When will Australia get modern entry procedures?

[Port Power]

A few years ago I did not declare any food as I only had commercial chocolates in my luggage. The first contact agent queried me, so I said as much. She told me it would be better to declare under "milk, nuts, etc" just to be sure. Since then I always tick the box if I have chocolates, biscuits, muesli bars or commercial jam. Better safe than sorry! I explain what I have to that first agent and am then directed straight to the exit. It goes to the oft mentioned motto, "If in doubt, declare". I also really miss the very simple "food" question. There is no mistaking what food is.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

. I also really miss the very simple "food" question. There is no mistaking what food is.

Oh, lol, there is! A passenger in front of me didn’t declare coffee sachets… was told ‘do you put it in your mouth, then it’s food!’

Not sure I agree with that.

 

[markis10]

Oh, lol, there is! A passenger in front of me didn’t declare coffee sachets… was told ‘do you put it in your mouth, then it’s food!’

Not sure I agree with that.

Seen that a few times on TV “Border Security”. They are a bit fussy re Coffee as it can be used as a masking agent, I always declare regardless, I like my coffee!

 

[justinbrett]

Not sure what the regulation states, but the ABF advice is that a chocolate bar doesn’t need to be declares, even if containing nuts: https://www.abf.gov.au/entering-and-leaving-australia/can-you-bring-it-in/categories/food

The only time you need to declare/discard chocolate is if it contains meat (for example bacon).

You may bring commercially prepared and packaged chocolate or confectionery into Australia as a personal import.​

Confectionery includes fudge, toffees, boiled sweets, peppermints, marshmallows and liquorice.​

Chocolate and confectionary must not contain meat, e.g. bacon.​

​

There is a separate section for nuts, which allows the importation of commercially packaged nuts which meet the criteria (shelled, vacuum packed, etc).

Nuts must be declared and are subject to inspection.

You could not inspect nuts internally in a chocolate bar.

Nowhere does it say chocolates containing nuts don’t need to be declared. However it does say all products containing nuts must be declared.

Again, by the letter of the regulation, you must declare it. That said, you’re probably fine to bring in a snickers.

 

[Beano]

Seen that a few times on TV “Border Security”. They are a bit fussy re Coffee as it can be used as a masking agent, I always declare regardless, I like my coffee!

There are regulations and limits on powders, which include coffee, sugar etc, which wouldn't otherwise be classified as requiring to be declared.

 

[opusman]

Nowhere does it say chocolates containing nuts don’t need to be declared. However it does say all products containing nuts must be declared.

Again, by the letter of the regulation, you must declare it. That said, you’re probably fine to bring in a snickers.

That's part of the problem, there's only a limited amount of information on the card, and chocolate does come under dairy (and parts of plants). Packaged tea is allowed but is also part of a plant, etc, etc.

Sure the website explains things but who checks that? A digital arrivals form can provide a lot more information at the time you're actually filling out the form.

 

[markis10]

There are regulations and limits on powders, which include coffee, sugar etc, which wouldn't otherwise be classified as requiring to be declared.

Indeed as a couple of parties Friday and Saturday found out in Sydney with a total of over 80kg! FWIW I am not talking about coffee in powder form, I take bags.

 

[LionKing]

Recently I had a wonderful experience travelling into Haneda.
Queues were long, however there were a minimum 50 passport reading machines which meant it moved fast. Even there were hundreds of people queuing up, there were essentially no stopping all the way.
After baggage claim, there are minimal queue into customs and they use facial recognition to screen so basically once the gate is opened you are free to go.
International to domestic transfer, turn right and baggage can be checked in. They even offered free tickets on the train to Terminal 1 & 2, which is the next terminals station.
My parents were in their 70s so it took sometime to clear, however if you are in 20s or 30s, I guarantee you can arrive the gate of your next domestic flight from International flight within 90 minutes.

 

[Himeno]

Recently I had a wonderful experience travelling into Haneda.
Queues were long, however there were a minimum 50 passport reading machines which meant it moved fast. Even there were hundreds of people queuing up, there were essentially no stopping all the way.
After baggage claim, there are minimal queue into customs and they use facial recognition to screen so basically once the gate is opened you are free to go.
International to domestic transfer, turn right and baggage can be checked in. They even offered free tickets on the train to Terminal 1 & 2, which is the next terminals station.
My parents were in their 70s so it took sometime to clear, however if you are in 20s or 30s, I guarantee you can arrive the gate of your next domestic flight from International flight within 90 minutes.

