All About Australia

[Cande Laria]

Is ETA online visa application available for Filipino passport holders? I know many countries like Malaysia, Singapore or USA passport holders, they apply Australian visa online.

[Ashlars]

Is ETA online visa application available for Filipino passport holders? I know many countries like Malaysia, Singapore or USA passport holders, they apply Australian visa online.

To be eligible to apply for an ETA, you must:

be outside Australia
hold a citizen passport of an ETA eligible country.

Eligible passports - ETA through a travel agent, airline, specialist service provider or an Australian visa office outside Australia

This is the list of eligible passports to apply through a travel agent, airline, specialist service provider or an Australian visa office outside Australia. These are citizen passports issued by the following countries.

Andorra
Austria
Belgium
Brunei
Canada
Denmark
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hong Kong (SAR)*
Iceland
Ireland
Italy
Japan
Liechtenstein
Luxembourg
Malaysia
Malta
Monaco
The Netherlands
Norway
Portugal
Republic of San Marino
Singapore
South Korea
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan**
United Kingdom - British Citizen
United Kingdom - British National (Overseas)
United States of America
Vatican City
* A Hong Kong Document of Identity (HKDI) cannot be used to apply for an ETA. Residents of Hong Kong require a citizen passport to apply for this visa.

** Holders of Taiwan passports can only be processed for an ETA if residing and applying in Taiwan. Applications can be lodged with an approved ETA Travel Agent in Taiwan or Australian Visa Services office in Taipei.

[candycane]

babydoc

nice pics! share ka naman ng detailed itinerary mo buti na lang hindi pa kami natuloy sa OZ ng august.. super lamig pa pala?

miscolby
post ka din itinerary mo please?
sydney ka lang ba last time? where did you book medina executive?

[Beda1746]

ilang hours ba ang manila to sydney? ang flight sked sa PAL is around 12 hours ang flight? ganon katagal? parang US?

[thescene]

ilang hours ba ang manila to sydney? ang flight sked sa PAL is around 12 hours ang flight? ganon katagal? parang US?

Do take into consideration that the arrival time is Sydney time. Sydney is ahead by 2 or three hours depending on the time of the year.

[xxxtc]

I applied for an OZ visa 3 weeks ago and sadly I got denied after 10 days of waiting from the date I lodged my application. I am employed for an American brokerage company doing database management and support for the past 3 years. I even had a friend who wrote an invitation letter sent directly to the embassy. I had 2k US dollars on my bank account and around 55k pesos in my peso account, both with Citibank. Presented all the documents required, ITR, Cert of Employment, leave approvals, etc. I have travelled all over asia for the past 7 years, and recently went to Dubai and Abu Dhabi for holidays for more than 15 days. The sad part is that i was still denied. Their visa processing here in Manila wherein the lodging of the forms etc is such a rip off and is way tooo inconvenient! I made follow ups almost everyday after the fifth business day from the day I lodged my application, but I never had a concrete answer if my visa was approved or denied. I also called the embassy but I never got to talk to the case officer, nor did the case officer answer the numberous emails I sent. Now, the question is, did any of you guys here experienced the same thing? My friend was sooo pissed and he's going to call the ministry of foreign affairs when he get back to Oz. Would anyone know if it's possible to make an appeal? The letter that I got stated that i can re-apply anytime but I raelly would'nt want to pay for the visa fee and processing fee of the VIA office.

[b|ued]

I applied for an OZ visa 3 weeks ago and sadly I got denied after 10 days of waiting from the date I lodged my application. I am employed for an American brokerage company doing database management and support for the past 3 years. I even had a friend who wrote an invitation letter sent directly to the embassy. I had 2k US dollars on my bank account and around 55k pesos in my peso account, both with Citibank. Presented all the documents required, ITR, Cert of Employment, leave approvals, etc. I have travelled all over asia for the past 7 years, and recently went to Dubai and Abu Dhabi for holidays for more than 15 days. The sad part is that i was still denied. Their visa processing here in Manila wherein the lodging of the forms etc is such a rip off and is way tooo inconvenient! I made follow ups almost everyday after the fifth business day from the day I lodged my application, but I never had a concrete answer if my visa was approved or denied. I also called the embassy but I never got to talk to the case officer, nor did the case officer answer the numberous emails I sent. Now, the question is, did any of you guys here experienced the same thing? My friend was sooo pissed and he's going to call the ministry of foreign affairs when he get back to Oz. Would anyone know if it's possible to make an appeal? The letter that I got stated that i can re-apply anytime but I raelly would'nt want to pay for the visa fee and processing fee of the VIA office.

i'm sorry to hear your story. out of curiosity, what other visas have you been issued in the past aside from dubai visa? is your friend an australian or an immigrant?

