In Reply to: Help...flight GA714 into Sydney TODAY!! posted by Tanya on Sunday, 31. March 2002 at 19:12 Bali Time:
Some financial consideration for the trouble caused to immigrasi would smooth the way.
Pity Australians live in an honest, if not customer service friendly country.
Oh, and I forgot, we're just a tad paranoid about illegal immigrants or those who might overstay their visa.
So this probably explains the treatment described.
I imagine, however, that pre Sept 11, in the USA, the officials wouldn't dare not return anything documentation or notes etc, taken in a routine investigation/questioning. Things are a litle different now.