Changes to visa processing in Pakistan
Dec 11th 2012, 3:54 am
#1
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 155
Changes to visa processing in Pakistan
The Department of Immigration and Citizenship is pleased to announce the introduction of Australian Visa Application Centres (AVACs) across Pakistan.
From 10 December 2012, AVACs will operate in Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi. The locations of the three AVACs are:
Australian Visa Application Centre Islamabad, 14–B, Sadiq Plaza, G–9 Markaz, Islamabad
Australian Visa Application Centre Karachi, 43/1/D, Razi Road, PECHS, Shahrah-e-Faisal, Karachi
Australian Visa Application Centre Lahore, 20, Ex American Centre Building, Opp. Ganga Ram Hospital, Queens Road, Lahore.
From 10 December 2012, biometric collection will be introduced into the visa application process. The collection of biometrics from visa applicants overseas is part of an Australian Government border management initiative.
AVAC Services
AVACs will provide improvements to service delivery across Pakistan, by providing more convenient access to immigration and citizenship services for clients. In addition to lodgement of visa applications and biometrics services, the AVACs will offer user pays service options including; SMS notifications, photo booth, an internet kiosk and photocopying services.
Lodging an application at an AVAC
To avoid long waiting times, applicants are required to make an appointment at an Australian Visa Application Centre prior to lodging their application and/or having their biometrics collected. Each person included in the visa application must attend the Australian Visa Application Centre or an Australian Biometric Collection Centre in person to have their biometrics collected.
Opening hours of AVACs will be 8.00 am to 5.00 pm Monday to Friday, with phone lines operating until 5.00 pm Monday to Saturday. Client service officers who speak both Urdu and English are available.
Visa application lodgement and the biometric data collection process
Clients lodging visa applications in Pakistan, regardless of nationality, will need to provide their fingerprints and a digital facial photograph as part of visa application processing.
The biometrics that will be collected are a facial image with a digital camera and a 10-digit fingerprint scan with a digital finger scanner.
Exclusions from biometrics collection
Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents and New Zealand citizens are excluded from biometrics collection.
Applicants who apply online and meet the requirements for an electronic visa or Electronic Travel Authority are also excluded from the program.
Applicants who are under 15 years of age, persons incapable of providing consent, or those physically unable to provide a fingerprint scan, will only need to provide a facial photograph.
If an applicant is incapable or under 18 years of age, a parent or legal guardian will be asked to give consent and be present when biometrics are collected.
Processing of applications lodged at an AVAC
All applications will continue to be assessed and decided by the Immigration section of the local Australian High Commission Islamabad. Staff at the AVAC will have no involvement in the decision-making process or have any knowledge of the application outcome.
The AVAC will provide a tracking facility that allows clients to see the status of their application. All client enquiries should be directed to the AVAC in the first instance.
From 10 December 2012, AVACs will operate in Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi. The locations of the three AVACs are:
Australian Visa Application Centre Islamabad, 14–B, Sadiq Plaza, G–9 Markaz, Islamabad
Australian Visa Application Centre Karachi, 43/1/D, Razi Road, PECHS, Shahrah-e-Faisal, Karachi
Australian Visa Application Centre Lahore, 20, Ex American Centre Building, Opp. Ganga Ram Hospital, Queens Road, Lahore.
From 10 December 2012, biometric collection will be introduced into the visa application process. The collection of biometrics from visa applicants overseas is part of an Australian Government border management initiative.
AVAC Services
AVACs will provide improvements to service delivery across Pakistan, by providing more convenient access to immigration and citizenship services for clients. In addition to lodgement of visa applications and biometrics services, the AVACs will offer user pays service options including; SMS notifications, photo booth, an internet kiosk and photocopying services.
Lodging an application at an AVAC
To avoid long waiting times, applicants are required to make an appointment at an Australian Visa Application Centre prior to lodging their application and/or having their biometrics collected. Each person included in the visa application must attend the Australian Visa Application Centre or an Australian Biometric Collection Centre in person to have their biometrics collected.
Opening hours of AVACs will be 8.00 am to 5.00 pm Monday to Friday, with phone lines operating until 5.00 pm Monday to Saturday. Client service officers who speak both Urdu and English are available.
Visa application lodgement and the biometric data collection process
Clients lodging visa applications in Pakistan, regardless of nationality, will need to provide their fingerprints and a digital facial photograph as part of visa application processing.
The biometrics that will be collected are a facial image with a digital camera and a 10-digit fingerprint scan with a digital finger scanner.
Exclusions from biometrics collection
Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents and New Zealand citizens are excluded from biometrics collection.
Applicants who apply online and meet the requirements for an electronic visa or Electronic Travel Authority are also excluded from the program.
Applicants who are under 15 years of age, persons incapable of providing consent, or those physically unable to provide a fingerprint scan, will only need to provide a facial photograph.
If an applicant is incapable or under 18 years of age, a parent or legal guardian will be asked to give consent and be present when biometrics are collected.
Processing of applications lodged at an AVAC
All applications will continue to be assessed and decided by the Immigration section of the local Australian High Commission Islamabad. Staff at the AVAC will have no involvement in the decision-making process or have any knowledge of the application outcome.
The AVAC will provide a tracking facility that allows clients to see the status of their application. All client enquiries should be directed to the AVAC in the first instance.
Dec 11th 2012, 4:49 am
#2
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Feb 2009
Location: UK
Posts: 14,284
Re: Changes to visa processing in Pakistan
Did you have a question?
Dec 11th 2012, 4:53 am
#3
Home and Happy
Joined: Dec 2002
Location: Keep true friends and puppets close, trust no-one else...
