Fee for Australian VISA?
 

The 1K Desk has always processed our Australian VISA for free (charge waived for 1k)...now they want $20?

Another entitlement bites the dust:p

You can buy it yourself online. Takes two minutes.
http://www.eta.immi.gov.au/

It costs AUD20, payable to the Australian Govt (free if you're an EU citizen or from one of several other countries) - are you saying UA paid this on your behalf previously? Or are you referring to a service fee they charge in addition to the Australian one?

Prior to the merger, UA covered the cost of the AUSTRALIA visa for 1K's. I don't think it was published, but it was a well known perk for many on FT.

Sadly it a dead perk. Plus some of teh agents don't know how to process. I spent 2 hours on 3 phone calls to get it sorted for just my visa. And I couldn't juts hang up and get on my own, becasue I didn't want to mess with a pending visa. It was a pain. I second another poster that said get yourself, it's quick easy and you even get an email confirmation, whcih UA doesn't provide or have.

Speaking as an Australian citizen this is a change I like. :p

After all, United never pays my US visa fees...

The visa fee for a foreigner to come to Australia is only $20? Bargain! We should double that.

Maybe you weren't talking to a PMUA 1K CSR? I was able to get the Australian Visa without charge post 3/3 in May for a trip I took in May.

Plus create a Website that you need to update with your location on each visit!

Check out this thread Free Australian ETA Visa application

It's not a Visa Fee, the Visa is still free, the Fee's charged are for Administration and Tourism Projects. If only there was a Fee to remove the TSA!

Just to be pedantic, it's not a Visa, it's an ETA (Electronic Travel Authority).

No, that's just the ETA fee. The fees for a foreigner (or even an Australian!) to enter/exit the country are some of the most expensive in the world, at over $100 per entry/exit pair. Plus additional if you do require a Visa.

Still a bargain then.

ESTA (USA) is not a Visa
ETA (Australia) An ETA is equivalent to a visa, but there is no stamp or label in your passport and there is no need for you to visit an Australian diplomatic office to submit an application. (Link)

When you arrive at an airport for check-in on a flight to Australia, the airline check-in staff can electronically confirm that you have authority to board the flight to Australia.

Don't beleive they do this for ESTA, I've seen people processed at the gate or even come on board and request the passengers Passport to process the ETA for a flight to Australia.

Don't know if they still do it these days, it's been a long time since the "OK to Board" stamp before boarding has been done.

^^^

Australia is always visa-free for U.S. citizens.

The issue is the Aussie adopts the U.S.'s style of ESTA. So that $20 is to cover that system cost.

My case is even worse - I have to use eVisitor Visa.

Always?