Cover Letter: how it works in Australia — first-hand
From real experience
A cover letter for an Australian visa application should primarily explain the reasons for returning to the applicant's home country.
It can also be used to clarify specific details or complexities in the application, such as having multiple bank accounts or explaining discrepancies. While not mandatory, it's a valuable tool to strengthen the application by demonstrating strong ties to the home country.
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When assisting a senior friend (e.g., a 67-year-old widow with sufficient funds) in applying for an Australian visa to travel with you (who holds a 3-year visa and has an Australian citizen son): 1. If your friend's itinerary includes meeting your Australian citizen son, it is advisable to mention this in the visa application and cover letter.
2. Regarding indicating her own son as a sponsor: opinions vary. Some suggest it demonstrates strong ties to her home country, while others argue it's unnecessary if she has ample personal funds and could potentially complicate the application. 3. It is strongly recommended to state in the cover letter that she is traveling with you (a friend who has previously visited Australia). Always provide truthful information.
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When applying for an Australian visa and traveling with a partner who is a German citizen (eligible for ETA, which costs 20 AUD and is processed quickly, unlike the free eVisitor), it is advisable to attach a copy of the German passport to the visa application and include it in the cover letter as additional proof of joint travel.
For uploading passport documents: in the 'Travel documents' section, generally only the front page of the primary passport is required; empty pages are not needed. If an applicant has a second valid passport, some recommend uploading it with other old passports/visas, while others consider it unnecessary for the main 'Travel documents' category.
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If a German citizen is accompanying a Russian applicant on an Australian visa but is not applying for a visa themselves (assuming they have visa-free entry or a different visa), providing a copy of their German passport might be considered supplementary information.
Mentioning their accompanying status in the cover letter is good practice. It is generally not mandatory to attach the passport of a visa-exempt accompanying traveler unless specifically requested.
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When applying for an Australian visa, if you have traveled to countries without entry/exit stamps or used visa-free regimes, you can detail your travel history in the 'Cover Letter' (CL) section.
It is recommended to upload scans of all visas separately and also scan pages with entry/exit stamps from your passports. This ensures the immigration officer has a complete record of your travel.
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For visa applications, if a bank deposit was recently moved, provide a current balance certificate.
Include a brief explanation in the Cover Letter detailing the account nature (savings). For document translations (EGRN, employment certificates), standard procedure involves using browser-based translation tools and appending a personal signature with name and date to the resulting PDF.
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When applying for an Australian visa, disclose any relatives residing in Australia, even if not providing an invitation.
If you intend to meet them, state this in your cover letter, clarifying that you will be staying in hotels and not with them. Failure to disclose relatives can negatively impact the application.
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When submitting your Australian visa application, the cover letter can be uploaded to any relevant section, such as the travel plans or financial documents section.
You can also combine it with your itinerary. Mentioning tentative hotel bookings is optional if they are not yet confirmed.
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When applying for an Australian visa as a family (e.g., two adults and a small child traveling together), it is acceptable to submit one common cover letter for the entire family application, as you are traveling as a unit.