SHARKDD

Hi everyone i am 26 and looking to go to OZ over to a mate soon on a working holiday visa but i had a wild past with 15 or 16 criminal convictions just been young and stupid when i apply for my visa do you think i should tell the truth or say nothing as my friend told me they ask him nothing when he got there no questions where asked any feedback be great

Alfresco

Hi and welcome to BE.

I would suggest you speak the truth otherwise if they find out you will be banished forever from Australian shores.

SHARKDD

But what if they refuse me then there is loads there in same boat as me that lied i don't know what to do to its confusing mate

xizzles

Just because other applicants choose to be less than forthcoming in their declarations doesn't mean you should. But, ultimately, no one's going to dob you in for your omission - certainly no one from the forum anyway. It's up to you, but if you're caught out, I'm pretty sure the consequences can be quite severe....

verystormy

As someone that travels a lot internationally in and out of oz, you would be surprised at how many people are pulled over to have their details checked. If you are one, then you would be deported and banned. That doesn't only effect any future visit to oz, but to pretty much any country outside of Europe - when you apply for a visa even for tourism, a routine question is if you have ever been deported from a country.

Dorothy

Nobody here is going to encourage you to lie. If that's what you intend to do then don't come here looking for validation. If you choose to be truthful and apply for the correct visa you may (probably will) have your application sent for further checks. There's nothing saying you definitely will not be granted a visa. However, if you lie and are found out it is very likely you will be on the next plane home and face a long ban from entering again.

SHARKDD

thank you very much for your advice

Croker

I remember posting in a thread that was a little similar to this a while ago. You've been advised well, here, to be honest. I actually work in immigration in the UK, and I can tell you that - the instant you lie (or lie by omission) - we will refuse you entry. The Australians will be no different.

Just be honest; if these are juvenile convictions of a not particularly serious nature, then you may have little to worry about, as unlikely as that may seem to you right now!

Alfresco

KieranJ

Hi, does anyone know any agents that are particularly successful in dealing with substantial criminal convictions..?

Pollyana

I've heard the names of George Lombard and Ian Harrop mentioned in the past