Visitor Visa – essential information

Visitor Visa for Australia

​The Department of Home Affairs receives thousands of Visitor Visa applications per year and they are under pressure to make decisions on these in good time – after all, you want to travel to Australia as soon as possible and they need to ensure these visas are decided with thought towards the safety and integrity of the country and the visa program. Currently visa application processing times for a Visitor Visa 600 is taking between 8 and 24 days.

the different kinds of Visitor Visas available...

The Visitor Visas that you are best to use a registered migration agent are:

• Visitor Visa 600 – applying outside of Australia
• Visitor Visa 600 – applying from within Australia
• Business Visitor Visa 600 – applying outside of Australia
• Sponsored Family Visitor Visa 600 – applying outside of Australia

These all cost $190AUD per person and even in a family unit, each person must make their own individual application and satisfy each criteria.

Other Visitor Visas that are easily applied for by yourself are:

• Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) 601 – service fee of $20AUD applied for via the ETA app with an approved passport.
• eVisitor 651 – this visa is free and available to those holding approved passports. Lodge this through ImmiAccount.

how to lodge an application that will be successful in the shortest amount of time...

We highly recommend the following steps:

1. Use a registered migration agent.  Yes the visa application fee is low and so it’s easy to think “I can just do this myself”… “why would I spend so much money on an agent?” – but agent’s are worth it. They are more likely to be trusted by the Department when they receive an application. A migration agent’s reputation for success is linked to the application. A reputable migration agent does not want to lodge an application that will be refused!
2. It is not enough to simply fill out the application form stating why you want to travel to Australia. It is far more than that. This is where an agent will review your case and advise where your case is strong and more importantly where it is weak and likely to fail. They will work on a strategy to address those issues and turn the case around to be favourable.
3. Include supporting documents at the time of lodging the application.  Do not wait on the case officer to request these.  A complete application will make it easier for assessment and this will avoid delaying the case officer from making their decision.  In turn, you have your visa granted quicker.

​Why are Visitor Visas so easily refused?

These common mistakes are made and should be avoided:

1. Financials – failure to prove that you are able to support yourself during your stay and most importantly, able to then depart.  If you are deemed a risk to stay to work or become destitute whilst on your visit, you will be refused.
2. Insufficient reasons to return home – the Department understands why you want to visit Australia; but they need to be certain you will also depart once your stay is done. Why will you return home? Work? Family? Schooling?  Australia is a wonderful destination, and it can easily entice people to remain longer than they intended to.
3. Providing fraudulent or bogus documents – the Department are very good at identifying documents that are not issued correctly, manipulated or fake.  Never do this.  It will not only lead to your application being refused, but any future applications will also be affected. It’s just not worth it!
4. Failing to provide additional documents as requested by the Department by the due date. There is a reason why the Department are making the request, so taking prompt action is important.
5. Failing the medical check or not being of good character (police checks) – understandably, the Department want to ensure that anyone entering the country will not be of harm to those already here. 

 
When you are ready to visit – we are ready to help you!  Contact Great Australian Migration with your travel plans and we will provide a free basic eligibility assessment and service quote.