[candycane]

I applied for an OZ visa 3 weeks ago and sadly I got denied after 10 days of waiting from the date I lodged my application. I am employed for an American brokerage company doing database management and support for the past 3 years. I even had a friend who wrote an invitation letter sent directly to the embassy. I had 2k US dollars on my bank account and around 55k pesos in my peso account, both with Citibank. Presented all the documents required, ITR, Cert of Employment, leave approvals, etc. I have travelled all over asia for the past 7 years, and recently went to Dubai and Abu Dhabi for holidays for more than 15 days. The sad part is that i was still denied. Their visa processing here in Manila wherein the lodging of the forms etc is such a rip off and is way tooo inconvenient! I made follow ups almost everyday after the fifth business day from the day I lodged my application, but I never had a concrete answer if my visa was approved or denied. I also called the embassy but I never got to talk to the case officer, nor did the case officer answer the numberous emails I sent. Now, the question is, did any of you guys here experienced the same thing? My friend was sooo pissed and he's going to call the ministry of foreign affairs when he get back to Oz. Would anyone know if it's possible to make an appeal? The letter that I got stated that i can re-apply anytime but I raelly would'nt want to pay for the visa fee and processing fee of the VIA office.

i think.. i think lang ha.. ayaw nila ng masyado kinukulit regarding follow up ng processing ng visa. basta wait mo lang until they're completely done evaluating your application. more on this soon pag may concrete evidence na ko on my theory

[frenchiefranz]

hi!

i have a plan to apply this year a tourst visa to OZ.. not a first time to travel outside philippines been to KL last week. im thinking to get a visa assistance that might be a big help to me to go through the process. Is there anyone here knows about visa assistance na pwedeng irecommend? thanks thanks...

[candycane]

up ko lang yung thread

[Beda1746]

ano ba yong docs na isubmit, original? pwede naman siguro photocopies lahat? how much *** fee?

[babydoc]

@ candycane,

Sorry for the late reply, I was busy preparing for my Japan trip kaya di naka-reply so e-mail mo. I'll just post my Australian itinerary here para ma share sa lahat.

Airline: PAL Manila - Melbourne

Hotel: Melbourne: Batman Hills on Collins (in front of Southern Cross Station), this is also where the airport shuttle stops although we took the taxi.
Sydney: Hotel Ibis, just across World Square & aaround 10 minutes walk to Chinatown, Royal Botanic Gardens, & other parks.

Day 1: Melbourne City Tour. Just ride the City Circle Tram, hop-on, hop-off & its free.

Day2: Great Ocean Road tour, Twelve Apostles, Otway rainforest, London Bridge etc. We booked a guided tour (Melbourne's Best Day tour)

Day3: Dandenongs, Puffing Billy Ride, Warrooks Farm Tour, Koala Reserve & Penguin Parade. Forgot na what company yong na book namin.

Day4: Shrine of Remembrance, Royal Botanic Gardens (Melbourne). Then Qantas flight to Sydney early evening.

Day5: Sydney City Tour: Royal Botanic Garden, Chinatown, (?) wharf.

Day6: Day trip to Canberra for Floraide via Murray's Bus

Day7: Everglades at Leura, Blue Mountains, Three Sisters, Scenic World, Featherdale Zoo

Day8: City tour again & alittle shopping. Then Back to Melbourne via Qantas

Day 9: Melbourne tour & shopping pasalubong

Hope this can help you with your trip.

Sorry kapos sa oras, i'll edit my post later.

BTW in Sydney a family friend drove us to different attractions & even paid for our meals & entrance fees so we saved a lot.

