Tourist Visa 676

[belle_d]

Hi I was just wondering what the reasons need to be for someone to gain 12 months tourist stay in Australia over 3 or 6 months? And if you get one of these visa's do you still have to leave australia every 3 months like the evisitor visa?

[Sheelagh Blanckenberg]

Welcome to the Migration Help forum belle_d.

There are no hard and fast rules on the reasons DIAC may consider when determining whether to grant a visitor visa for 12 months.

However, be mindful that the purpose of a visitor visa is to allow visitors to Australia to stay for a short period for the purpose of tourism or visiting relatives or friends. As such, all visitors to Australia must convince DIAC that they are a genuine visitor who will not breach visa conditions, for example, by working or overstaying their visa.

Providing evidence of 'genuine intent' in relation to a 12 month visa can be difficult. In deciding whether an applicant satisfies this requirement the Department will consider:

• personal circumstances that may encourage the applicant to leave Australia at the end of the proposed visit
• the applicant's immigration history
• personal circumstances in the applicant's home country that may encourage them to remain in Australia
• conditions that may encourage the applicant to remain in Australia
• the credibility of the applicant in terms of character and conduct
• whether the purpose and proposed duration of the applicant's visit, and proposed activities in Australia are reasonable and consistent
• information contained in statistical, intelligence and analysis reports on migration fraud and immigration compliance developed by the department about nationals from the applicant's home country.

Persons from high risk countries may also be required to show evidence:

• of employment for at least the previous 12 months, leave for the period of stay sought is approved by the employer and they will continue to be employed on their return home OR
• if self-employed, that they have owned their own business for the previous 12 months OR
• if retired/non-working they have other financial commitments and/or family/social ties that would provide sufficient inducement for them to return to their home country at the end of their visit OR
• of a good immigration history.


If granted a 12 month s/c 676 visa you can remain in Australia until the date specified and do not have to leave after 3 months as is the case with an ETA or electronic visitor visa.

I hope this helps.

[belle_d]

Thanks sheelagh thats a really big help. I sent you an email to the address you have provided on this website to tell you the situation in a little more detail. Just a quick question though - when you apply for this visa do you state how long you would like the visa for or do they just decide on the information you provide?

thanks so much for your help

belle

[Sheelagh Blanckenberg]

Hi Belle

I have responded separately to your email.

As to your question "when you apply for this visa do you state how long you would like the visa for or do they just decide on the information you provide?" An application for a s/c 676 visitor visa should state how long the applicant requires the visa for backed up with sufficient information which supports the fact the applicant intends to be a genuine visitor for its duration.

Cheers
Sheelagh

[nhettes]

hi there, newbie here. My cousin and her husband will sponsor my trip to Oz this July.
They'll be coming from Belgium and I from the Philippines, they are planning to book our tickets so that we will arrived in Oz on the same day. I'm currently unemployed, don't have any business or car to prove my "philippine ties" But I have enough balance in my account. I can send them the copy of my bank certificate and also the notarized land title certificate,letter from my sponsors,our travel docs,hotel reservation and other docs required in the 48R. Do you think it's enough for them to grant me a visa? 2nd option is, I also want to attend the hills conference in sydney(a christian conference) declaring that I travel alone,so that therewould not be a need to present a lot of docs, just the basic docs and the invitation letter from the conference and I'll just meet my sponsors there in Oz. What do u think is the best option to take?Many thanks for your time. God bless.

[Sheelagh Blanckenberg]

Hi nhettes, welcome to the forum.

I honestly think you should combine both options when you apply for the s/c676 visa in order to maximise your chances.

I say this because the majority of visitor visas applied for out of the Philippines are generally not kosher. By this I mean the majority of applicants have no intention of complying with the main condition imposed on this visa i.e no work. Many also overstay even if granted the visa. The hill you need to climb to persuade our immigration department to grant you the visa is therefore very steep - to be successful I would advise you to combine as many elements as you can which show the genuiness of your application.

Kind regards
Sheelagh

[nhettes]

Hi nhettes, welcome to the forum.

I honestly think you should combine both options when you apply for the s/c676 visa in order to maximise your chances.

I say this because the majority of visitor visas applied for out of the Philippines are generally not kosher. By this I mean the majority of applicants have no intention of complying with the main condition imposed on this visa i.e no work. Many also overstay even if granted the visa. The hill you need to climb to persuade our immigration department to grant you the visa is therefore very steep - to be successful I would advise you to combine as many elements as you can which show the genuiness of your application.

