Australia Maritime Crew (subclass 988) Visas (MCVs) - IMPORTANT INFORMATION - Christmas/New Year period closure of the Maritime Global Processing Centre
Important
information regarding opening hours of the Department of Home Affairs
(Home Affairs) Maritime Global Processing Centre (MGPC) during the
upcoming
Easter 2021 period.
The MGPC will be closed during the following times:
·
from 4PM Thursday 1 April 2021 until start of business, Tuesday 6 April 2021
It
is the responsibility of crew members to ensure that they have a valid
visa for entry into Australia otherwise penalties may apply, including
the crew member being restricted
on board the vessel and/or infringement notices being issued to the
employer.
Those
needing Maritime Crew (subclass 988) Visas (MCVs) granted for entry
into Australia over the Easter period must lodge their applications at
least 14 days prior to departure
from a port overseas in order to avoid any issues with delays to
processing.
This means MCV applications should be lodged no later than Thursday 18
March 2021 for crew who are intending to arrive in Australia from an
overseas port between 1 and 6 April 2021.
The Australian Border Force will remain operational on a continued 24/7 basis over the holiday period.
Australian Government COVID-19 travel restrictions
There are current travel restrictions in place for all travellers to Australia.
It
is important that you refer to the latest information on the
Department’s website regarding travel restrictions to Australia and
consider how these restrictions will effect
crew and/or vessels seeking to travel to Australia.
COVID-19 and the border information for all travellers is available on the Home Affairs website at:
https://covid19.homeaffairs.gov.au/
Specific information for the maritime industry is available on the Home Affairs website at:
Cruise ships and maritime | COVID-19 and the border (homeaffairs.gov.au)
It
is also advisable that you refer to specific visa and quarantine
COVID-19 requirements for maritime crew, to ensure that crew undertaking
crew changes in Australia have the
right visa to cover their stay and work in Australia, including when
flying to Australia or if you need to quarantine.
This information is available on the Home Affairs website at:
REMINDERS and other important information
·
Make
sure you lodge complete applications with all the required supporting
documentation. This will help us process your application faster. Common
errors that delay
processing include:
o
not
attaching a copy of the applicant’s passport biopage (the page that
includes the holder’s photo, name, date of birth, passport number /
expiry date)
o
making
incorrect declarations in the application, including where previous
applications have been refused. False declarations, even where
unintended, will delay the
processing of the application
o
not
attaching copies of employment contracts and seafarer documentation to
confirm that applicant is, or will be, an articled member of crew of a
specific vessel, or
o
not
including a statement from the vessel’s shipping or handling agent
confirming crew member has joined the vessel, or where and when this
will happen.
Where
we ask for further information from you, it is important that you
provide the information as soon as possible, and within requested
timeframes
(usually within 7 days of the request). Without all requested
information, your application is likely to be refused and you will need
to re-apply.
·
Correspondence
regarding visa applications will continue to be managed through
ImmiAccount. This does not include application status enquiries. If we
require information
from you we will message you through ImmiAccount. When a decision is
made on your visa application, we will let you know.
·
If you have a technical problem with your ImmiAccount or online application you should use the
ImmiAccount Technical Support Form
in the first instance to request a resolve to your issue.
·
Applicants/stakeholders may only use the MGPC mailbox (mcv@homeaffairs.gov.au)
if:
o
You
have been granted an MCV, and you wish to advise that you made a
mistake with the name and/or date of birth you provided on the
associated application.
o
you
are advised to do so by us, for example in a system error message, and
including where an MCV holder is seeking to have their MCV ceased.
·
The MGPC mailbox is not for application status enquiries and if received, they will not be responded to.
·
We will not respond to any correspondence sent to this mailbox -
border.entry.visas@homeaffairs.gov.au
ADVISORY SENT BY:
Border and Events Visas Section
Temporary Visa Program Branch |Immigration Programs Division
Immigration and Settlement Services Group
Department of Home Affairs
This is to provide important information regarding opening hours of the Department of Home Affairs (Home Affairs) Maritime Global Processing Centre (MGPC) during the upcoming Christmas and New Year holiday periods.
The MGPC will be closed during the following times:
· from 4PM Thursday 24 December 2020 until start of business, Wednesday 30 December 2020, and
· from 4PM Thursday 31 December 2020 until start of business, Monday 4 January 2021.
It is the responsibility of crew members to ensure that they have a valid visa for entry into Australia otherwise penalties may apply, including the crew member being restricted on board the vessel and/or infringement notices being issued to the employer.
Those needing Maritime Crew (subclass 988) Visas (MCVs) granted for entry into Australia over the December 2020/January 2021 Christmas and New Year period must lodge their applications at least 14 days prior to departure from a port overseas in order to avoid any issues with delays to processing. This means MCV applications should be lodged no later than Thursday 10 December 2020 for crew who are intending to arrive in Australia from an overseas port between
25 December 2020 and 10 January 2021.
The Australian Border Force will remain operational on a continued 24/7 basis over the holiday period.
Australian Government COVID-19 travel restrictions
There are current travel restrictions in place for all travellers to Australia.
It is important that you refer to the latest information on the Department's website regarding travel restrictions to Australia and consider how these restrictions will effect crew and/or vessels seeking to travel to Australia.
This information is available on the Home Affairs website at: https://covid19.homeaffairs.gov.au/
It is also advisable that you refer to specific visa and quarantine COVID-19 requirements for maritime crew, to ensure that crew undertaking crew changes in Australia have the right visa to cover their stay and work in Australia, including when flying to Australia or if you need to quarantine.
This information is available on the Home Affairs website at:
REMINDERS and other important information
· Make sure you lodge complete applications with all the required supporting documentation. This will help us process your application faster. Where we ask for further information from you, it is important that you provide the information as soon as possible, and within requested timeframes (usually within 7 days of the request). Without all requested information, your application is likely to be refused and you will need to re-apply.
· Correspondence regarding visa applications will continue to be managed through ImmiAccount. This does not include application status enquiries. If we require information from you we will message you through ImmiAccount. When a decision is made on your visa application, we will let you know.
· If you have a technical problem with your ImmiAccount or online application you should use the ImmiAccount Technical Support Form in the first instance to request a resolve to your issue.
· Applicants/stakeholders may only use the MGPC mailbox (mcv@homeaffairs.gov.au) if:
o You have been granted an MCV, and you wish to advise that you made a mistake with the name and/or date of birth you provided on the associated application.
o you are advised to do so by us, for example in a system error message, and including where an MCV holder is seeking to have their MCV ceased.
· The MGPC mailbox is not for application status enquiries and if received, they will not be responded to.
· We will not respond to any correspondence sent to this mailbox - border.entry.visas@homeaffairs.gov.au
Thank you for your cooperation.
FROM:
Border and Events Visas Section
Temporary Visa Program Branch |Immigration Programs Division
Immigration and Settlement Services Group
Department of Home Affairs
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