Passport control - Sydney
 

Hello All,

Just a quick one. How long does it take to get through passport control on a PR visa, do you have to go a different place. Getting picked up from the airport so just working out timings.

Thanks

Alex

Re: Passport control - Sydney
 

How long is a piece of string? It will depend on how many flights arrive at the same time = how many people are in the queue ahead of you. If there are any holdups ahead of you and any holdups while going through baggage collection, Customs/AQIS checking etc after Immigration. General rule of thumb, it would be advisable for them to give you at least an hour after landing to get to arrivals.

Re: Passport control - Sydney
 

No separate place. Just queue up with everyone else.

Re: Passport control - Sydney
 

You go to the same desks and it takes as long as normal.

Re: Passport control - Sydney
 

When I came in September, Immi at Sydney forgot to stamp my passport!

I realised when I was in the baggage hall and went back to get it done.:sneaky:

Re: Passport control - Sydney
 

It's not the passport control that takes the time, that will likely be a flick, a look and a stamp in the book. It's the baggage screening on the way out that takes ages, especially if you are coming with a whole load of stuff and have things to declare (even the chocolate they gave you on the plane). The queues for the xrays and questioning can me miles long especially with all the long haul flights arriving after the curfew is lifted. Most times I have come through lately it has been about an hour.

Re: Passport control - Sydney
 

If i had a newish laptop would i have to declare that?

Re: Passport control - Sydney
 

It took me 2 hours when I came through in September, and that was with BA having lost my luggage to I only had hand baggage! Passport control doesn't take long; I know that feeling of wanting to shout "I have a 136 visa, I'm emigrating, HELLO" - when we first arrived in June I basically told the immigration guy my life story about how I had ended up in Sydney. He was very sweet and welcomed me to Australia while OH and the kids cringed in the background. However, Sydney airport has stopped the 2 queue system for customs (anything to declare and not) so everyone faces a huge queue if you arrive, as is common, with a few long haul flights at the same time. Sydney airport has a curfew from 11pm-6am (I still haven't worked out how BA advertises a flight that arrives at 5.30am as, technically, that isn't possible) so the reality is all the flights land within 30 minutes of each other and it's chaos. Think of it as your first lesson in the art of standing back and thinking "she'll be right" :D

Re: Passport control - Sydney
 

No.:D