Australia visa timescale

[Bill]

We’ve applied online for four tourist visas sub class 651. One got instantly approved. The other three are still pending. 90% are approved within 1 day. We used the official website (not a third party).

I’ve read that some people in similar situations – where the 651 is delayed – they are applying for the ETA 601 visa using the app and getting that instantly. Then just letting the 601 run its course (ie eventually approved).

We’ve got flights booked next month, but they are refundable in case the visa doesn’t come through.

When I went there in 2016 I was able to get a visa in Manchester Airport at the Qatar desk. Presumably I can’t do this any more?

What are other contributors experiences of the timescales for the 651 visa?

[LD27]

I applied last September for 651 eVisa on official site and had to wait nearly 2 weeks. Flew Singapore airlines from Frankfurt without it being granted as no one checked and decided to risk it and sort out on arrival. Fortunately email saying visa approved arrived whilst I was en route between Singapore and Melbourne.
My son applied in December and it took over 2 weeks. Qantas would not let him continue beyond Singapore so he had to wait it out there until it came through – fortunately he was on staff ticket. My cousin forgot she needed visa. Applied at check in at Heathrow and it came through almost immediately so she was able to travel.
We all would have applied sooner but booked flights at short notice and were awaiting new passports. We have all had eVisa 651 before. So there doesn’t seem to be any logic behind length of time. But not sure 90% approved within 1 day is very accurate!

[Bill]

3 out of 4 now approved….

[John]

LD27 wrote:

I applied last September for 651 eVisa on official site and had to wait nearly 2 weeks. Flew Singapore airlines from Frankfurt without it being granted as no one checked and decided to risk it and sort out on arrival. Fortunately email saying visa approved arrived whilst I was en route between Singapore and Melbourne.

Interesting. You shouldn’t have been allowed to check in at all, at least for the final leg to Australia, as I thought the airline systems would verify your passport number with the Australian database before issuing a BP. One of my family members has a complicated Australian visa history which means airline staff always need to send a message to Australian immigration before the computer will give him a BP, thus when travelling with him we must turn up 4 hours in advance.

[WaynedP]

What are other contributors experiences of the timescales for the 651 visa?

Under 3 hours for me yesterday for eVisa 651 from account first set up to receipt of pdf showing status = granted.

Can’t fault that in my book.

[Bill]

Final one just come through. 4 out of 4 now

[louie]

I’m surprised that so many HfPers are applying for 651 visas rather than ETAs.

[LD27]

Interesting. You shouldn’t have been allowed to check in at all, at least for the final leg to Australia, as I thought the airline systems would verify your passport number with the Australian database before issuing a BP. One of my family members has a complicated Australian visa history which means airline staff always need to send a message to Australian immigration before the computer will give him a BP, thus when travelling with him we must turn up 4 hours in advance.[/quote]

Well I was surprised there wasn’t an issue. But Frankfurt was in meltdown. Check in agent hadn’t a clue what she was doing. Boarding pass was issued manually and I had to tell her to stop my suitcase which was disappearing on belt without a tag on it. I did have issues on arrival. The machine would not accept my passport and was sent back twice before eventually entry was granted manually by border force agent.