Australia eVisitor visa - criminal conviction

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Under What you need to know about applying for an ETA online from DIBP the sixth bullet point under ETA Conditions is:

You must not have any criminal convictions for which you have been sentenced for a total combined period of 12 months or more, whether or not the sentence/s were served.

This is an official site in so far as it claims "This site was developed and is operated by SITA on behalf of the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP)".

Your conviction was for 3 months and hopefully by February the suspension period of 12 months will have expired, since you mention "I got it I 2014", without the 3 month sentence being served due to your breaching any of the conditions.

It is as plain as a pikestaff that the friendly officer was mistaken. However in my very limited experience that does not surprise me (though the friendly part does). You have emailed the Embassy and I take it their response its fine if under 12 months is in writing. I am convinced you are unlikely to be ineligible for an eVisitor visa on the grounds of criminal conviction alone (if you continue to 'behave yourself' until February) so should apply for an eVisitor visa. This is valid for 12 months from the date the eVisitor is granted so you should apply soon just in case it is refused, so you still have time to apply for a Visitor visa (subclass 600) which takes approximately 20 days to be processed but which can take longer and in your situation quite likely would.

However, since it seems likely an eVisitor would be granted I suggest you take a copy of the Embassy's advice with you in case you meet another misinformed officer.

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