Virtual Consulate of the U.S. Brisbane Australia

EducationUSA Advisers Recognized For Their Outstanding Service

The volunteer EducationUSA advisers in Canberra, Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane recently received the Unsung Hero Award for 20 years of volunteer advising to Australians interested in studying in the United States. The award was presented at the annual meeting of the Association of International Educators conference in Los Angeles and was one of only 5 awards presented worldwide to EducationUSA advisers.
Students Express Interest in U.S. Policy

In June, Bond University hosted U.S. Consul General Judith Fergin during a visit to the Gold Coast. Ms. Fergin had the opportunity to meet American as well as Australian students, both graduate and undergraduate, and to tour the campus.
Commemorating the Sailors of the USS Frank E. Evans

June 3 marked the fortieth anniversary of the tragic collision between the USS Frank E. Evans and the HMAS Melbourne that resulted in the loss of 74 U.S. sailors. A delegation from the United States joined Australian colleagues in a commemoration service held at Bundamba, Queensland on June 3, and a civic reception hosted by Ipswich Mayor Paul Pisasale and members of the Ipswich City Council on June 4.

Previous Pause Next

1 / 3

News from Washington

Ambassador Urges Robust Afghan Debate on Women’s Issues

Afghan women want candidates running in the August 20 provincial and presidential elections to discuss issues of concern to them, a State Department official…

Citizen Involvement Essential to Ghana’s Development Successes

Ghana is one of the better-performing nations in Africa, says the top U.S. aid official in the country. By adopting good governance practices and involving…

International Science Council to Revamp World Data Centers

For more than 50 years the International Council for Science’s world data centers have been repositories of data for scientists in every country.…

Fulbright

Educational and cultural exchanges

USA Study

Meet with an educational adviser

U.S.–Australia

The history of the bilateral relationship

Upcoming U.S. Consulate Events

Important Notice for Queensland Residents

Expressions of interest for our July Outreach to Brisbane and Cairns are now closed. If you would like to express your interest for future outreaches please email QueenslandACS@State.gov. Your email should include your name(s), address, telephone number, and the type of service you are requesting (Passport, Report of Birth or both). You will be placed on a waiting list for our next outreach.

Our next outreach is tentatively scheduled for the end of 2009. If you would like to submit an application for a Passport and/of Report of Birth Abroad please email us on QueenslandACS@State.gov and you will be contacted in the future relating to the outreach service.

Note: We will only be accepting applications for U.S. passports and/or Consular Reports of Birth Abroad. No visa services will be available.

More News from the Consulate

Dr. Mann at 666 ABC in Canberra on Wednesday, May 13th. Photo credit: U.S. Embassy/Travis Longmore.

Connecting with Political Experts Coast to Coast

Thomas Mann, political scientist and fellow at the Brookings Institute, shared his views on the new Obama administration and its relationship with Congress during a wide-ranging series of talks and interviews in Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney in the past month. His visit was arranged by the Grattan Institute in cooperation with the American Embassy.

Remarks by Secretary Clinton, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith, and Australian Defense Minister Joel Fitzgibbon at the State Department. State Department photo by Michael Gross.

Secretaries and Ministers Meet for AUSMIN

Secretary Clinton and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates along with Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith, and Australian Defense Minister Joel Fitzgibbon talk about their discussions at the annual AUSMIN meeting in Washington. The leaders reaffirmed the shared values and common approaches both countries take on many issues.

CG Fergin with students at Mossman State School in Cape York.

Exchanging Ideas in Cape York

Consul General Judith Fergin of Sydney visits with students at Mossman State School during a recent trip to the Cape York region in Queensland to learn more about welfare reform projects. The Consul General got a briefing on various income management and education projects managed by the Cape York Partnerships. She also met with Fulbright scholar Sharon Bonython Erickson of Queensland.

Consular Officers Visit Brisbane in November

During the first week of November, Sydney Consular Officer Chris Kjelland and Consular Assistant Lisa Youssef provided consular services to over 180 Queensland residents and their families in outreach visits to Northern New South Wales and Brisbane. With the kind cooperation of the Macarthur Museum in Brisbane, Chris and Lisa assisted Queenslanders with their passport applications, birth registrations, and other U.S. citizenship services.

Chris hosted an election watch party on November 5th with Members of Parliament, business and community leaders and members of the Diplomatic Corps, who all joined in watching the results. Chris also met with young Australians from the University of Queensland who are preparing for exchange programs in the United States.

ESTA: Electronic System for Travel Authorization U.S. Department of Homeland Security

ESTA Requirements Now in Effect

All nationals and citizens of Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries, including Australia, are required to obtain a travel authorization prior to initiating travel to the United States. This requirement commenced January 12, 2009. Authorization may be obtained online through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), a free Internet application administered by the Department of Homeland Security.

There is no charge to complete the ESTA application. VWP travelers should be aware that unauthorized third-parties have established websites, which charge visitors for information and for submitting ESTA applications. These websites are not endorsed by, associated with, nor affiliated in any way with the U.S. government.

VWP visitors should apply now for the travel authorization.

For more information, start by reading our page on the Visa Waiver Program.

U.S. – Australia Student Work and Travel Pilot Program

The Student Work and Travel Pilot Program allows Australian citizens to combine work and travel in the United States for up to 12 months. For more information, visit our page on the Student Work and Travel Pilot Program.

Please see our nonimmigrant visa page for general information on the U.S. visa application process, including how to apply for a U.S. visa in Australia.