Obtaining your international arrival and departure history

[QF WP]

We are re-opening this thread as there is updated information obtained by a member that may be of use to other members.

 

[docjames]

That'd be me.

I tried to do this today. Basically, if you show up at the dept of immigration ("borderforce") office in Lonsdale St (Melbourne), you can't get in anywhere (security access only, by appointment for other immigration issues - this doesn't satisfy them as needing an appointment - it's more "convenient" (for them I'd say) for you to do online/by mail).

It is now (seemingly only) available by filling out the form and emailing (14 day turnaround) or posting (28day) the form back with certified (ie. JP) identification (in my case, I used current passport but form says drivers licence also acceptable).


I did discover (since I needed my duplicate certified) that there is a free JP service at Melbourne town hall, Tuesdays and Thursdays (fortunately), 10a-2p.

Will advise in 28 or so days how I go.....

 

[Strategic Aviation]

I requested it via email last year. Only took about 3-4 days.

 

[docjames]

OK so all done.

Physically mailed in Melbourne CBD lunchtime Thurs 6th April.
Email arrived today with all records in two attachments (1991--> current; and pre-1990). All records list outgoing and inbound flights with dates of departure/arrival.

Impressive turn around.

 

[QF WP]

One of these days I might get around to doing this. Sounds interesting as a keepsake...

 

[docjames]

One of these days I might get around to doing this. Sounds interesting as a keepsake...

I have great records since about 2005 but patchy prior to that.

Now I at least have arrival and departure so may fill in some gaps.

Fun fact: listed "departure" on QF3 - which would have been the tag flight as I actually then flew QF23 SYD-PER-HRE but used the QF3 connector ex-MEL so immigration records have me "departing" Australia on QF3!

 

[QF WP]

I'm looking forward to seeing it - have records back to February 1988, so I doubt there will be any international departures before then - but still, cool to have and no doubt will form part of my funeral pyre when I die (along with my ticket and BP collection) .

 

[Archphoto]

The only one I really missed (and would have loved to see!) was from my first ever flight ADL-MEL-PER-LHR in '77. It didn't appear most probably because I actually flew on my mum's passport; maybe I should think about requesting that on her old passport number.

*added to my ever-expanding "To Do" list

 

[Awesom Andy]

I have recently done this as well. I filled out the form (the online PDF has text fields), printed it, signed it, scanned it, then emailed it together with a certified copy of my passport (AU driver licence is also acceptable). Some days down the track, I've got my history in the email. The form also asks for the reason for this request, I'm not sure if they could refuse any requests if you don't have a good reason.

 

[clifford]

Can't see the point in it myself. But each to their own.

 

[RooFlyer]

Goodness me.

Obtaining one’s history of visiting various countries is necessary for obtaining some visas (eg Russia – 10 year history!!) and also helps in populating various flight ‘diary’ sites such as Flight Memory, AFF Flight Tracker etc.

 

[straitman]

Can't see the point in it myself. But each to their own.

Getting a China Visa last year they wanted details of every trip for the last couple of years. That's something that, unlike some others here, that I don't keep.

 

[clifford]

Getting a China Visa last year they wanted details of every trip for the last couple of years. That's something that, unlike some others here, that I don't keep.

Fair enough. But I do keep a spreadsheet of all my flights going back to the year dot.

 

[Cynicor]

I'd probably just lie (well, full in to the best of memory but not go to extra effort) for the Russian and Chinese ones... if it isn't in my current passport, it doesn't exists.

 

[straitman]

Fair enough. But I do keep a spreadsheet of all my flights going back to the year dot.

I do have log books (7 of them) for my flight hours but not my passenger hours.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

... if it isn't in my current passport, it doesn't exists.

Oh I do so like this comment! Me too. I can't wait to get rid of BP's, Tix, old passports, etc. Just junk that I'll never look at again. As soon as points post, the rubbish is in the shredder!

Funny enough, I was cleaning an old file the other month and I found I'd stashed my very first passport, so most of my early flights are there....except who cares? Not me I'm afraid. I even started to fill in the AFF Flight Map until I realised how depressing it was looking at how much time I waste sitting in a plane, so I stopped....

 

[DC3]

Can't see the point in it myself. But each to their own.

Post # 1 explained it pretty well. I can see that some may need this information. Probably not needed for the places that I travel to, but useful to know.

 

[Awesom Andy]

Can't see the point in it myself. But each to their own.

I came across a couple of situations where I actually needed to get the history. I guess some have the security concerns if everything is linked and centralised, but I certainly wished there were ways for legitimate uses to access the data without me acting as a bridge between different government departments.

 

[fairbasa]

That'd be me.

I tried to do this today. Basically, if you show up at the dept of immigration ("borderforce") office in Lonsdale St (Melbourne), you can't get in anywhere (security access only, by appointment for other immigration issues - this doesn't satisfy them as needing an appointment - it's more "convenient" (for them I'd say) for you to do online/by mail).

It is now (seemingly only) available by filling out the form and emailing (14 day turnaround) or posting (28day) the form back with certified (ie. JP) identification (in my case, I used current passport but form says drivers licence also acceptable).


I did discover (since I needed my duplicate certified) that there is a free JP service at Melbourne town hall, Tuesdays and Thursdays (fortunately), 10a-2p.

Will advise in 28 or so days how I go.....

So which form exactly did you fill out? The FOI request?

 

[docjames]

I have recently done this as well. I filled out the form (the online PDF has text fields), printed it, signed it, scanned it, then emailed it together with a certified copy of my passport (AU driver licence is also acceptable). Some days down the track, I've got my history in the email. The form also asks for the reason for this request, I'm not sure if they could refuse any requests if you don't have a good reason.

I just wrote "For personal records".