Australia Departure Cards - Still Necessary/What Happens to them?

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TheRealTMA

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BNE this evening fo EK fly got. Go to kiosk to print out departure card from Brisbane Airports iPhone app, MrsTMA's works fine, mine, the barcode thingy reader refuses to recognise it. Tried 3 different machines, no go. Deleted it and created a new one. This time "computer says no", again. Cursing, fill out manual card. Go to immigration line, auto passport reader, not a BF person in sight, just a box saying put immigration cards here. Sheesh. Obviously they put them in a large shredder overnight.

Next time I'm not even going to bother.
 
Re: The totally off-topic thread

BNE this evening fo EK fly got. Go to kiosk to print out departure card from Brisbane Airports iPhone app, MrsTMA's works fine, mine, the barcode thingy reader refuses to recognise it. Tried 3 different machines, no go. Deleted it and created a new one. This time "computer says no", again. Cursing, fill out manual card. Go to immigration line, auto passport reader, not a BF person in sight, just a box saying put immigration cards here. Sheesh. Obviously they put them in a large shredder overnight.

Next time I'm not even going to bother.

Scanning barcodes from mobile devices seems to bring on hullaballoos, not just in this situation. Supermarket checkouts as well.

People say to make sure your screen is clean, put the brightness up to the maximum, try slowly rotating the barcode.... nuts.

From a previous discussion, I thought it was stated that most of the information on the departure card is for demographic purposes rather than a legal obligation of sorts (with the exception of the $10,000 carrying declaration). Now that they don't actively monitor the cards in any way, I'm wondering whether anyone will be legally penalised if they "lie" on the card (or don't fill one in at all).

Also, realistically how would they "catch" people who fail to declare that they are carrying greater than $10,000 of cash out of the country?
 
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Re: The totally off-topic thread

From a previous discussion, I thought it was stated that most of the information on the departure card is for demographic purposes rather than a legal obligation of sorts (with the exception of the $10,000 carrying declaration). Now that they don't actively monitor the cards in any way, I'm wondering whether anyone will be legally penalised if they "lie" on the card (or don't fill one in at all).

The offence would still exist. I'm not even sure that there was a penalty for incorrectly filling in the landing card? From what I understand you're given the fine for the actual offence of bringing in undeclared items (rather than the filling of the card itself).
 
Re: The totally off-topic thread

BNE this evening fo EK fly got. Go to kiosk to print out departure card from Brisbane Airports iPhone app, MrsTMA's works fine, mine, the barcode thingy reader refuses to recognise it. Tried 3 different machines, no go. Deleted it and created a new one. This time "computer says no", again. Cursing, fill out manual card. Go to immigration line, auto passport reader, not a BF person in sight, just a box saying put immigration cards here. Sheesh. Obviously they put them in a large shredder overnight.

Next time I'm not even going to bother.

I believe they store the cards. IIRC they still had the immigration cards of The Beatles.
 
Re: The totally off-topic thread

2 weeks ago, I asked the officer (who was emptying the box containing all the departure cards) at Syd what would happen if I forgot to deposit my card in the box...she replied "nothing" as they already know everything about you!
 
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Re: The totally off-topic thread

When you enter Thailand you have to complete the arrival part of a numbered card. The departure part is the stapled inside your passport for use on departure. I've often wondered whether there is an army of people behind the scenes who collate the 2 parts together. Being Thailand it wouldn't surprise me.
 
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