I got an e-mail from my case officer on thursday last week saying that he had granted my visa and that confirmation e-mail would be sent "overnight" he also said that I could catch a flight from thursday onwards and that "I can get the stickers when I arrive in Australia". Today is boxing day and the confirmation e-mail still hasn't arrived, on friday I booked my ticket for New Years day. So the question is do I need the confirmation e-mail, what is a sticker? will they let me in Australia? all help greatly received...

For clarification the visa is a 457 business sponsored visa.

The sticker is the actual visa label Immigration stick on a page of your passport.

With a 457 visa you have 30 days from your time of arrival in Australian to present yourself to any DIMIA offices so they can do it.

I would say you do need the email confirmation as it attaches an official DIMIA letter with all the details. You present this letter at the airport passport desk and it allows them to easily find you on their computer system. They stamp the passport with the arrival date.

I'd say you need it but if it hasn't arrived could you get a last minute holiday visa to travel as you can't cancel your ticket then you can chase it up when you arrive and their offices are open.

I had my ass whooped by JAJ for suggesting such a thing to another poster. It seems that if you have been granted a visa, you can't get an ETA too. (not sure if this stipulation applies to all initial visas though...I best loosen my belt for JAJ - oh check my avatar...I already have)!!

Thats true, if you try and apply for an ETA it will not allow its grant, and will refer you to DIMA.

I'd try very very hard to get that ticket rescheduled or else if you must cancel it, hopefully you will get most of your money refunded.