Visa Validation?
 

Hi

We all went over to OZ to validate in November, the trouble is they did not stamp anything on the actual visa (they stamped on an empty page)
Does this matter?

Re: Visa Validation?
 

I'm sure it is - I think theres a barcode thingy on the visa that verifys it :)

Re: Visa Validation?
 

hehe they dont stamp on teh actual visa, they stamped mine on the page after at the lower corner but yeah I think the guy at the desk updates a databse on the computer he was at... and we seemed to take a bit longer than normal people :D

Re: Visa Validation?
 

But isn't it cool when they say welcome to Australia, you are now permenant residents :D

Re: Visa Validation?
 

I'm not sure that the bloke even see our visas, just opened our passports and stamped them. Surely he would have seen them - wouldn't he?

Re: Visa Validation?
 

didnt say that to us :p but probably becuase we had return tickets, but meh its been stamped before the date shown on teh visa and that is proof that it has been validated :) dont need anything special done

Re: Visa Validation?
 

Hi Kevin

When you went through passport control your passports were scanned by a machine. It's a DIMIA system which updates when you are in and out of the country. They stamped ours on different pages, they don't stamp on the actual visa sticker.

Rich

Re: Visa Validation?
 

But they don't :( Don't say anything about it at all - see too many of us I guess :D

Re: Visa Validation?
 

Thanks for that, set my mind at ease!

So how do the airlines know if you have validated or not (so you can get 40kg luggage)?

Re: Visa Validation?
 

The man did with us - in a good mood I guess :)

Re: Visa Validation?
 

we arrived in brisbane on saturday, same old stuff with the visa, it gets scanned and stamped on a seperate page, why would you want them to soil that lovely page thats taken months to get? From the scan at the airport all of the government agencies get notified that you are in the country, including medicare. Much more effiecient than the UK!

We flew with singapore airlines, we pre-arranged the 40kg luggage allowance, but when we checked in they had no record of it on their system; 'computer says no'. A complete cock up courtesy of Auz travel, who we booked through.

we had already faxed copies of our passports to them proving that we had not entered Auz on the visa's previously, as they requested. They checked them again at the airport, and the additional luggage wasn't an issue, and boy did we have some luggage!

They were excellent at check in, and the cabin crew were great, we flew with a 9 month old and they couldn't do enugh for us.

T

Re: Visa Validation?
 

Hi Kevin
When we wanted our 40kg we weren't asked whether we'd validated or not- if I remember correctly they only asked for a photocopy of the visa then they reissued our tickets showing the new baggage allowance.

Re: Visa Validation?
 

We didn't get it either.

I think there should be a specific immigration booth for all new residents with balloons and a big banner saying welcome. The immigration officer has to be a true blue Aussie in a singlet, shorts and thongs. He stamps your passport then takes a stubbie out of the fridge and hands it to you saying "Good Onya, Welcome to Australia".

Re: Visa Validation?
 

They ask for a copy of the visa so they can check its validity against the computer - that will tell them if its a valid visa, and if its an unused (unvalidated) visa. If your visa has already been validated they will know at once, and you are then relying on how generous they are feeling as to whether you get the extra allowance. It may come down to factors like whether they expect the flight to be full or not, but the baggage allowance rules generally are that you only get the extra on an unused PR visa, with a oneway ticket.

Re: Visa Validation?
 

This is what I was informed by Qantas. They also wanted to charge a "special immigration" fare, as we had return tickets so as to validate they wouldn't issue the extra baggae allowance :(
Gillian