newjersey

5 days is generally sufficient. Evidencing (the visa label in the passport) is advisable, but not strictly necessary, because Australian authorities have all visa info stored electronically. You may have an issue with the airline, that must verify your status before letting you board, but you can use your grant letter instead that you should have received electronically by then. Some services in Australia, like Medicare, also want to see the visa label. So it is up to you - if you can get it done on your trip, fine, if not, visit a DIAC office after arrival and get it there.

azakir

Congratulations for your son and wish you good luck.

tarunrajan

On the same note, i've been advised that it's not necessary to get a label affixed.

I want to though and rang up DIAC who advised me not to send the passports by mail. My nearest DIAC office is Brisbane.

Has anyone else sent their passports by mail to get labels affixed? Is the address the same as listed on DIAC's website for departmental offices (http://www.immi.gov.au/contacts/aust...d-brisbane.htm) or do i have to address it to a particular person?

Regards

moneypenny20

No, not to a particular person. That address is correct. It's not 'necessary' to get the label but many people do and some places (Medicare) don't have the brain power (some employees, not all) to check the computer and if they can't see the label they won't accept your status.

However, if you're a long way from a DIAC office and you don't want to send the passport there is this which I only learnt about recently but could solve the problem of proof.

If you do post the passport, make sure you use Registered Post.

tarunrajan

Hi Moneypenny,

Thanks for your reply. I've got Medicare sorted out with the approval letter, although the lady did throw a huge hissy fit that she could not see the words 'permanent residents'. She wouldn't accept the headline stating grant of visa sub class blah blah. I had to ask her to flip through the pages.

I also sorted outta the VEVO thingy with DIAC.

I've heard from some people that without the label, they sometimes experience delays at the airport and probably have to carry the approval letter on them. I guess I'll have to get it done next time I'm in Brisbane. It's a pity there's no office up in Townsville.


Regards

moneypenny20

Yeah, you're kind of a long way from anywhere aren't you? You'd have no problems with getting into Aus but you 'could' have issues leaving anywhere for Aus. The UK airports understand about no visa stickers for the most part but there's always one let alone other places.

Little Lisa 1971

Hi Everyone,

We are flying to Perth on the 12th December 2011 to validate our 176 Visa which was granted in April 2011. I was wondering what you thought about the new E-Visa? I am worried I might have problems at the airport, though I have printed off all our information on the DIAC Website (VEVO).

Has anyone recently using a E-Visa had any problems at the airport? We are flying with Singapore Airlines.

Would you post off the passports to London and have them stamped to be safe? Does anyone know how much the special delivery costs return for 4 passports?

Thanks Little Lisa x

moneypenny20

You shouldn't have a problem. Depends if you want the sticker in the visa. Singapore are fully aware of evisas. Special Delivery prices here. Work out weight for the four and remember to buy prepaid self addressed one for them to return them if you go for it.

If you leave it until you get here, you can take them into the nearest DIAC office and they will do it free of charge. They don't charge in London but you do have the post costs.

You'd be fine with the evisas and VEVO.

Little Lisa 1971

Thanks Moneypenny x

steen1976

We just arrived Monday using the E-visa and there was no problems at all.

However we went straight to the immigration office in Sydney to have a label put in to cut out any problems registering for certain organisations.

Tubbs2Oz

Good plan, they ask to see it for all kinds of things. School, uni, employment. It's definitely nice to have the visual aid of the sticker once you're here.

Dreamy

Good to see you've arrived safely

steen1976

Thanks Dreamy. All gone well so far though not getting much sleep.

Three different weather fronts in three days mind.

Beoz

Add Medicare and Drivers License to that list.

Dentonburn

I've just been allocated a 176 visa (one of the delayed NSW ones!).
CO was absolutely fantastic

My CO tells me that I don't need to get a label as evidence in my passport as it is now handled electronically, but, although this may sound daft, how do employers in Australia know that you're entitled to work legally?
In the old Working holiday Visa days circa 2000, all agencies used to photocopy your work visa as evidence!