Japan doesn't even use those passport machines along the queues leading to immigration when it isn't busy. They are only there to complete some of the processing before you get to an agent, which reduces the amount of tasks they need to complete at the booth. During quiet times, they turn the machines off and you just go right to the booth.

 

[serfty]

Japan doesn't even use those passport machines along the queues leading to immigration when it isn't busy. They are only there to complete some of the processing before you get to an agent, which reduces the amount of tasks they need to complete at the booth. During quiet times, they turn the machines off and you just go right to the booth.

Yes, it feels like the process has been different each time I have arrived in the last year or so and it has not been self evident what exactly to do.

I have taken to politely waving my 'phone displaying my Visit Japan barcode and taking direction.

On Wednesday a machine advised me to take queue 'a', there was no other prompting and it would have been easy to miss.

So I completed the process in a queue labeled a, b, c, d and after that another queue a, b all the time saying (politely questioning) a ... a ... a?

I was welcomed though each with a smile ... eh?

 

[LionKing]

Yes, it feels like the process has been different each time I have arrived in the last year or so and it has not been self evident what exactly to do.

I have taken to politely waving my 'phone displaying my Visit Japan barcode and taking direction.

On Wednesday a machine advised me to take queue 'a', there was no other prompting and it would have been easy to miss.

So I completed the process in a queue labeled a, b, c d then a queue a, b all the time saying (politely questioning) a ... a ... a?

I was welcomed though each with a smile ... eh?

The VJW app is basically the equivalent of the Australian form, which generates a QR code to contain all pre arrival information.

So basically when you arrive, you scan the QR code and scan passport to link all those info together, then immigration officer will screen you and issue you a sticker to get into Japan, and of course if there's anything declared they could ask you.

I honestly don't understand why Australia cannot adopt such system?

Don't the government should think this kind of system minimise contact between ABF and the travelling public?

I am an Australian and I was surprised that ABF would still asks questions at border such as what job I do, or what kind of medicine I am bringing in?

Honestly who cares about what job an Australian do? Can't an Australian on Centrelink travel? I think these kinds of questions makes me irritated and hate against Australian Government.

 

[Beano]

The VJW app is basically the equivalent of the Australian form, which generates a QR code to contain all pre arrival information.

So basically when you arrive, you scan the QR code and scan passport to link all those info together, then immigration officer will screen you and issue you a sticker to get into Japan, and of course if there's anything declared they could ask you.

I honestly don't understand why Australia cannot adopt such system?

Don't the government should think this kind of system minimise contact between ABF and the travelling public?

I am an Australian and I was surprised that ABF would still asks questions at border such as what job I do, or what kind of medicine I am bringing in?

Honestly who cares about what job an Australian do? Can't an Australian on Centrelink travel? I think these kinds of questions makes me irritated and hate against Australian Government.

Most questions on an arrival card in Australia and New Zealand (except for imported products) are data collection by the statistics department so they can work out the demographics of arrivals.
NZ once had "Are you here for the Rugby World Cup"!.

The information about jobs is so that if you put "Engineer" on your card, they can quiz you about whether you have work boots. As you know all "engineers" wear work boots when they travel and tramp around muddy building sites!

 

[Aeryn]

I am an Australian and I was surprised that ABF would still asks questions at border such as what job I do, or what kind of medicine I am bringing in?

Honestly who cares about what job an Australian do? Can't an Australian on Centrelink travel? I think these kinds of questions makes me irritated and hate against Australian Government.

WRT medication i like the NZ question re 3 months personal supply not needing to be declared. For Aussie citizens/residents returning with an e-form they could easily state that medication prescribed and fulfilled in Australia need not be declared. Most people travel with a weeks spare meds in case of delays, given it came from Aus bringing it back isnt an issue.

I get why they ask foreigners, because there are meds available OTC overseas that are controlled or banned in Australia.

The job question is 3 fold. For foreigners it can be a indicator re their ability to fund their visiit or likelihood to work illegally, so may trigger further checks.

For aussies in most basic form it is for stats collection re who travels and reasons. But secondary reason its a cross check for benefits, if you are unemployed and on benefits (job seeker, pension etc) you are not entitled to claim those whilst overseas.

 

[Warragul]

For aussies in most basic form it is for stats collection re who travels and reasons

All info can be used in the right circumstances for any risk assessment done at the airport ( these days not as much as days of yore). If someone says their occupation is x does that fit with the rest of their information and/or story. If not what is the real story of their travel..... Is how the thinking goes.

On its own a minor piece in the prosaic processes, but added to other data it can be useful in assessment.