Posts: 93,816
Re: Changes to visa processing in Pakistan
Useful info, but could you post your source please so people know whether it is official or not.
Dec 11th 2012, 8:12 am
#4
Forum Regular
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 93
Re: Changes to visa processing in Pakistan
The Department of Immigration and Citizenship is pleased to announce the introduction of Australian Visa Application Centres (AVACs) across Pakistan.
From 10 December 2012, AVACs will operate in Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi. The locations of the three AVACs are:
Australian Visa Application Centre Islamabad, 14–B, Sadiq Plaza, G–9 Markaz, Islamabad
Australian Visa Application Centre Karachi, 43/1/D, Razi Road, PECHS, Shahrah-e-Faisal, Karachi
Australian Visa Application Centre Lahore, 20, Ex American Centre Building, Opp. Ganga Ram Hospital, Queens Road, Lahore.
From 10 December 2012, biometric collection will be introduced into the visa application process. The collection of biometrics from visa applicants overseas is part of an Australian Government border management initiative.
AVAC Services
AVACs will provide improvements to service delivery across Pakistan, by providing more convenient access to immigration and citizenship services for clients. In addition to lodgement of visa applications and biometrics services, the AVACs will offer user pays service options including; SMS notifications, photo booth, an internet kiosk and photocopying services.
Lodging an application at an AVAC
To avoid long waiting times, applicants are required to make an appointment at an Australian Visa Application Centre prior to lodging their application and/or having their biometrics collected. Each person included in the visa application must attend the Australian Visa Application Centre or an Australian Biometric Collection Centre in person to have their biometrics collected.
Opening hours of AVACs will be 8.00 am to 5.00 pm Monday to Friday, with phone lines operating until 5.00 pm Monday to Saturday. Client service officers who speak both Urdu and English are available.
Visa application lodgement and the biometric data collection process
Clients lodging visa applications in Pakistan, regardless of nationality, will need to provide their fingerprints and a digital facial photograph as part of visa application processing.
The biometrics that will be collected are a facial image with a digital camera and a 10-digit fingerprint scan with a digital finger scanner.
Exclusions from biometrics collection
Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents and New Zealand citizens are excluded from biometrics collection.
Applicants who apply online and meet the requirements for an electronic visa or Electronic Travel Authority are also excluded from the program.
Applicants who are under 15 years of age, persons incapable of providing consent, or those physically unable to provide a fingerprint scan, will only need to provide a facial photograph.
If an applicant is incapable or under 18 years of age, a parent or legal guardian will be asked to give consent and be present when biometrics are collected.
Processing of applications lodged at an AVAC
All applications will continue to be assessed and decided by the Immigration section of the local Australian High Commission Islamabad. Staff at the AVAC will have no involvement in the decision-making process or have any knowledge of the application outcome.
The AVAC will provide a tracking facility that allows clients to see the status of their application. All client enquiries should be directed to the AVAC in the first instance.
From 10 December 2012, AVACs will operate in Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi. The locations of the three AVACs are:
Australian Visa Application Centre Islamabad, 14–B, Sadiq Plaza, G–9 Markaz, Islamabad
Australian Visa Application Centre Karachi, 43/1/D, Razi Road, PECHS, Shahrah-e-Faisal, Karachi
Australian Visa Application Centre Lahore, 20, Ex American Centre Building, Opp. Ganga Ram Hospital, Queens Road, Lahore.
From 10 December 2012, biometric collection will be introduced into the visa application process. The collection of biometrics from visa applicants overseas is part of an Australian Government border management initiative.
AVAC Services
AVACs will provide improvements to service delivery across Pakistan, by providing more convenient access to immigration and citizenship services for clients. In addition to lodgement of visa applications and biometrics services, the AVACs will offer user pays service options including; SMS notifications, photo booth, an internet kiosk and photocopying services.
Lodging an application at an AVAC
To avoid long waiting times, applicants are required to make an appointment at an Australian Visa Application Centre prior to lodging their application and/or having their biometrics collected. Each person included in the visa application must attend the Australian Visa Application Centre or an Australian Biometric Collection Centre in person to have their biometrics collected.
Opening hours of AVACs will be 8.00 am to 5.00 pm Monday to Friday, with phone lines operating until 5.00 pm Monday to Saturday. Client service officers who speak both Urdu and English are available.
Visa application lodgement and the biometric data collection process
Clients lodging visa applications in Pakistan, regardless of nationality, will need to provide their fingerprints and a digital facial photograph as part of visa application processing.
The biometrics that will be collected are a facial image with a digital camera and a 10-digit fingerprint scan with a digital finger scanner.
Exclusions from biometrics collection
Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents and New Zealand citizens are excluded from biometrics collection.
Applicants who apply online and meet the requirements for an electronic visa or Electronic Travel Authority are also excluded from the program.
Applicants who are under 15 years of age, persons incapable of providing consent, or those physically unable to provide a fingerprint scan, will only need to provide a facial photograph.
If an applicant is incapable or under 18 years of age, a parent or legal guardian will be asked to give consent and be present when biometrics are collected.
Processing of applications lodged at an AVAC
All applications will continue to be assessed and decided by the Immigration section of the local Australian High Commission Islamabad. Staff at the AVAC will have no involvement in the decision-making process or have any knowledge of the application outcome.
The AVAC will provide a tracking facility that allows clients to see the status of their application. All client enquiries should be directed to the AVAC in the first instance.
I am currently lodging my immigration visa through skill select. With the introduction of AVAC, should I contact AVAC or continue with my online application?
Thanks
