Experience with Australian border controls leaving the country

[jakeseven7]

The purpose of the post was to provide DC3 with an answer as to why you can't simply use another passport to leave the country - ie, it will be detected.

Passports appear to be linked on a flight-by-flight basis, at least in my situation. My ESTA is in another passport and is required for check-in, but each time a call needs to be made to link it with my Aussie passport to allow me to exit. There doesn't seem to be a blanket association that once linked it is always linked, but YMMV.

Mine weren’t which is why I was surprised.... my mistake was honest but the reply from Borderforce explained it. It was a very very early international flight and I actually had the other passport in my wallet so they could see it was an honest mistake.

 

[CPMaverick]

No word yet. I called and they took my information, said they would look into it. They didn't offer any explanation or advice, other than to watch my Spam folder :/.

I won't by flying today I've already decided, the exemption is good for a later flight and I can fly Monday, so I plan to go then... if I can.

If I can't get there in a week I will likely lose the business entirely

Point taken. It was not my intention to add to your angst and was more of a suggestion as to what may be workable.

I wish you well in your endeavours. Please let us know how you go.

All good mate. Sorry I'm a bit stressed!

 

[Must...Fly!]

No word yet. I called and they took my information, said they would look into it. They didn't offer any explanation or advice, other than to watch my Spam folder :/.

I won't by flying today I've already decided, the exemption is good for a later flight and I can fly Monday, so I plan to go then... if I can.

If I can't get there in a week I will likely lose the business entirely





All good mate. Sorry I'm a bit stressed!

It's unfortunate it's Friday but do you have any contact with your local MPs office? I presume they may be able to advocate or intervene on your behalf.

 

[GregSmith333]

I'm interested in travelling to the US (Florida) in September or October to observe and learn further about their federal election campaign (including fundraising) tactics so as to apply to what we are not doing now that would be effective for us in future election campaigns here. There are many different boxes that I would need to tick before such a trip, but in particular I was interested if anyone in the group can suggest what I submit to the Home Affairs online application under the section "Where the travel is in the national interest".

It's another 4 years before I would next get such an opportunity. Where there is a will, there is a way!

 

[CPMaverick]

I'm sitting at LAX now. What a hectic journey.

I spent Sunday night at the Rydges SYD airport. The hotel is an absolute disaster, I was dreading having to have a long wait there, but that's another story. Monday at around 5:45a I walked to the terminal and found the border patrol agents that were in charge of screening passenger travel rights. I explained my situation to them. They were SO nice and helpful. They really went to bat for me. Made several calls and kept escalating my application until I got approved. It was just verbal approval but it got me on the flight.

So my suggestion for anyone that has had no response to an application after 2 weeks, is try calling to escalate, but still go to the airport on the day and see if they can help you.

 

[Must...Fly!]

I'm sitting at LAX now. What a hectic journey.

I spent Sunday night at the Rydges SYD airport. The hotel is an absolute disaster, I was dreading having to have a long wait there, but that's another story. Monday at around 5:45a I walked to the terminal and found the border patrol agents that were in charge of screening passenger travel rights. I explained my situation to them. They were SO nice and helpful. They really went to bat for me. Made several calls and kept escalating my application until I got approved. It was just verbal approval but it got me on the flight.

So my suggestion for anyone that has had no response to an application after 2 weeks, is try calling to escalate, but still go to the airport on the day and see if they can help you.

That is wonderful news, personally I am very happy to hear you got to where you needed to be. My sincerest best wishes for your business which you've obviously done so much to keep going. Stay healthy!

 

[sydunipete]

Has Home Affairs changed their general exemptions recently? I thought if as a dual citizen you had been overseas for more than half the previous 12 months then you were generally exempt from the travel ban. Today I decided to check their website and it says " You are considered ordinarily resident in a country other than Australia if international movement records show that you’ve spent more time outside Australia than inside for the last 12 to 24 months."

What's with the 12 - 24 months bit? Why make a simple rule complex? What if I've been overseas for most of the last 12 months but not for the last 24 months?

Does anyone have experience with this scenario? Thanks.

 

[Anna]

I'm interested in travelling to the US (Florida) in September or October

Have you seen the current infection rates in Florida? That's the last place I'd be thinking of going 'in the national interest'.

 

[CPMaverick]

Has Home Affairs changed their general exemptions recently? I thought if as a dual citizen you had been overseas for more than half the previous 12 months then you were generally exempt from the travel ban. Today I decided to check their website and it says " You are considered ordinarily resident in a country other than Australia if international movement records show that you’ve spent more time outside Australia than inside for the last 12 to 24 months."

