GSM 175 Fee

[shakeelahmadch]

Hi All,

Can someone please shed some light on following issue:

Since I'm applying from PK - the only option is available is a Bank Draft of PKR 1,52,800/- but since i want to apply Online, I'll use my UK based Debit Card - if i use Immi.au.gov website, it says it would be GBP 1290 - which if converted at latest exchange rate is actually approx. 1,78,000/- PKR.

I'm confused on this one, how can be there a difference in fee in currencies and if someone have recently applied - if he can share the paid amount ? The difference is around 20,000 so I'm thinking to apply manually instead of online, but missing online features is a big blow. Any expert opinion would be helpful.

thanks,
Shakeel

[kaz101]

I thought they only quoted AUD and not GBP on the website.

I tried to find the page where is actually said the charge but failed
Which page shows the charges or it is part of the application?

Don't forget that really you're converting AUD to GBP to PKR so there's bound to be a difference.

Regards,
Karen

[shakeelahmadch]

Originally Posted by kaz101

I thought they only quoted AUD and not GBP on the website.

I tried to find the page where is actually said the charge but failed
Which page shows the charges or it is part of the application?

Don't forget that really you're converting AUD to GBP to PKR so there's bound to be a difference.

Regards,
Karen

Please have a look on this one :

Currency Converter


If i select AUD 252 with below countries:

Pakistan: 152800 Pakistan Rupee
GBP: 1290 British Pound
India: 95900 Indian Rupee (Bank Draft)


But if i choose to pay by credit/debit card which is from UK but i am applying from Pakistan, I'm not sure whats going to happen - actual conversation of AUD 2525 at current rates is : Pakistani Rupee 193058.21

thanks.

[kaz101]

I'm no expert but if you are paying with a UK credit card then you will get charged the UK GBP price. Of course you will still have to do a conversion of PKR to pay the UK credit card.

Looking at other converters online they are giving you a good price since with other converters 2525 AUD is even more GBP than they are quoting!

Maybe someone who applied from Pakistan will apply since I applied from the UK so only had to deal with one currency conversion (AUD to GBP).

Regards,
Karen

[mr.india]

Dear shakeelahmad

You might have to call and check with your bank for associated charges if using British Debit card for international transaction in foreign currency.

My experience in such transaction, I had paid $10 each transaction, plus their exchange rates was also not so good, I am refereing to days when 1$ used to be INR 48, but I use to get 1$=INR42

Check with your bank, they might suggest you a better option

[SOMV]

As far as I understand the currency converter it is there to indicate the applicable charge, in local currency, when applying for offshore visas which are processed in the offshore country.

So, for example, if you were applying for a spouse visa in the UK, the application would be processed in London and you would be paying whatever the converter shows as the GBP equivalent of AUD$1705.

If, however, you are applying for a skilled visa, the application is deemed to be made onshore (in Australia) so the currency converter is irrelevant and the fee is AUD$2525. If you use your UK bank card to make the payment then the bank will decide how much you will pay in GBP (the bank will apply it's own rate and will also add a charge for a foreigh transaction).

I hope that makes sense?

Cheers,
Veronika

[kaz101]

Thanks for clearing that up Veronika.

[shakeelahmadch]

Thanks both ... i'll schedule transaction within this week and would post here - what happened.