Ruffy

I should be going to Australia House tomorrow .How big are the queues and what is a good time to get there?

yafm

Hi they only open 9am to 11am I think, get there early to advoid the rush.Dont drink to much before you join the queue. Nearly got the garage cleared Colin.:scared:

kevwalt

Hi, hubby went to Australia House to get our visas in passports. He got there about 7.00ish and there were about 15-20 people in front of him in the queue. By the time it opened the queue had grown and was going round the corner.

Once it opened it didnt take him long to get in. Don't expect great things though - he said it was like queuing at the dole office.

Regards
Kate

karlos

Hi Kate,

I went a few weeks ago. Got there about 8.15am. There were about 10 people in front of me. By 8.45am (when they let you in) there were probably about 60 people waiting.

I was inside for about 45mins and left with a big smile and a couple of visas

It was a Friday (don't know if certain days are busy than others)

Regards
Karl.

Sindy

Hi Ruffy,

My experience was very similar to karls. I traveled to Oz house yesterday and got there at 8:45. There was about 50 people in front of me and they opened the doors at 8:50.

They do not start to process queries until 09:00 but get people in the doors a little early to allow for the security screen (bit like an airport metal detector) and to give you a ticket with a queue number on it. Each type of query is handled by a different teller. Although 50 people were ahead of me my PR query was assigned ticket number A004.

By 09:30 I was back on the street, but alas without the visa as Adelaide had made a cock up on the number of passports to be presented.

Still they promised to sort it out in a day so we will see.

Best tube station to use is Temple and walk stright up Arundel St. Oz house will be on your left.

Good luck.

Bill

Pollyana

Bill's experiences very similar to mine this morning, once the doors open it all moves quickly......but a hint for the females amongst us - they have the usual metal detector (like an airport) and bag checking - but the sensor is so good it picks up the wires in underwired bras..........!!!!! Talk your way out of that one!
(well, if nothing else its given you all a laugh, but believe me, its true!!

Jaykay

I went up to Australia House this morning. Admittedly it was for an Australian Passport for my daughter, not visa stamping.

Got the 10.00am train from Woking. Back in Woking at 12.00pm. It seemed very quiet up there, but I didn't go to the visa bit, so things may have been different in that section.

Regards

james & bev

does anybody know if these big queues are for the area where you wait for interviews?? for front end loaded applications??

We have an interview time at 9.30 tomorrow and when we asked where we needed to go they said simply go to the counter and you may need to take a ticket and wait. I get the feeling that the 9.30 time is more a time to turn up than a specific appointment.

Anybody know?? We are travelling from b'ham so sounds like we might have to get up extra early.

thanks

james

karlos

James,

I imagine it's the same area. Once you are through security clearance you go to the ticket booth, explain what you are there for, and the person there gives you a ticket relevant to your situation.

When I was there the queue was through the security point and tickets handed out pretty quick.

Regards
Karl.

janeyray

If you have an appointment you just go straight to a seat and they call your name out. Don't be late though, it is an appointment time and not just a turn up time.