ARCHIVED MEDIA RELEASE
PA/9/2002 4 June 2002
Australian visa services in India
Diplomatic staffing levels at Australian Missions in New Delhi and Mumbai have been reduced in line with the Australian Government's travel advice on India.
That advice, issued on 29 May, states that Australians should defer all travel to India and strongly advises those Australians in India to consider departing using available commercial means.
This advice has been issued in the light of tensions between India and Pakistan and regard for the safety of Australian nationals.
The withdrawal of some Australian staff from these Missions will necessarily affect a range of normal operations, including the arrangements for visa processing.
The Visa Office in Mumbai is closed to the public until further notice. No new visa applications - by mail or in person - can be lodged there. All enquiries should be directed to the Australian High Commission in New Delhi.
From 3 June onwards, until further notice, the Australian visa office in New Delhi will have limited visa operations only.
Full details are provided in the following outline of current visa arrangements for India and Pakistan (also available on the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs Website at http://www.immi.gov.au
Any inconvenience is regretted. The situation will continue to be monitored and the capacity of Australian Missions to provide services in New Delhi and Mumbai will be subject to review.
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VISA ARRANGEMENTS FOR INDIA AND PAKISTAN FROM 3 JUNE 2002
Due to the withdrawal of some Australian based DIMA staff from Australian Diplomatic Missions in Islamabad, Mumbai and New Delhi arrangements for visa processing in these offices have changed.
The Visa Office in Mumbai is closed to the public. This is with effect from Monday 3 June 2002 until further notice. No new visa applications - whether delivered by mail or in person - can be lodged at this office. All enquiries should be directed to the Australian High Commission New Delhi.
From 3 June 2002, Australian Visa Offices in Islamabad and New Delhi will have limited visa operations only.
Further details on processing arrangements for current and intended visa applications are provided below.
INDIA
Mumbai
The Visa Office, Australian Consulate-General Mumbai, closed to the public on 3 June 2002.
All temporary entry applications lodged up to 31 May 2002 have been finalised or are continuing to be processed. Applicants will be contacted as necessary.
Applications for skilled migration which are held in Mumbai and are close to finalisation will be transferred to other DIMA offices for processing. Applicants whose cases have been transferred will be contacted as appropriate. All other applications will be processed when visa operations resume in Mumbai.
Applications for general skilled points-tested permanent migration visas should continue to be directed to the Adelaide Skilled Processing Centre in Australia.
New Delhi
New visa applications
Applications for student, temporary resident and migration visas (except general skilled points-tested cases) can continue to be lodged in New Delhi for the time being. Applications for student visas will be receipted and sent by courier for processing to the Visa Office in the Australian Embassy Bangkok.
Applications for general tourist and business visas will not be accepted after close of business on Tuesday 4 June 2002. Residents of India who require a visa can lodge an application at any Australian Government visa office outside India but are encouraged to lodge their applications with the Australian Embassy Bangkok or the Australian High Commission Colombo.
Where possible the office will continue to accept applications of an emergency and or urgent nature but priority will be given to applicants with close family links to Australia.
Current applications
Visitors and other temporary entry applicants:
Applications already lodged in New Delhi will continue to be processed. Delays can be expected due to decreased staffing levels.
Students:
All student applications lodged prior to 3 June 2002 will continue to be processed in New Delhi for the time being. Cases will be prioritised, however delays should be expected.
Permanent migration:
Current applications will continue to be processed.
Applications for general skilled points-tested permanent migration visas should continue to be directed to the Adelaide Skilled Processing Centre in Australia.
Refugee and humanitarian migration:
Applications will continue to be processed. Close consultation with UNHCR will continue on priority cases.
PAKISTAN
Islamabad
New visa applications
All types of visa applications will continue to be received by mail only. If necessary, applications will be forwarded to another Australian visa office for processing.
Consistent with current arrangements, applications for general skilled points-tested permanent migration visas should continue to be directed to the Adelaide Skilled Processing Centre in Australia.
Residents of Pakistan who require a visa can also choose to lodge an application at any Australian Government visa office outside of Pakistan but are encouraged to lodge their applications with the Australian Embassy Bangkok or the Australian High Commission Colombo.
Current applications
Visitor, student and other temporary entry applications:
Applications already lodged in Islamabad will continue to be processed. Delays can be expected due to decreased staffing levels.
General and refugee and humanitarian migration:
Current applications will continue to be processed. In relation to applications lodged under the refugee and humanitarian categories close consultation will continue with UNHCR on priority cases.
ENQUIRIES
At this time telephone enquiries can be made to the Visa Offices in the Australian High Commissions in Islamabad and New Delhi.
Applicants are requested to visit the Australian High Commission New Delhi or Departmental websites. These sites will be constantly updated according to the latest information available. A dedicated recorded information number is also available to callers within Australia. The following contact details should be used:
• Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs Website: www.immi.gov.au
• Australian High Commission, New Delhi Website: www.ausgovindia.com
• Australian Embassy, Bangkok email address: [email protected]
• Australian High Commission Colombo email address:[email protected]
• Adelaide Skilled Processing Centre email address: [email protected]
• Information Service for callers in Australia: 1800 017 503
THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS CURRENT AS AT 3 JUNE 2002. IT IS SUBJECT TO REVIEW.