Many people approach me asking: “what exactly is an Australian Visitor visa?” They ask me “who the visa is for?” and “what can you do on the visa?” I then explain to them that an Australian Visitor or Tourist visa can be used for a variety of reasons. It can be used to visit family, spouses, girlfriends, boyfriends or just friends that are in Australia. It can be used for short term study purposes, and of course, it can be used for general tourism activities.
There are 2 main classes of Visitor visa that are available depending on your purpose for visiting Australia. There is the Tourist stream for purposes mentioned above. There is also the Business stream which is for business people to visit Australia for short term visits to discuss business, have meeting, negotiate contracts, etc…
A Visitor visa can be valid for 3, 6 or 12 month options depending on your visa needs and your ability to support yourself while in Australia. The visa will also usually allow the holder to study for up to 3 months.
The visitor visa does not allow the holder to work in Australia.
All persons need to make a separate application – so if a family or group of friends want to travel to Australia, they cannot put in 1 combined application. Each person will need to prepare a separate application. But applications can be linked.
In an application the Department of Home Affairs (DOHA), who oversee visas for Australia, make a number of enquiries about the ‘Applicant’. They look at the medical history, character, financial position, travel history and work and family situation. DOHA are concerned with whether the ‘Applicant’ is a genuine tourist or whether they may have other unstated motives, like whether they want to work. They are also concerned with the whether the ‘Applicant’ is likely to overstay their visa or not.
Once an application is prepared and submitted, the processing time can vary depending on the Embassy, the time of year, and the complexity of the application. It can take anywhere from a few days to 1 month or more. Unfortunately, if your visa is not granted, the decision cannot usually be appealed, but you can always make a new application in the future. It is always recommended that you consult a skilled and experienced Migration Agent to advise about your Australian Visitor visa application. At ETA Visa Australia Express and Australian Visa Advice we can help you to obtain your Visitor visa.
Apply for your Australian Visitor visa today!
Written by Luke Gorham ©2020
Registered Migration Agent
Owner
ETA Visa Australia Express
etavisaaustralia.org
Australian Visa Advice
australianvisaadvice.com
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