Hey there!

I’m planning on spending 3 months in Australia next year on a tourist visa. I’ve already gotten my working holiday visa (in 2017), but unfortunately didn’t get to take advantage of the full year (only stayed 3 months).

My boyfriend will be able to get his working holiday visa before we go, so I’m wondering if anyone knows of a way that I might be able to extend my stay (6 months would be ideal, if longer I wouldn’t complain).

I’d like to do this legally of course, so I’m wondering about a student visa. Anyone have experience getting this to extend their stay?

And other workarounds that might be worth exploring?

Might also be worth noting – I’ll be working while I’m there (for a US-based company) and I am American.

Appreciate the help!

Rose

On New Year’s Day this year, I was refused entry to the UK due to not having proof of funds, an outward-bound plane ticket (I was road-tripping out with a friend via car) and not being able to prove that I had indeed canceled the lease on the apartment I had leased during a prior recent trip.

I haven’t had any entry issues to any of the several countries I’ve visited after, but now I’m applying for a 462 visa (work and holiday) visa in Australia, and since Australia and the UK share an immigration info system, I want to make sure getting refused entry won’t keep me from getting a visa. None of the issues that cropped up in the UK (the proof of funds, the plane ticket, and the apartment) will be an issue in Australia, as I’ve never traveled there before, don’t know anyone and will have proof of more than sufficient funds for the trip and an outbound plane ticket.

Anybody have any suggestions on how to make the approval process go as smoothly as possible?

Many thanks in advance!

The Australian government apparently has bilateral agreements with a number of signatories to the Schengen Visa treaty that predate, and supersede, the standard 90/180 for traveling in the Schengen zone.

This Wikipedia article stipulates to the bilateral visa agreements:

According to this article, and some of the links I’ve followed to official documents, Australians are (potentially) permitted to travel within Schengen, and not have their stay in the following countries aggregate up to the 90/180, but be treated as separate periods, with the time permitted under the existing bilateral agreements.

Countries that appear to have bilateral agreements include:

• Austria
• Belgium
• Denmark
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Iceland
• Italy
• Luxembourg
• Netherlands
• Spain
• Norway
• Sweden

In theory, this would permit an Australian passport holder to move relatively unrestricted around the Schengen zone for an almost infinite period.

For example, if I am permitted to be in Germany for 90/180, external to the Schengen treaty, I could, in theory, spend 90 days here, exit to Austria on the train, spend another 90/180, exit to The Netherlands by train, spend another 90/180, and then return to Germany, where my 180 days would have reset.

If you’re an Aussie, and have been traveling in Europe without any formal visa documentation, other than your passport, I’d love to hear from you. I’m attempting to plan out the balance of my time in Europe, and don’t want to fall foul with any officials. Getting a black mark on my passport would be highly undesirable.

Thanks in advance for your support

I’m going to Australia for the first time in a week or so. I’d like to visit places like Byron (from Sydney). But I’d prefer not to rent a car.

I know Google Maps supports public transit directions in Aus, but based on my experience in London, they’re often not as useable / accurate as the native planning tools (e.g. National Rail app in the UK).

Can anyone recommend any local apps / sites for planning routes on trains, buses, etc. in Aus?