Uk citizen trying to get to Australia to see sick parent

[Tc2607]

Hi

I am in the UK, my mum has been diagnosed with terminal cancer and she lives in South Australia 

I am aware I need to apply for an exception to travel but first I believe I need a visa to be granted. I have applied for an evisitor visa but processing time is 45 days to 5 months. 
 

Does anyone know if this process can be speeded up? I am aware the chances of me getting out there are still slim with flights etc but there is just no information anyway regarding situations like these?

[mt9754]

Looking at the details here, you only need to have applied for a visa when you apply for an exemption:  https://covid19.homeaffairs.gov.au/travel-restrictions

[wrussell]

Decisions on exemptions seem to be arbitrary. You can lodge repeated applications.

[vickyplum]

I remember another thread like this - the visa and exemption were a bit 'chicken and egg'. I believe the advice was apply for the exemption, and once that's done, immediately apply for the visa using the reference generated by the exemption application. That way the two are linked via the via application ID/exemption ID.

Edited April 27, 2021 by vickyplum

[paulhand]

1 hour ago, vickyplum said:

I remember another thread like this - the visa and exemption were a bit 'chicken and egg'. I believe the advice was apply for the exemption, and once that's done, immediately apply for the visa using the reference generated by the exemption application. That way the two are linked via the via application ID/exemption ID.

Nope ... it’s the other way round. Apply for the visa and use the TRN of the visa application for the exemption application. 

[Tc2607]

13 minutes ago, paulhand said:

Nope ... it’s the other way round. Apply for the visa and use the TRN of the visa application for the exemption application. 

This is where is makes no sense as if I have to apply for the visa first it says it can take upto 5 months to process. What if you needed to get out there for a funeral? Especially as it says a business visa can be processed in 5 days

[Tc2607]

6 hours ago, wrussell said:

Decisions on exemptions seem to be arbitrary. You can lodge repeated applications.

Thank you for the response. Is is correct that I need to wait for the visa to be processed before applying for the exception? 

[paulhand]

27 minutes ago, Tc2607 said:

This is where is makes no sense as if I have to apply for the visa first it says it can take upto 5 months to process. What if you needed to get out there for a funeral? Especially as it says a business visa can be processed in 5 days

The reason the average processing times are so long is that many people apply and do not get an exemption, so their visa application isn't processed. If your exemption request is approved (which would be unlikely for a funeral) then the visa will be processed pretty quickly as the two processes are linked. In my experience, usually a couple of days. As you say in your original post, it is almost impossible to get flights at short notice and remember there is a two week quarantine period on arrival.

25 minutes ago, Tc2607 said:

Thank you for the response. Is is correct that I need to wait for the visa to be processed before applying for the exception? 

No ... as I said ... apply for the visa and then immediately use the TRN of the visa application to apply for the exemption. If the exemption is approved the visa application will be processed.

Edited April 27, 2021 by paulhand

[Tc2607]

Great thanks for the information. I will go ahead with the exemption  form today 

[vickyplum]

2 hours ago, paulhand said:

Nope ... it’s the other way round. Apply for the visa and use the TRN of the visa application for the exemption application. 

Damn Thanks Paul! 

[talktosi]

Do exemption request ASAP, if the current process is anything like it was for me last year- I had to travel from UK to Australia last June( fortunately I am Australian citizen so didnt need visa) Was complicated by fact that at the time no direct flights to Adelaide so applied to Vic and NSW for special permission to travel from Melb or Sydney to Adelaide. Even with Australian family working on my behalf to get exemptions, having contacts in the health department it took several weeks to grant. I was able to book a flight at 2 days notice but the seemingly completely incompassionate and slow exemption process meant my Dad died before I landed in Melbourne. Make sure you get a flight that lands in Adelaide( as first point of entry to Australia)

[Tc2607]

10 minutes ago, talktosi said:

Do exemption request ASAP, if the current process is anything like it was for me last year- I had to travel from UK to Australia last June( fortunately I am Australian citizen so didnt need visa) Was complicated by fact that at the time no direct flights to Adelaide so applied to Vic and NSW for special permission to travel from Melb or Sydney to Adelaide. Even with Australian family working on my behalf to get exemptions, having contacts in the health department it took several weeks to grant. I was able to book a flight at 2 days notice but the seemingly completely incompassionate and slow exemption process meant my Dad died before I landed in Melbourne. Make sure you get a flight that lands in Adelaide( as first point of entry to Australia)

Thank you for your reply and I am sorry to read about your dad. I am sure this is causing a nightmare and distress for some many people in this situation. Was there mandatory quarantine back then? I know that I will have to quarantine at first point of entry for 14 days in a hotel so I guess it wouldn’t matter where I get the flight into. From what I have researched I could quarantine in SYD and cross border into SA without need to quarantine again. So many hurdles to get through so will wait for the exception form decision. Singapore airlines seem to have flights from mid June but seem to sell out quick  

