Visa First

pixiearoo

I ordered my Oz workin hol visa through Visa First last week.
I also opened a bank a/c and filed for a tax number as i thought it would save hastle when we got there!

But then a rep. called from Visa First and said we need to transfer money into Oz bank a/c €3,500 / $5,000!!!!

None of my friends who went recently had to do this, what should I do? :eek:

Our man in Havana

You shouldn't have went thru a visa broker. You should have applied online direct from the DIMA. I think you are being taken for a ride here. AFAIK You cannot obtain a tax file number before arrival. Beware....Don't give them a cent!

drunkdaz

Stay clear, they want to transfer your money over because they make substantial profits in their exchange rates, do it yourself and save yourself $500.

itchy_feet

Don't bother getting an aussie sim either. They try to pay for all these packages that include a bank account, a sim car, help with your TFN (Tax file number) pick up at airport and accomodation for the first night or two...just don't bother, if you want help with any of these I'll help you for free! It really i so simple and easy to do all of these when you get over there and you won't have been ripped off. The sim card they get for you is with Telstra, most backpackers use Vodaphone cause its familiar and you get free txts and calls vodaphone-vodaphone so you'll end up switching anyway (well I did)

abakan

I think u may have saved me a few pounds - I got my Visa for Oz through them, it was a deal through USIT with the travel insurance

But the girl I was dealing with told me to open a bank a/c through them, save the hassle - i thought, never though of the exchange rate.

She also said that that would provide me with a cert that I can give on the way into Oz to show the money in the account

Then can you show your Irish account statement with the amount of money in it as proof

pixiearoo

i called the Australian Embassy in London about having money in an Oz a/c brfore going, and the girl there said all you need is a bank statement (form irish a/c) showing about €3,000 in it. She said to put a copy inot handluggage, she spunded as if it may no even be looked for upon arrival! Damn I wish i'd known before i wasted all that money! I went for the sim pack taxfile # the whole lot, thought it was going to be one thing less to pay for when i arrived!

Live and Learn...

BrokenArrows

Bond-007 wrote:

You shouldn't have went thru a visa broker. You should have applied online direct from the DIMA. I think you are being taken for a ride here. AFAIK You cannot obtain a tax file number before arrival. Beware....Don't give them a cent!

There is nothing wrong with visa first. They dont get you tax number before you arrive they just send the application though so that on the day or two after you arrive you will have your TFN.

Also with the money transfer they just transfer they money into the account for a fee of €15 i believe. If you did this though a bank it would cost the same if not more.

kittenz

BrokenArrows wrote:

There is nothing wrong with visa first. They dont get you tax number before you arrive they just send the application though so that on the day or two after you arrive you will have your TFN.

Also with the money transfer they just transfer they money into the account for a fee of €15 i believe. If you did this though a bank it would cost the same if not more.

Hi BrokenArrows, from reading your post i take it that you got a visa with this crowd before. I have gone through them to get my visa, it has been approved and all. I have applied for them to open a bank account and apply for my TFN too. I was a bit weary from reading this post, but you seem to be certain they are for real... what is the story with getting the visa, they have sent me a reference number, i pressume this should just be shown when entering australia. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

pixiearoo

Bond-007 wrote:

You shouldn't have went thru a visa broker. You should have applied online direct from the DIMA. I think you are being taken for a ride here. AFAIK You cannot obtain a tax file number before arrival. Beware....Don't give them a cent!

Visa First are the company that USIT use for all their visa applications, so they aren't just blow ins. I spoke to the lady on the phone and told her i wouldnt be transferring any money into the a/c before leaving, and there was no trouble.

pixiearoo

kittenz wrote:

Hi BrokenArrows, from reading your post i take it that you got a visa with this crowd before. I have gone through them to get my visa, it has been approved and all. I have applied for them to open a bank account and apply for my TFN too. I was a bit weary from reading this post, but you seem to be certain they are for real... what is the story with getting the visa, they have sent me a reference number, i pressume this should just be shown when entering australia. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

They put the Visa into your passport when you get to OZ at the airport I believe, My visa was approved on monday and Im expecting the letter in the post with confirmation, did u get a letter or email?

thanks

kittenz

i got an email with a reference number. The only letter i have recieved from them so far is about getting my taxback and TFN.

MarkPH

I'd stay clear of places that do everything for you to be honest, it doesnt cost anything to do it in Australia so why pay money for them to do it here.

Open up a commonwealth or ANZ account (most country wide branches and most reliable, some of the other banks are regional so wont find ATMs around, and it costs $1.50 to take out money from a different banks ATM.)

The TFN can be sorted online, at www.ato.gov.au/

You can buy a vodafone sim card (again, best deals available-$49 and you get $230 credit etc, and as good as coverage as Telstra)

You get your visa when you enter the country and if you dont, there are visa offices in all major cities.

Oh, and also, when you are getting your tax back when you leave or your superannuation, do the superannuation online when you leave the country and do the tax back through a financial consultant. There are ones who specialise in working holiday visa tax backs. they charge $100 or less and will sort out your tax. Dont go to taxback.com or places like that, they charge as a percentage of your tax so if you were getting $4000 back in tax they could take $400 off you.

pixiearoo

itchy_feet wrote:

. The sim card they get for you is with Telstra, most backpackers use Vodaphone cause its familiar and you get free txts and calls vodaphone-vodaphone so you'll end up switching anyway (well I did)

Got my sim pack yesterday and it's Vodafone, not Telstra! so anyone wondering about this just thought i'd let you know.

Grem

It depends on where in Oz you fly in to whether you get your visa put in your passport or not. We flew into Perth, had to go and collect our visa in the city ourselves. Altho ive heard of people flying into Sydney and getting it at the airport.
Also, dont be worrying about not having $5000 or EURO 3500 in your account, you never even get asked about it. I think its just a threat to make sure you dont come over broke. We were freaking out about not having a statement from our bank acc's at home and no-one says a thing to you. At customs all they do is ask you your australian address, a hostel will do grand.
Its not like flying into the states where customs act like police officers and probe you about every little thing.