Australian Visas What A Ripoff

[CrapAtCryptics]

I`m just in the process of finishing off the nitty gritty for a trip to HK / Perth / Sydney in April. I duly went to the Australian visa site and waded through the online visa application form ( 12 pages ) covering everything but my inside leg measurement. Then had to do it all again for my wife. At £60 each I was less than impressed when it came back granted immediately. You`d have thought they`d have kept it in the in tray for 24 hours to make out they did something for the money. For 12 days its a nice little Antipodean earner.

[1ozzy]

//At £60 each I was less than impressed when it came back granted immediately//

Would you have preferred to have been stuffed about for months upon end?
Told to re-apply, again and again?
Show's how efficient we are ;-/

[1ozzy]

Next time put your inside leg measurement in, I'm sure that will delay proceedings.

Hope you enjoy your limited time down under.

[bunkmoreland]

You tell him ozzy ! Can't see what the whinging is about,damned if you do etc!

[1ozzy]

Hee hee Bunkmoreland, I think the cost was the major gripe.
Once upon a time people from the UK were transported here for free!!!
Like it or not ;-)

[VHG]

What visa did you get, a tourist visa for less then 3 months stay?

Are you sure you used the official web site?

The official web site says there is no cost for a tourist visa - evisitor (subclass 651).

It says:

Cost: There is no charge for an eVisitor application.

http://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Visa-1/651-

[Buenchico]

It's hard to complain about £60 for an Ozzie visa though when you realise that we charge people £85 to come here ;-)
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/419449/fees_table_for_website_2015_03_30.pdf
(Admittedly though, Ozzies don't actually require a visa to visit the UK anyway).

However I'm mystified as to how you've been charged £60 for a visa unless you've made he mistake of going via a third-party site. UK passport holders only need an Electronic Travel Authority (not a visa, per se) to enter Australia. It's free but there's a 20 AUD administration charge (which is a little under a tenner):
https://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Visa/Appl/Electronic-travel-authority

[bunkmoreland]

ah,the good ole days ,no 60 quid charge then lol

[1ozzy]

Interesting links VHG and Chris, never having applied for a visa to travel here myself.

And Bunkmoreland, even during the 1960's you could come here for 10 quid, as long as you had some skill to offer and stayed and worked.

[Buenchico]

PS, CrapAtCryptics, Perth is a fantastic city and an excellent base for tourism. Make sure that you take a tour into the Nambung National Park, to see the Pinnacles Desert:
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b3/Pinnacles_desert_-_Nambung_National_Park_-_Western_Australia_-_25_Aug._2012.jpg

[1ozzy]

If you enjoy city life Sydney has a lot to offer. I recommend a harbour cruise or catch the Manly ferry from Circular Quay.

If you like nature visit Wentworth Falls or the Royal National Park.

www.visitnsw.com/destinations/blue-mountains/katoomba-area/wentworth-falls/attractions/valley-of-the-waters

http://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/visit-a-park/parks/royal-national-park

Or head a bit north to Brooklyn and join the riverboat postman for a tour of the Hawkesbury river.

http://www.riverboatpostman.com.au/

Highly recommended, I grew up playing in/on the Hawkesbury river.

[1ozzy]

My second link is missing the http bit.
If you highlight it and select "go to" it will work ;-)

[CrapAtCryptics]

Many thanks to everyone for your inciteful and informative comments - seeing relatives in Perth so wandering time may be limited.

[pusskin]

I went to see the Pinnacles roughly 15 yrs ago...was fantastic and well worth the journey from Leederville Perth 200 miles?
We stopped at a monastry for a picnic in the grounds...long long lovely day!

[jno]

£60? I suspect you wuz robbed.

[EDDIE51]

When you arrive in Oz and immigration ask if you have a criminal record, it is not a good idea to reply ''I'm sorry I didn't realise it was still necessary''

[CrapAtCryptics]

As far as criminal records go I have Des O`Connor`s greatest hits does that count.

[EDDIE51]

No, but Rolf Harris 'Two little Boys' might count.