Biometrics required for visitor visa

[Clarkies]

Hi!
Help please!!!
Has anyone had family visiting recently or assisted with family getting a visitors visa to come to Australia ?
I've just done an online visa application for my dad only to be emailed (after payment I might add!!!) that biometrics are now required within 14 days....i.e. My dad will have to travel to Pretoria to have electronic fingerprints done and his retina's scanned. 
Is this a new requirement? Has anyone else had to deal with this?

Feeling so disappointed as this is a big ask for my Dad to travel to Pretoria at this stage.

[HadEnoughofJuju]

I did a visitors visa application for a friend who recently visited and she also had to do the bio metrics. It's been a requirement for at least 2 years now. My wife's parents didn't need to do it with their last visa (2 year visa) which has just recently expired.

Edited May 21, 2017 by HadEnoughofJuju

[JulesR]

Yup.  When I got my visitor's visa last year, I had to get biometrics done - fingerprints and a photograph (not sure about the retina scan, unless they were scanning my retinas and I thought they were simply taking a photo!).  The advantage is that it's all automatic, and you don't need to get a visa stamp in your passport.  First world and all that.  

 

I understand about your Dad having to travel to Pretoria though, when you weren't expecting it.  Is there not a closer office? You didn't say where he lives.  I nearly had a heart attack when I realised I had to get this done, until I realised that I could have it done in Durban and didn't need to go to Pretoria.  

[RussellJ]

Question, just for knowledge sake...

 

If you have already done biometrics once eg. for tourist visa purposes, do you have to do it again each time you apply for a visitors visa thereafter? Or is once good enough forever...until they require locks of hair or something changes...

[TakeItOnTheChin]

My mother recently came over on a visitors visa and yes she also had to do biometrics, around R820 I think. Not sure if it needs to be done each and every time they apply, unfortunately I think I know the answer

[RussellJ]

Each and every time... unless you have a multiple entry Visa according to this link...

 

http://www.border.gov.au/Lega/Lega/Form/Immi-FAQs/i-am-a-regular-visitor-to-australia-will-i-need-to-have-my-photograph-and-fingerprints-taken-each-time-i-apply-for-a-visa