can you get a visa for australia upon arrival or do you need to get one before you leave the US? Staying less than 30 days for tourism purposes only.

Am almost certain you can't get a visa on arrival. Our government is known to refuse visas.

No, you must get one before you depart.

I think you can organise an 'e-visa' online - check www.immi.gov.au

Cilla & Neil_Oz are right - You must apply ahead of time. Do it on-line at the web-site mentioned by Neil. The process takes about 2 minutes and you'll have a confirmation number back by e-mail shortly after that. Then when arrive in Australia all your information will be in the immigration computer system.

We used the site in Neil's post. When we flew last month, airport personnel (United) checked that our visas were in order before we were allowed to board the plane.

Is there a way to actually get a paper visa--or do you just print your confirmation number as your receipt? I always feel better if I have something physically in my hand.

I printed a copy of the confirmation screen and carried it, but no one ever asked to see it. A United agent in LA used our passport numbers to confirm the visas in the immigration system.

We've always gotten our visas on-line. No one ever asked to see a copy of our visa confirmation receipt. We just presented our passports. All the information was "already in the system".

It was 2003, but my visa was processed before I left the US. It was for a business trip. I never received anything, the travel agent applied for it I guess (ignorance is bliss)

Anyway, i got to the airport in LA (after flying from Bos) and they said the b-day on the visa didn't match my passport. The person at the gate said "she'd call me when it was straightened out" 30 minutes later it was.

I would just verify whether by paper or telephone that the information was correct.

C.

Yes a visa is required before you leave for Aussie (except for us lucky guys here in NZ). I see from another post that you have had trouble with getting your name changed on your passport. I hope you have it back now, because if you get the visa on the old passport number (the one that is missing) and then get a new passport (with new number) your visa will like as not be of no use to you.