Skip navigation

United States Department of State

Image: United States of America Mission Seal

Virtual Consulate of the United States in Brisbane

Last update: Tuesday, 13 July 2010 GMT+1000

  • The aftermath at a bombed restaurant in Kampala, Uganda, shows the “cowardly” tactics of terrorists who would strike at innocent people watching the World Cup final, U.S. officials say.

    “Cowardly” bomb attacks in Uganda

    The aftermath at a bombed restaurant in Kampala, Uganda, shows the “cowardly” tactics of terrorists who would strike at innocent people watching the World Cup final, U.S. officials say. More »

  • Consul General Judith Fergin attends Coral Sea events

    Commemorating the batlle of the Coral Sea

    In May, Consul General Judith Fergin attended several events in New South Wales and Queensland to commemorate the Battle of the Coral Sea. Amongst those attending the ceremony featured in this photo were the Governor of Queensland, a federal MP, a state MP, the leader of the state opposition, and CAPT Joseph Barnes USMC.

  • Ambassador Bleich with a giant stuffed koala and Madonna King from ABC radio in Brisbane.

    Getting local

    Ambassador Bleich conducted an interview with Madonna King on ABC local radio in Brisbane. As this was the Ambassador's first trip to Brisbane, he was thrilled to have the opportunity to reach out to some of the locals through the interview.

  • Ambassador Bleich with Brisbane Courier-Mail Editor David Fagan and his staff.

    Meeting the Courier-Mail

    During his first trip to Brisbane, Ambassador Bleich met with Courier-Mail Editor David Fagan and his staff. The Courier-Mail is Brisbane's daily newspaper.

News from Washington

Film Connects Marginalized People, Says South African Filmmaker

Palesa Shongwe, a South African filmmaker who focuses on human rights and social development, says film can play a vital role in developing Africa’s…

Training Zimbabwe’s Next Generation of Leaders

As a civil society activist, Zimbabwe’s Sydney Chisi has braved many arrests and assaults from the Mugabe regime. He is coming to the President’s…

Future of Africa Depends on Youth, Says Thembi Grace Thadzi

The empowerment of youth is a top priority of Thembi Grace Thadzi, presidential adviser for the Malawi Developmental Advisory Council, who will be…

Upcoming U.S. Consulate Events

Important Notice for Queensland Residents

Applications for our April outreach are now closed. We are tentatively scheduling another outreach for the July-August period. If you would like to submit an application for a U.S. passport and/or Consular Report of Birth Abroad during the consular visit, please send an email to QueenslandACS@state.gov. No visa services will be available.

Your email should include the names and date of birth of each applicant, as well as your address, telephone number, and a brief description of service(s) you are requesting.

Please note that we will only be accepting applications for U.S. passports and/or Consular Reports of Birth Abroad, for applicants who are legally required to have an interview with a consular officer. Applications which can be submitted by mail will not be accepted. Once again, no visa services will be available.

More News from the Consulate

Consular Services in Brisbane

Consular officials recently visited Brisbane to provide passport and citizenship services to our resident Queensland population. As we do not have a permanent consular presence in Brisbane, consular officials periodically visit from the Consulate in Sydney. During our most recent trip, we processed more than 200 passport and citizenship applications, and visited several incarcerated American citizens. We anticipate our next visit will be in late April or early May, and will make an official announcement closer to the date. Please email us at QueenslandACS@state.gov to register your interest in participating in our next visit to Queensland.

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.

Virtual Presence Post

This site is managed by the U.S. Department of State.

External links to other internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein.