Experience with Australian border controls leaving the country

[Nee24]

Hi all

I'm about to apply for an exemption to leave based on business travel for my company (special exemption request category).

Is there anyone who might be able to give me an idea of what details they need for this in regards to explanation and which documents they require/how much detail do I need to go into in regards to itinerary for example. I'll need to be out of the country for 6 weeks which I'm hoping will help my chances since I don't need to return immediately.

Thanks

 

[Pushka]

Hi all

I'm about to apply for an exemption to leave based on business travel for my company (special exemption request category).

Is there anyone who might be able to give me an idea of what details they need for this in regards to explanation and which documents they require/how much detail do I need to go into in regards to itinerary for example. I'll need to be out of the country for 6 weeks which I'm hoping will help my chances since I don't need to return immediately.

Thanks

This is what has been suggested to other businesses who have been successful.

A strong business plan provided by your employer emphasising the need for overseas contacts
Explanation as to why you need to visit in person and why it must be now and can't be done online
Stress that it is to grow your business/maintain your business so that it will contribute to the economy
Evidence of sufficient funds should you get stranded
Mention the business contacts you are going to meet.
If vaccinated (and if approved you jump the line)
Outline the countries you will visit and your transit stops
Emphasis on social distancing, not attending large venues, safety etc etc.

You don't need to book anything to gain approval. It will last for 3 months. The departure port can change.

 

[glasszon]

Just a data point, I got approved under "urgent and unavoidable personal business" to travel to UK to begin my study there, all I uploaded was my passport + letter of offer from University and it was approved without any questions.

 

[dajop]

Just a data point, I got approved under "urgent and unavoidable personal business" to travel to UK to begin my study there, all I uploaded was my passport + letter of offer from University and it was approved without any questions.

Sounds like those with relatives overseas they are desperate to see should start applying to various universities in the country where the relatives are. Might be a quicker route than training up to become a world class sports person.

 

[Pushka]

Sounds like those with relatives overseas they are desperate to see should start applying to various universities in the country where the relatives are. Might be a quicker route than training up to become a world class sports person.

Its an interesting point esp for those who were born there and completed Uni there then migrated

 

[JessicaTam]

Whilst I was only going to NZ, and so not seeking an exemption I might as well post my experience here. At check-in in SYD they asked if I was from Vic, and when I said yes they checked that I had a negative PCR test, which I did. I also had the paperwork to leave AU and enter NZ. I was handed my BP and that was that. No further interaction or checks until I got to Nestor at the F lounge.

 

[Melburnian1]

Have you considered applying stating you have the intention of being overseas for more than 3 months?

Do we have any Australian Citizen AFFers who have made this by far the major point in their statutory declaration (for a personal, not business, trip) and have subsequently been approved by Border Force?

 

[bcworld]

Do we have any Australian Citizen AFFers who have made this by far the major point in their statutory declaration (for a personal, not business, trip) and have subsequently been approved by Border Force?

Things were very different at the time of the post you quoted. At that time...simply stating that travel was 3 months or more was grounds for exemption. That is no longer the case and has not been for a long time. Now 3 months now also must be in conjunction with one of the substantive reasons.

 

[Nee24]

I'm in a few FB groups of people separated from their partners and families and in the last couple of weeks the number of exemptions granted based on 3+ months with compelling or compassionate reason has risen.

Lots of speculation that it has something to do with some MPs trying to push through a bill so that people who hold PMV are considered immediate family (they currently are not which is absurd considering the amount of evidence you have to provide to prove you're in a de facto relationship) with lots of people starting to file complaints with the ombudsman. It could also be that being away for a longer period puts less strain in the short term on the quarantine system while they are rolling out more vaccines.

In the last 2 days the bill was approved in the first stage.

 

[Pushka]

Do we have any Australian Citizen AFFers who have made this by far the major point in their statutory declaration (for a personal, not business, trip) and have subsequently been approved by Border Force?

Not sure about AFF members but there’s helpful private Facebook groups who share everything. As Aussie citizens.

 

[Pushka]

Do we have any Australian Citizen AFFers who have made this by far the major point in their statutory declaration (for a personal, not business, trip) and have subsequently been approved by Border Force?

Doh. My son got an exemption last year as an Aussie. Longer than 3 months. But just before the days of Stat Decs. He went to live there. UK.

 

[dajop]

Do we have any Australian Citizen AFFers who have made this by far the major point in their statutory declaration (for a personal, not business, trip) and have subsequently been approved by Border Force?

Pedantic correction … should be Australian residents, not citizens. Some citizens do not have problems, as they live overseas. Some with problems (in fact a group very likely to have problems) are residents who are not citizens!

 

[Nee24]

Pedantic correction … should be Australian residents, not citizens. Some citizens do not have problems, as they live overseas. Some with problems (in fact a group very likely to have problems) are residents who are not citizens!

Join the FB group called
Australian travel & exemption support. Thousands of them to read through there.

Good luck!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Friend of mine, PR, and resident in Australia for the last two years... not permitted to leave for a six month trip to care for their parents overseas. Stat dec done, evidence of intention to stay more than 3 months, evidence of compassionate ground (elderly parents). And denied! (They are going to reapply.)

 

[bcworld]

Friend of mine, PR, and resident in Australia for the last two years... not permitted to leave for a six month trip to care for their parents overseas. Stat dec done, evidence of intention to stay more than 3 months, evidence of compassionate ground (elderly parents). And denied! (They are going to reapply.)

This is not an unusual outcome in the scenario you described unfortunately.

 

[dajop]

Friend of mine, PR, and resident in Australia for the last two years... not permitted to leave for a six month trip to care for their parents overseas. Stat dec done, evidence of intention to stay more than 3 months, evidence of compassionate ground (elderly parents). And denied! (They are going to reapply.)

Truly pathetic.

This is low risk in the extreme.

Yet sportspeople, actors, producers, us expats come and go when they please.

PR’s don’t vote. They don’t matter !

 

[RAM]

Friend of mine, PR, and resident in Australia for the last two years... not permitted to leave for a six month trip to care for their parents overseas. Stat dec done, evidence of intention to stay more than 3 months, evidence of compassionate ground (elderly parents). And denied! (They are going to reapply.)

Suspect you already have, but perhaps suggest they contact local (or thereabouts) State & Federal MPs, or shadow ministers. Best success seems to be when it is the opposite party to the decison making Govt level for some reason.

They may not be able to vote but they can still generate headlines.

 

[Pushka]

Friend of mine, PR, and resident in Australia for the last two years... not permitted to leave for a six month trip to care for their parents overseas. Stat dec done, evidence of intention to stay more than 3 months, evidence of compassionate ground (elderly parents). And denied! (They are going to reapply.)

tell them to keep reapplying. Same application. Any chance of a Doctors certificate indicating serious illness etc? Evidence of funds should they get stuck?

Post automatically merged: Jun 25, 2021

Suspect you already have, but perhaps suggest they contact local (or thereabouts) State & Federal MPs, or shadow ministers. Best success seems to be when it is the opposite party to the decison making Govt level for some reason.

They may not be able to vote but they can still generate headlines.

Mark Butler is our local MP. Should do the trick nicely when needed.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Good points everyone. I'd forgotten about the proof of funds if they get stuck. I'll pass that on! I don't think the parents are dying... just elderly and in need of care from a younger person who can run around and do stuff.

 

[Ade]

A friend of mine - AU Residents (PR), applied for AU citizenship, living in MEL with her family.

Her dad was infected with CoVID in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. He was admitted to ICU and was treated for over 3 weeks. She applied for a travel exemption stating her dad's medical criticality.

She did provide proof of the medical issues, doctor certificates, even a letter detailing the procedures that we done and also a note of what is expected of her when she arrives in Chennai (ritual wise etc). I'm sure she showed proof of funds and also guaranteed return no lesser than 6 months to a year. She also had a 2 year old, who she was willing to take with her to India. Still no approval provided.

But her application was denied and the same day her father passed away as well. Very pathetic.