Check your visa number!
Feb 22nd 2004, 4:09 am
#1
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2003
Location: London
Posts: 22
Check your visa number!
Hi, word of warning to those of you who have received your visas but have not yet made a trip to Oz on them.
We've just got back from doing our validation trip (absolutely fab, will put a short report up later!), but we had a few hold ups at immigration along the way due to a problem with the visa number. My husband was the main applicant, and we had no problems with him getting through, but I was queried at Heathrow by the check in clerk who said that my visa didn't match my passport, did I have another passport that it should be in etc? No was the answer, and we were all stumped until further investigation revealed the number on the visa was the date my passport had been issued and not my passport number. At immigration at Brisbane, it got queried again, but I was let through when a supervisor said okay, but when we were leaving from Perth, immigration weren't happy that Brisbane had not rectified the problem, and we got held up again. Apparently I may have had problems proving that I had validated the visa on my current passport as the numbers weren't correct, as I actually had two entries on the immigration system made for me - one with the correct number that showed no entry or return, and one with the "issue date passport number" (on which no passport exists, or it might for someone else's name). Perth Immigration apparently sorted it out and all my records have been merged to show that I have been and gone, but it was a bit worrying for a time!
So, after that bit of a long-winded story, the advice is to check the number in the bottom left of your visa sticker to check it matches your passport, as you may otherwise have problems upon arrival. I'm not sure what you have to do if you find out it doesn't match however!!
Anyway, hope this helps someone!
KS
We've just got back from doing our validation trip (absolutely fab, will put a short report up later!), but we had a few hold ups at immigration along the way due to a problem with the visa number. My husband was the main applicant, and we had no problems with him getting through, but I was queried at Heathrow by the check in clerk who said that my visa didn't match my passport, did I have another passport that it should be in etc? No was the answer, and we were all stumped until further investigation revealed the number on the visa was the date my passport had been issued and not my passport number. At immigration at Brisbane, it got queried again, but I was let through when a supervisor said okay, but when we were leaving from Perth, immigration weren't happy that Brisbane had not rectified the problem, and we got held up again. Apparently I may have had problems proving that I had validated the visa on my current passport as the numbers weren't correct, as I actually had two entries on the immigration system made for me - one with the correct number that showed no entry or return, and one with the "issue date passport number" (on which no passport exists, or it might for someone else's name). Perth Immigration apparently sorted it out and all my records have been merged to show that I have been and gone, but it was a bit worrying for a time!
So, after that bit of a long-winded story, the advice is to check the number in the bottom left of your visa sticker to check it matches your passport, as you may otherwise have problems upon arrival. I'm not sure what you have to do if you find out it doesn't match however!!
Anyway, hope this helps someone!
KS
Feb 22nd 2004, 7:47 am
#2
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 11,149
You are correct to get people to check as your experience is not a one off. Basically check all the details including passport no, passport country, DOB etc.
Feb 22nd 2004, 7:55 am
#3
Bitter and twisted
Joined: Dec 2003
Location: Upmarket
Posts: 17,503
Originally posted by bondipom
You are correct to get people to check as your experience is not a one off. Basically check all the details including passport no, passport country, DOB etc.
You are correct to get people to check as your experience is not a one off. Basically check all the details including passport no, passport country, DOB etc.
When we emailed them we were told it was a clerical error and gave us an apology.
Well worth checking well in advance though.
G
Feb 22nd 2004, 11:37 am
#4
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 9,397
Originally posted by Grayling
When we were sent a letter asking for our VAC to receive the visa (Parent Contributory) they (Perth) had put the wrong dates of birth down for both of us.
When we emailed them we were told it was a clerical error and gave us an apology.
Well worth checking well in advance though.
G
When we were sent a letter asking for our VAC to receive the visa (Parent Contributory) they (Perth) had put the wrong dates of birth down for both of us.
When we emailed them we were told it was a clerical error and gave us an apology.
Well worth checking well in advance though.
G
Feb 23rd 2004, 12:38 am
#5
Forum Regular
Joined: Oct 2003
Location: Algester,Brisbane
Posts: 158
Thanks JandKS
Just checked mine, all present and correct but it's worth checking.
all I need now is for someone to buy my house and were off
Steph
Just checked mine, all present and correct but it's worth checking.
all I need now is for someone to buy my house and were off
Steph
Feb 23rd 2004, 11:06 am
#6
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2001
Location: Back in Aus
Posts: 721
Check also that all your middle names are on the visa. I got hauled to one side at Brisbane cos my middle name wasnt on the visa sticker.
I rang DIMIA to ask about this and was told they often dont put middle names on!
A case of the left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing?
I rang DIMIA to ask about this and was told they often dont put middle names on!
A case of the left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing?
