Biometrics Collection for Australian Visas from Manila (Philippines)

Wellll, not quite!!

Biometrics Collection has come to Manila

This is nothing new for Immigration. Our clients who lodge in Dubai have had to do this for years, and of course many other countries that we rarely manage Australian visa applications through. It came to Manila last Monday (4th of April 2022). 

And I will tell you what it involves. NOTHING like the scary pic above. I just thought it would be attention-grabbing!

And please save us all some work by reading thoroughly below before you email me. Deal??

Biometrics Collection – Important Facts

(updated 16 April 2022)

• This applies to every new visa application lodged in Manila
• Any visa applicant 12 years and above needs to do this
• That means you get this done every single time you lodge an application in Manila
• Does not apply to already-lodged applications
• Does not need to be done before we lodge the application. It’s AFTER we lodge.
• The applicant will need to go to the VFS office in Manila or Cebu City to get this done
• Click HERE to make an appointment
• This must be done within 14 days of the visa application lodgment
• If you CANNOT get an appointment within 14 days, book and email us the booking confirmation (OR the page that says no bookings available). We will let the Embassy know!
• We will send you a notice of this when the application is lodged
• And no, the Embassy will not confirm receipt of the data
• And no, we cannot help with bookings. Contact VFS if you have a problem booking!

What is Biometrics Collection?

• They will digitally take your fingerprints 
• They will take a face and iris scan of you
• That’s it!

How?

• When you get the notice, you need to contact VFS and make an appointment
• Bring your passport and the request notice with you

Hope that makes it clear.

So…..

1. Carry on with preparing your application as you were before
2. Be prepared to get this done within 2 weeks of us lodging your visa application in Manila
3. Bring your passport and the collection notice
4. Then go home and wait for your visa grant!

Jeff Harvie is a Registered Migration Agent from Australia, but resident in Philippines since 2010 with his Filipina wife Mila and large extended family. Experienced with the Philippines culture, cross-cultural relationships and bureaucracy as well as Australian visas and Australian Migration Law, he writes with authority and fortunately with enough informality and humour that the average Aussie gets it! Down Under Visa specialises in visas for Australians in relationships with ladies and gents from Philippines. Read MORE