Kind regards
Sheelagh

I know...right... I'm actually doing both options now to prove that my intentions are genuine, thank you so much for the advice. Are there any chances or situations that the immigration only allowed a month stay for tourists? May I ask also, are there any documents that I missed? aside from the letter of support and bank statements from my sponsors? Thanks for your time. God bless you more.

[Sheelagh Blanckenberg]

Hi nhettes

The immigration department can limit the length of a visitor visa. Whether they do so or not will depend on the information you provide with your application and whether the case officer thinks your claims have merit and have been adequately substantiated or supported.

If possible, the following sort of documents to demonstrate your genuine intention to return to your home country could be included:

• financial, employment or other commitments:
* any evidence of property ownership in your home country;
* a letter from your employer or other evidence that you are taking a holiday from your job or business and are expected back at work at the end of your stay in Australia;
* evidence of any business or other substantial assets you own in your country of origin;
* evidence that you are studying and must return by a certain date;

• you have a history of compliance with immigration law:
* evidence that you or other members of your immediate family have previously taken holidays in Australia or elsewhere and returned without overstaying or breaching any of the visa conditions;

• your stated intention for the visit is consistent with your finances or personal commitments:
* evidence that you have strong family ties or responsibilities in your country of origin; and
* a letter from a religious or community leader
* a letter from the religious community in Australia with whom you will be visiting, giving reasons for the visit, where you’ll be staying, what you will be doing while in Australia etc.

• you have adequate funds to support yourself during the length of your intended stay in Australia (including in case of illness or accident):
* a purchased return ticket
* private health insurance or travel insurance
* copies of bank statements, bankbooks or letters from banks and other financial institutions indicating your financial position
* evidence of travellers’ cheques purchased
* letters of support from friends or relatives in Australia indicating the nature and level of support they intend to provide;

Hope this helps

Kind regards

Sheelagh

[nhettes]

Thanks a lot Sheelagh.

[Sheelagh Blanckenberg]

No worries.

Please let us know how you get on.

[pjain]

Hi Sheelagh, I recently joined this forum...Wanted your help in udertsnading what actually is meant as genuine visit when applying for 676 Tourist visa. Recently, my cousin applied for a 676 visa to Australia but they both got it rejected saying that the visit doesnt sound to be genuine and also you have mentioned that you have a cousin in australia but not have provided the evidence of the person supporting you in Australia and any evidence of relationship with them. My cousin does not have a full time ongoing work, she lives with my parent who are both doctors and helps them in running their hospital and in return she gets some money from time to time but its not a fixed income. also, when she applied for the visa, she provided all her financial evidences (whatever she has) and i had also sent a letter of invite in order to invite her, saying that i can bear all her expenses while she is in Australia. I also provided my passport copy and financial income proof. I havent my family and her visited her in last 2 yrs so i dont have any latest photos with her but have some photos with family in which she is also present which are from the time when i visited my family and her last. If I provide those photos, will it help? Please advise as her visa is now refused, can she re apply the visa stright away or will she have to wait for some time to re apply, if we can apply again what can we do best to get her visa approved this time? Please advise. Thanks in anticipation.

[anferni007]

No worries.

Please let us know how you get on.
Hello hi I'm also new to these posts.
My situation is my gf is Laotion, she has visited me in Australia 2 months earlier on a tourist visa for 1 month and she complied with all visa conditions and returned to Laos befor expiry.
I would like her to come visit me again but this time for 12 months. My parents sponsored her the first time and are willing to do so again. If granted my gf will be staying with me and my parents in a house fully owned by my parents.
My question is will it be hard to get a 12 month visa even though she's visited Australia once befor.
I have no assets and I have just started a new job. But my parents own 2 properties and have $10,000 in savings and are willing to support my gf with any nessessary costs and garauntor.
Please help

[anferni007]

No worries.

Please let us know how you get on.

No worries.

Please let us know how you get on.
Hello hi I'm also new to these posts.
My situation is my gf is Laotion, she has visited me in Australia 2 months earlier on a tourist visa for 1 month and she complied with all visa conditions and returned to Laos befor expiry.
I would like her to come visit me again but this time for 12 months. My parents sponsored her the first time and are willing to do so again. If granted my gf will be staying with me and my parents in a house fully owned by my parents.
My question is will it be hard to get a 12 month visa even though she's visited Australia once befor.
I have no assets and I have just started a new job. But my parents own 2 properties and have $10,000 in savings and are willing to support my gf with any nessessary costs and garauntor.
Please help