Visas, Passports and Flights, Oh my!

[AussieAmericanGirl66]

This is an interesting article about Passports that I just ran across:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/t...passports.html

You guys are seriously the best <3 <3 <3 thank you so much

The ETA is not a true VISA, it's just a record of your intended travel and your details and you only need to apply for it at least a couple of weeks before you leave, not months and months in advance like most other visas and as far as I can tell, it only costs $20. That will get you into australia for up to 3 months. It's pretty much the VISA waiver program with an online submission of your intended entry before you arrive. You can apply for a tourist visa (subclass 676) https://www.immi.gov.au/visitors/tou...sa-options.htm while in australia, but not any other visas.

If you do decide that you want to move to australia after visiting for a while. I'm sure you'll need to go back home again first and apply from outside the country and most likely, a much longer process.

So basically, all you need is your passport, your flights booked, travel insurance, and then to submit the ETA online a few weeks before you leave and that's it. Really simple.

It's still a visa though. The only country with a visa-free agreement is New Zealand. It's the same thing as the US really. But yeah, I'm 80% confident that you could apply for the Working Holiday visa from New Zealand. You can do it all online anyway, but you need to do physicals and whatnot which can take a fair bit of time.

[BlueCat]

The ETA is not a true VISA, it's just a record of your intended travel and your details and you only need to apply for it at least a couple of weeks before you leave, not months and months in advance like most other visas and as far as I can tell, it only costs $20. That will get you into australia for up to 3 months. It's pretty much the VISA waiver program with an online submission of your intended entry before you arrive. You can apply for a tourist visa (subclass 676) https://www.immi.gov.au/visitors/tou...sa-options.htm while in australia, but not any other visas.

If you do decide that you want to move to australia after visiting for a while. I'm sure you'll need to go back home again first and apply from outside the country and most likely, a much longer process.

So basically, all you need is your passport, your flights booked, travel insurance, and then to submit the ETA online a few weeks before you leave and that's it. Really simple.

[Haley53]

Eclaire: That's weird. I haven't been to the US but many of my friends have and it wasn't a worry for them.

Well given that my boyfriend is not a drug smuggler, terrorist, or riddled with STDs, it wasn't for him either. xD Neither was getting through. It's still very silly and pointless, in my opinion, seeing as it's supposed to "enhance security" but $14 clears you.

schwee44: You can buy your plane tickets, but you will need your passport before you can get the visa done. I don't think the visa takes long to get though, they usually say 72 hours or whatever to cover their end if it takes time. But you are from the US so you won't have any problems. MAKE SURE YOU GET YOUR BF's DETAILS before you leave though, otherwise it will be a hassle and a half to get through immigration. You have to put down contact details on the immigration card. AND DON'T BRING ANY NATURAL PRODUCE. Australian customs are tricky bastards and you might end up on TV.

Eclaire: That's weird. I haven't been to the US but many of my friends have and it wasn't a worry for them.

[Haley53]

International travel makes me want to explode -_-... Literally.

Thanks Tookie, and yeah, I do have friends there.. kinda xD We're actually on the outs right now so I'm not sure how that one will play out.
I imagine I can't get my ticket or visa until I've got my passport in my hand, eh? Dumb question, I'm sure.

I have never needed my passport to buy airline tickets, only a card with money on it. Tehe. If you're trying to get there by August, you might want to get on that. You will need one for the ESTA. The US says you should leave 72 hours for it to be processed and applied for but it was more or less instant (literally it was approved as soon as I submitted payment). Not sure on the one for Aus.

@Tooki - Interesting. Well it doesn't literally frame questions like that, but it does ask if you've been convicted, if you have STDs, etc. It's really nit picky and ridiculous, in my opinion, especially given that it was approved as soon as I sent payment.

International travel makes me want to explode -_-... Literally.

Thanks Tookie, and yeah, I do have friends there.. kinda xD We're actually on the outs right now so I'm not sure how that one will play out.
I imagine I can't get my ticket or visa until I've got my passport in my hand, eh? Dumb question, I'm sure.

Weird. Is the ETA, then, different for Australia? To enter the U.S., you have to fill out an ETA, but it's essentially you enter your personal information, your flight information (if on hand), and answer questions about whether or not you're a drug smuggler or a terrorist, and then you're free to go. Is it different for there?

As far as I know, they only recorded things like D.O.B and passport details. I know that they do it so they can keep track of who goes in and out. I imagine that the ETA is probably similar to to the US ETA. But we don't ask if you smuggle drugs etc. And I imagine that it isn't as nit-picky as the American ETA. They have a different system for other countries as well, like the Schengen States and the UK.

I don't even think you need flight details. It all connects to your passport details.

[Haley53]

ESTA*
Mines just run out >.<

Thank you, I always forget the S. D:

[ChibiFelicia]

Weird. Is the ETA, then, different for Australia? To enter the U.S., you have to fill out an ETA, but it's essentially you enter your personal information, your flight information (if on hand), and answer questions about whether or not you're a drug smuggler or a terrorist, and then you're free to go. Is it different for there?

ESTA*
Mines just run out >.<

[Haley53]

ACTUALLY you do need a visa to come to Australia. You need one of these:

https://www.immi.gov.au/visitors/tourist/976/

I'm pretty sure you can do it all online. But you must apply for it before you go through immigration in Australia. Otherwise you won't get let in. And Aussie immigration is VERY firm in that regard

And the Working Holiday Visa? You have to apply for it outside of Australia. But you can submit it to any overseas office.

(Pardon if I'm wrong, but you have friends in New Zealand yeah? If so, get a tourist visa for NZ and apply for the Working Holiday Visa in Auckland)

GOOD LUCK!

Weird. Is the ETA, then, different for Australia? To enter the U.S., you have to fill out an ETA, but it's essentially you enter your personal information, your flight information (if on hand), and answer questions about whether or not you're a drug smuggler or a terrorist, and then you're free to go. Is it different for there?

ACTUALLY you do need a visa to come to Australia. You need one of these:

https://www.immi.gov.au/visitors/tourist/976/

I'm pretty sure you can do it all online. But you must apply for it before you go through immigration in Australia. Otherwise you won't get let in. And Aussie immigration is VERY firm in that regard

And the Working Holiday Visa? You have to apply for it outside of Australia. But you can submit it to any overseas office.

(Pardon if I'm wrong, but you have friends in New Zealand yeah? If so, get a tourist visa for NZ and apply for the Working Holiday Visa in Auckland)

GOOD LUCK!

[MadMolly]

You mean one to move there? You can apply and everything while in Australia but all the documents have to be sent to your home address, and you'd have to leave Australia and come back to re-enter with the visa anyway. However if you're staying for three months, it's unlikely any residential type visas would be processed that quick anyway I have to say!

[Haley53]

*all the relief in the world* Thank you guys so much!

my friend told me I can't apply for a visa while I'm still in Australia though.. does anyone know if that's true?

Probably. As far as I know, to apply for visas to stay in the country, you have to apply while outside of the country, so if you wanted to do a work and holiday visa in Australia, you would have to apply from the U.S. after you returned home from your visit.

---------- Post added at 10:57 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:56 AM ----------

You could consider asking Zapookie. I believe her boyfriend, who lives in the US, was approved for a year-long work and holiday visa, and if I recall correctly, she's in Australia, so she might be able to answer that question for you.