Plain clothes officers. I have no idea what they will ask cause never got stop but I am not surprised they could be observing people who are sitting at the boarding gate while waiting to board. Maybe they pick on those people whose body language are giving out some funny vibes?. They are there all the time, any flights going out of KLIA to Australia

I see you must have flown often to aus, so u've observed multiple occasions they are looking at body language?

Yep it's true. I went to Australia in 2017. Work trip with 2 others. There's aus officer right at the boarding gate in KLIA.

Mind you we're boarding SIA business class and the company we're working with is big MNC. Still kena question. When touch down at Australia side, kena question again.

The flight I boarded bound for Bali (The flight will fly to Australia after stopping at Bali) has two blonde officers wearing full black uniform with the name "Border Force". They actually look at your behavior. Got this guy randomly stopped and questioned, then subsequently denied boarding. He was planning to go backpack and his dressing quite sloppy with Japanese slippers.

I think key is to make yourself look presentable.

Seems like a random character assessment. Interesting to know, i am not aware of the surrounding

I fly from Singapore (where I work) to Australia at least 6 times a year (we have a holiday home and my Porsches are parked there), and in thankful that I’ve never been stopped … and in Singapore there are no Australian border police that I noticed. I’ll keep an eye out for them and see if they are present later this month (I’m due to fly back again).

If i recall there are also multiple stories in the news of msian travellers being turned away at the boarding gate. Sob stories about burning prepaid travel with no recourse since the officers decision at KLIA will over ride any prior approvals.

Quite sad to think that the 2nd most powerful passport in ASEAN is treated like this ....

This post has been edited by hksgmy: Sep 6 2023, 12:54 PM

Look presentable also kena. The one who went with me was senior manager level lagi. we all chinese, malay, indian (1 malaysia). I wore t-shirt, jeans, sneakers.

Singapore won't have issues.
More so if you transit through full fledge carriers like SIA.

So what happened to him?

My ETA got rejected due to attachment insufficient, this round i attached more then 15 doc for them prove that i had a company here is under my name , SSM, form 49,my EFP saving, 3month paying slips and all and a letter from my company as employee verification.

i just put everything in as much as possible finger cross, will get it by next week.

My friend submitted the same attachment with me get Granted, but mine rejected. weird lol

Nothing happened to me and 2 other with me. just got questioned by the aus officers (which i let my manager handle), and we're let go. not even 5 minutes.

Different profile. One of the FB group I joined suggested typing a word doc explaining the income/requirement and attach as cover letter. Got approved after first round of rejection.

Then that's ok. Just questions. If you can answer them should be okay.

Malaysian passport has too many red flags in AU, a lot fruit pickers and never return.. a lot of work to expedite them

thanks for highlighting nauticat99 and hirano.

will keep an eye out.

Not sure whether you got stopped due to the muhibbah thing. Know of a group of travellers; five Chinese and one Indian (Singh). The Singh got stopped and questioned while his friends all cleared through at Australia immigration. After some time, he was also cleared but it definitely felt like some racial profiling being done. Or they find it strange having different races in a travelling group.

Yes my letter are with company cover letter and i attached my name card in it as well. I just throw in as much proof as i can now. sigh its tiring hahah

Dont think its a matter of presentable.. i wear shorts and slippers on to flights towards aus. Never kena question before.

With technology these days, you would have been screened before hand and any red flag of yours will be highlighted to the officers already

Yeah, I don’t think they flag based on dressing. If like this then those back packers from US/Europe wouldn’t be able to enter Australia. Some really look homeless🤣.
One tip I can give is when you approach the immigration counters at Australia, be prepared to answer them when they ask you some innocuous question like “why are you in Australia or where are you staying or planning to go”. The way they asked is so nonchalant and friendly but behind is to an attempt to check if you are a genuine tourist or traveller. Many got caught here due to language barrier - Australian do swallow their words!.

This post has been edited by nauticat99: Sep 6 2023, 03:45 PM

"if u r a genuine visitor then u have nothing to fear.. because u will have the right answers to my questions and the papers that i want to see.. "

a friendly immigration officer aunty told me when i was abit nervous + tired after overnite flight into Melbourne during my first trip 25 years ago..

since then i have travelled there almost annually.. for work + family.. no issue with immigration. a few even welcomed me back.. (of course cause i freaking pay taxes there too)

unless u super unlucky.. u will get be welcomed into Aus.. maybe will take extra effort la..



This post has been edited by seather: Sep 6 2023, 04:36 PM

Don't you all use the e-Gate when you clear immigration in Australia? I don't know whether it's because we are PRs or not, but my wife (she carries a Singaporean passport) is eligible for e-Gate use (no counters), and I use my Malaysian passport via the e-Gate (SmartGate), no worries. Don't even have to see the immigration officer's black face.