[babydoc]

ano ba yong docs na isubmit, original? pwede naman siguro photocopies lahat? how much *** fee?

They returned some of my original documents eg: birth / Marriage certificates, Tax declarations, BIR forms, CCard billings, bank statements etc. If you have to sumbit photocopies, better if you have it certified by a lawyer.

Good luck.

[Beda1746]

parang hindi ata advisable na isubmit ang original docs gaya ng of Certificate of time deposit, bank account, OR/CR etc..

baby doc: dali lang ba makakuha ng japan visa? may thread ba for this?

[beachbum25]

Hi Aizen-Sama!!! Dito naman tayo nagkita ha ha ha ha ha

I guess I lucked out. Hindi naman malaki yung nakalagay dun sa bank certificate na binigay ko. Promise!!! Pang Facebook nga yung sagot ko sa application form e. "Travelling is my only hobby, I would like to see the Ian Thorpe Aquatic Centre because Ian Thorpe is my hero."

Ha ha. I love this one.

The ian thorpe aquatic centre is near my work pero hindi ko pa napupuntahan..

[babydoc]

@beda1746: yup dali lang at may thread na rin dito PEX: travel & leisure.

If your not comfortable sending original docs just have it photocopied & certified by a lawyer, but the embassy required that certain docs should be original.

[Ada]

Pang Facebook nga yung sagot ko sa application form e. "Travelling is my only hobby, I would like to see the Ian Thorpe Aquatic Centre because Ian Thorpe is my hero."

Hey, I was just outside the Ian Thorpe Aquatic Centre last night.

In my application form, I also put a Ms. Universe-like answer as to why I want to visit Oz: "To experience spring and watch opera." Nothing beats the truth.

I filed my visa application last September 11, got my passport back September 23. It was relatively easy for me since my brother and his wife have permanent resident status here.

I've been here for a week and a half. The weather when we arrived was cold, which was freak weather daw for spring. It was constantly raining and cloudy. But this week is better. The sun's out and I can actually go out without bringing a coat.

Sydney is magnificent! There's a never-ending stream of places to see and things to do. The people are also very nice. Someone warned me that Aussies are the most racist people on the planet but she couldn't have been more wrong! The locals here are super nice and friendly. The pinoys based here are equally nice. We just made some new friends but they already treat us like relatives. Words cannot express the kindness I've experienced so far in my stay here.

One thing I also love here is that the drivers are so law-abiding. They're very considerate of other drivers. Hardly anyone uses their horn (except sa city, where drivers who don't know what they're doing get angrily honked at.) Also, once you've stepped on a pedestrian lane, drivers will stop for you. How I wish it was like that in the Philippines!

So to all of you planning a trip to Sydney, go go go! You won't regret it.

[Ada]

I made follow ups almost everyday after the fifth business day from the day I lodged my application, but I never had a concrete answer if my visa was approved or denied. I also called the embassy but I never got to talk to the case officer, nor did the case officer answer the numberous emails I sent. Now, the question is, did any of you guys here experienced the same thing?

Feeling ko din na-turn down ka kasi kinulit mo sila. Maybe it gave them the impression na masyado kang atat na makapunta sa Oz and it set off certain flags for them. I got my passport back nearly 2 weeks after I filed my application but I never followed-up, even though it says on the email confirmation they sent that I can. My brother advised against it kasi nga baka ma-deny daw ako.

ano ba yong docs na isubmit, original? pwede naman siguro photocopies lahat? how much fee?

I think you really have to submit original docs. Naka-specify sa requirements what need to be orig and what are photocopies. Konti lang naman ang kailangang original: bank certificate, statement of account and leave approval (if you're working).

As for the application fee, it's P3,800 + P600 (VIA's processing fee + delivery of your passport)

[Ada]

Here are some pics:

Floriade (Canberra)



Cockington Green Gardens (Canberra)




Sydney

[candycane]

Ada
such pretty pictures! what camera ginamit mo?

so far, what restos have you tried that are worth recommending? any must go place that you've been to? share ka naman!

babydoc
thanks for the itinerary.. also looking into Batman on Collins and Hotel Ibis Worldsquare.. How was you stay there?