[talktosi]

I had to quarantine in Melbourne until negative covid result ( 2 nights) then 12 nights hotel quarantine in Adelaide. Getting permission to travel from Vic to SA was the main hurdle...communication between 2 states and then another layer of communication to the team running the quarantine was an issue, luckily I have a direct contact with a very good person in the SA Covid team who sorted out problems. One of the officers in Melbourne had the gaul to suggests that as my Dad had now died ( literally as I was somewhere between Doha and Melbourne)  that it was now a different circumstance and my reason to leave Melbourne for Adelaide had changed and that in theory I should have to complete my quarantine in Melbourne...The only highlight was being let off the plane first and being met by police at he plane door and then a police escort to the hotel. Felt like a cross between a rock star and a criminal. My top tip, and depends on which hotel you get ( I got Pullman hotel which was excellent) is to try your hardest to get a room with a balcony. Access to fresh air and being able to at least see family and friends made a big difference. Good luck

[Tc2607]

3 minutes ago, talktosi said:

I had to quarantine in Melbourne until negative covid result ( 2 nights) then 12 nights hotel quarantine in Adelaide. Getting permission to travel from Vic to SA was the main hurdle...communication between 2 states and then another layer of communication to the team running the quarantine was an issue, luckily I have a direct contact with a very good person in the SA Covid team who sorted out problems. One of the officers in Melbourne had the gaul to suggests that as my Dad had now died ( literally as I was somewhere between Doha and Melbourne)  that it was now a different circumstance and my reason to leave Melbourne for Adelaide had changed and that in theory I should have to complete my quarantine in Melbourne...The only highlight was being let off the plane first and being met by police at he plane door and then a police escort to the hotel. Felt like a cross between a rock star and a criminal. My top tip, and depends on which hotel you get ( I got Pullman hotel which was excellent) is to try your hardest to get a room with a balcony. Access to fresh air and being able to at least see family and friends made a big difference. Good luck

Sounds a nightmare...... Appreciate the advice

[Tulip1]

7 hours ago, Tc2607 said:

This is where is makes no sense as if I have to apply for the visa first it says it can take upto 5 months to process. What if you needed to get out there for a funeral? Especially as it says a business visa can be processed in 5 days

I don’t think funeral is considered an exceptional reason.

[JetBlast]

17 hours ago, Tulip1 said:

I don’t think funeral is considered an exceptional reason.

I can confirm it isn't. I know someone who was refused an exemption for a funeral.

[Parley]

18 hours ago, Tulip1 said:

I don’t think funeral is considered an exceptional reason.

I agree, there were plenty of funerals in Australia where the maximum limit of attendees was only 10.

The rest had to make do with watching via video. The video experience is well done by the funeral organisers, using 2 cameras which you can switch between.
Not the same as being there of course. 

On the other hand, if it is either a parent or a child of the applicant, I hope it might be considered at least as exceptional.

Edited April 28, 2021 by Parley

[rtritudr]

On 27/04/2021 at 17:28, talktosi said:

I had to quarantine in Melbourne until negative covid result ( 2 nights) then 12 nights hotel quarantine in Adelaide. Getting permission to travel from Vic to SA was the main hurdle...communication between 2 states and then another layer of communication to the team running the quarantine was an issue, luckily I have a direct contact with a very good person in the SA Covid team who sorted out problems. One of the officers in Melbourne had the gaul to suggests that as my Dad had now died ( literally as I was somewhere between Doha and Melbourne)  that it was now a different circumstance and my reason to leave Melbourne for Adelaide had changed and that in theory I should have to complete my quarantine in Melbourne...The only highlight was being let off the plane first and being met by police at he plane door and then a police escort to the hotel. Felt like a cross between a rock star and a criminal. My top tip, and depends on which hotel you get ( I got Pullman hotel which was excellent) is to try your hardest to get a room with a balcony. Access to fresh air and being able to at least see family and friends made a big difference. Good luck

Your case is reflective of the environment early on in the hotel quarantine process (June 2020).  Things have changed a lot since then and it is extremely unlikely for anyone to be granted leave to quarantine in SA after landing in Melbourne even if they were in your situation.

[Tc2607]

19 minutes ago, rtritudr said:

Your case is reflective of the environment early on in the hotel quarantine process (June 2020).  Things have changed a lot since then and it is extremely unlikely for anyone to be granted leave to quarantine in SA after landing in Melbourne even if they were in your situation.

Do you know if you have to quarantine again after 14 days if crossing state borders?

[rtritudr]

18 minutes ago, Tc2607 said:

Do you know if you have to quarantine again after 14 days if crossing state borders?

Generally no.  For example, even when NSW was a hot spot from Queensland's point of view, you didn't have to quarantine twice upon entering Queensland provided that you travelled directly from the quarantine hotel to the airport.

Of course, in a pandemic nothing is certain so there is no guarantee that in the event of a future outbreak things won't change.