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In the same narrative as this question, a private ketch sailing the South Pacific will make landfall in Australia about midday on Tuesday (13 Sept 2016). As they were preparing their documents, the captain grew worried that one of the passengers is a Russian national, i.e., a person who would normally need a visa to land in Australia. It's not a case of a stowaway, she is an invited guest.

She has a US Tourist Visa which is still valid and joined the cruise in Hawaii several weeks ago. Nobody thought to consider the bigger picture. Their previous port of call was Honiara where, apparently, the party was able to land without producing travel documents. I suspect Australia will be more rigorous. It's too late to turn around and yeah, everybody should pay more attention to these things, but sometimes it happens. I have no clue about corner cases arising under the Australian system.

So what happens now? Can she get a visa-on-arrival? Or she be unable to land? Or worse, taken into detention? Or is it OK given they already landed in Honiara and she has a current US tourist visa?

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  • 2
    If it matters they plan to first visit Thornton Beach and then finally to anchor and resupply in Moreton Bay'
    – Gayot Fow
    Sep 11, 2016 at 19:08
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    While US citizens are eligible for an Electronic Travel Authorization, Russians are not, and her US visa may be of little use. However, Russian passport holders may apply online for the Visitor e600 visa (and before arriving in Australian waters). australianvisaauthority.org/visa-form-application
    – Giorgio
    Sep 11, 2016 at 21:20
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    @pnuts her visa may be granted within one day border.gov.au/about/access-accountability/service-standards/…
    – Giorgio
    Sep 11, 2016 at 23:01
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    @pnuts low risk, as little as one day, high risk, up to a week, and, with a US visa, probably low risk
    – Giorgio
    Sep 11, 2016 at 23:08
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    @pnuts "Your" list is not an official list. The site you linked is a UK limited company, not an official Australia government site.
    – Michael Hampton
    Sep 12, 2016 at 3:31

1 Answer 1

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While US citizens are eligible for an Electronic Travel Authority, Russians are not, and her US visa may be of little use. However, Russian passport holders are among those eligible to apply online for a Visitor e600 visa.

Visa processing times in this class can be as little as 24 hours and, with luck, hers may be granted before the craft reaches Australian waters.

Makani 'olu a holo mālie

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  • I know of people who have waited for a month to get their e600. Speaking of which, ETA is also non-instantaneous sometimes and I would double check if the crew has had theirs approved.
    – JonathanReez ♦
    Sep 12, 2016 at 5:48

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