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Way way ot, but how long does it take to get a tourist visa to Australia from US?
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Re: Way way ot, but how long does it take to get a tourist visa to Australia from US?
4 weeks should be plenty of time. Australia is easy. My travel agency (through work) was able to get mine in a few days. Funny thing is it was a screenprint of their PC's desktop with some terminal application running. I thought it was a joke...
BTW Where are you going down under? I spent 4 weeks in Melbourne and would go back in a heartbeat if I had the chance. Was the trip of a lifetime. Have a James Boags (beer from NZ) for me if you go...
Re: Way way ot, but how long does it take to get a tourist visa to Australia from US?
Headed to Cairns. Gonna spend about a week there. (I am a board member of a 5000-member society so this is technically a business meeting ). Will be in Australia for 16 days and hope to see some Great Barrier Reef, go to Sydney, and see some inland stuff.
This is the Australian Govt visa and immigration page. If you follow the links it leads you to an application concession that will charge you a fee.
Most travel agenices can obtain an ETA Electronic Travel Authority through their reservation computer. For one time stays up to 90 days it will be free. For multiple entry visas there is a cost so most people just get freebies. Some travel agencies may request a handling fee for this in addition to anything charged by Australia.
Although a hardcopy is technically not neccessary it is a good idea to have your agent do a screen shot for you in case of a rare glitch that causes the info not to actually go through. Australian Immigration officials are good sports about this if you have the printout. Glitches are rare but for that reason many people do opt to use the official site and pay the fee which I think is $25. I have never used the official site but I expect you can print a confirmation at some point.
Even if you dont use the site, I suggest you read it so you are aware of all current requirements.
Good luck and have fun!
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I'm not a Travel Agent I just read.... Oh wait. Yes. I am a travel agent!
Re: Way way ot, but how long does it take to get a tourist visa to Australia from US?
Followup:
The wife, kids and I spent 1 day in Guam, 13 days in Australia and 3 days in New Zealand. Dove the Great Barrier Reef. Had a great time and am still trying to get back into the groove (or is it grind?).
After posting my question about visas, peterbo3 (Peter and his lovely wife Eva) invited us to into their house, served as our guides (including taking us to see a very hard-to-find duck-billed platypus, cockatoos and wild kangaroos). Red_Tag (Nigel) invited us out on his very sweet center console boat for kingfishing (they call them Spanish Mackerals). Unfortunately, our itinerary did not allow a side trip to Brisbane so I hope that offer will still be on the table the next time I am down under.
Peter, Nigel, you and your families are always welcome in my home (Tampa, FL, southeast US) when in the States! I had heard Aussies were warm and welcoming and they are!
I loved almost every aspect of my trip, but the driving on the left side of the road and having all the controls bass ackwards (i.e., the turn signal is on the right, the wiper controls are on the left, etc...).
RE: Way way ot, but how long does it take to get a tourist visa to Australia from US?
Dozer.......... I am intrigued by Tasmania and thinking about a trip sometime between December and February when the wind is blowing and fishing is not great on the Baja. Where can I get information on what to see and do in Tasmania?
Way way ot, but how long does it take to get a tourist visa to Australia from US? 
). Will be in Australia for 16 days and hope to see some Great Barrier Reef, go to Sydney, and see some inland stuff. 