What's with the 12 - 24 months bit? Why make a simple rule complex? What if I've been overseas for most of the last 12 months but not for the last 24 months?

Does anyone have experience with this scenario? Thanks.

It sounds like they have clarified. Previously there was no published criteria (it just said Australians that weren't normally resident were exempt), but anecdotally they said the test was >50% of days outside Australia in the last year.

Maybe I am wrong but my take on the new wording is that if you have been outside Australia for >50% of the time for 12 months, you are still OK. But it now applies to 18 months, 24 months, etc. I think they have made the rule slightly more flexible. Perhaps for those that got 'stuck' in Australia in March and are just now trying to leave, perhaps they didn't meet the 12 month criteria but would for a longer period of time

In particular I was interested if anyone in the group can suggest what I submit to the Home Affairs online application under the section "Where the travel is in the national interest".

It's another 4 years before I would next get such an opportunity. Where there is a will, there is a way!

Based on what I have learned through my research, it takes a very thorough application for any request. I would recommend submitting very early, because rejections seem to come early rather than late. That will give you time to respond to them.

Personally I'd say that anything that helps Australia replicate the US political system is against the national interest... this sounds like something you want personally rather than to benefit Australia. However, you don't have to convince me, so best of luck.

 

[drron]

Well AP has declared she will not hesitate to declare more NSW hotspots if numbers continue to increase in NSW.

Qld Premier will watch NSW coronavirus figures closely

More NSW areas could be deemed coronavirus hot spots today, Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has said.

www.news.com.au

 

[DC3]

I'm interested in travelling to the US (Florida) in September or October to observe and learn further about their federal election campaign (including fundraising) tactics so as to apply to what we are not doing now that would be effective for us in future election campaigns here. There are many different boxes that I would need to tick before such a trip ....

I can’t wait to see the Trip Report.

 

[Flashback]

The whole thing is baloney. While leaving the country seems like a moot point, entering is also impossible.

For health reasons, I was hoping to enter. I could have, no problem as I had an Australian passport however Mrs FB couldn't.

Applied 29/5 for visa; told 37-50 days
22/6 told 15-25 days
22/6 told 37 days - 9 months

What a joke..

Some people have very real reasons to enter the country and Australia basically says bugger off

 

[dajop]

Some people have very real reasons to enter the country and Australia basically says bugger off

If you read the comments in newspaper websites, there's a not insubstantial number of bots, and perhaps even some real people, suggesting we shouldn't even allow Australians to come home, and cut off the country entirely.

 

[Flashback]

If you read the comments in newspaper websites, there's a not insubstantial number of bots, and perhaps even some real people, suggesting we shouldn't even allow Australians to come home, and cut off the country entirely.

Exactly, and this is half the problem. I suppose there's not much you can do about it.... Should they even really care about depression and the effects it has? I suppose not.....

 

[dajop]

Exactly, and this is half the problem. I suppose there's not much you can do about it.... Should they even really care about depression and the effects it has? I suppose not.....

Some countries (like the one I normally reside in, Singapore) are being quite strict also. But at least they do have a process where spouses and children of both citizens and permanent residents can apply for entry into the country. due to "extenuating reasons".

 

[Pushka]

If you read the comments in newspaper websites, there's a not insubstantial number of bots, and perhaps even some real people, suggesting we shouldn't even allow Australians to come home, and cut off the country entirely.

Oh that is rife on FB. Especially from the flights from India. When I suggest these are Australians and oh look, there is even a WASP person coming home they resort to the ‘you had time to get back weeks ago’ bs. Even our damn Premier threw that line last week.

 

[love_the_life]

Oh that is rife on FB. Especially from the flights from India. When I suggest these are Australians and oh look, there is even a WASP person coming home they resort to the ‘you had time to get back weeks ago’ bs. Even our damn Premier threw that line last week.

Yes, though there has been an article or two on reputable sites about why people have not been able to come home sooner.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Yes, though there has been an article or two on reputable sites about why people have not been able to come home sooner.

The one on ABC news for example? Yes, they have found cases where people can't come home sooner. And very compelling. But they were 10 examples. Out of the how many tens of thousands of Aussies living abroad? I'm not convinced those 10 cases represent the totality.

 

[Pushka]

Blanket rules unfortunately catch out those who are perfectly innocent of any misdeed.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Blanket rules unfortunately catch out those who are perfectly innocent of any misdeed.

Thankfully there are hardship provisions. Deciding to finish your gap year is not the same as being in a remote province in South America where you can't get to an international airport. (Nothing wrong with choosing to finish your gap year! Just you will have to pay quarantine on coming back.)