round trip airline tickets. Anything less than this...you won't get a visa. Well, I suppose a round trip ticket on a ship would do. Your friends will also need a proof of financial ability to support themselves in Australia. Lacking a credit card with a high enough limit, they will have a strong alternative. Australia does not want to have people coming in on tourist visas who do not have the means to support themselves or to depart. Smart, yes?

I have never had any problem whatever getting an Australian VISA. And I can barely suport myself. http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/wink.gif

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~ Glen ~

Come visit HERE the most ** FRIENDLY FORUM ** on FlyerTalk. No flame wars, no personal abuse, no substance abuse. Not much of anything really!

My student visa took 3 days to be issued. But I had to send all the stuff to Berlin.
I didn't know that they also issue visas in Frankfurt (maybe they just don't for student visas).
I'm not sure you really need all the financial stuff. As far as I know you only need that for student visas (I did for my OZ and for my US student visa but not for any of the tourist visas I got).
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Sept 2002 at check-in for SQ to Brisbane, Aus agent said my partner and I (US and Canada ppts) needed visas for Australia! My heart sank, but then agent said we could go around the corner to CX customer service desk, and they could get visas for us thru computer. Did that, paid US$12 (about) and got our Australian visas right away, valid one year. But I was mad at the ticket agent for not reminding me to be sure we had visas. Don't recommend you try this route - what if it doesn't work, then you can't check in.

I can understand the round trip ticket thing, but a credit card with a high limit??? Yikes. I might not be able to go to Australia...

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We went through this with a neice who wanted to visit her father in Australia. As she was a minor, all sorts of info had to be provided including return tickets and a letter of credit for her support. I've had to prove that I have a return ticket for my own new Australian visa. When I got it, the comment was made....'your credit card has a high enough limit'. I took that to mean they believed I would be able to feed and house myself. Australia welcomes you to come and go! I don't blame them!