ARCHIVED MEDIA RELEASE
PA/13/2004 21 May 2004
Extended service makes applying for a student visa to Australia easier
From 1 June 2004, Indians not using an education agent who wish to apply for an Australian student visa will be able to lodge their applications at TT Services offices across India. This marks an extension of the service which TTS is already providing for the lodgement of Australian visitor visas, which began on 1 March 2004.
“The visa application service has drawn wide praise as an efficient and convenient method of applying for a visa,” said the Australian High Commissioner for India, Ms Penny Wensley AO. “Extending the popular service to student visas is part of an ongoing effort to enhance services and make it easier for Indian citizens to apply for visas for Australia. I expect it will give a significant boost to the ever-increasing numbers of Indian students seeking a quality education in Australia,” added Ms Wensley. Around 14,000 Indian students are currently pursuing studies in Australia.
Students will be able to lodge their applications at six TT Services visa application and collection centres in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad and Bangalore - with other centres to follow. TT Services, a division of TT Enterprises (TTK, the parent group, is a 75 year old trusted business house), was the first company in India to offer visa support services to diplomatic missions.
“Applicants for student visas will now have greater choice as to where they lodge their applications,” said Ms Kelly Raj, Principal Migration Officer at the Australian High Commission. “Indians who wish to travel to Australia for study and who are not utilising the services of a student agent will no longer be required to apply directly to the Australian High Commission in New Delhi,” Ms Raj noted.
Certain other visas will also be collected at TT Services offices from 1 June 2004, including Long-stay Business, Occupational Trainees, Media and Film Staff, Sports people, Religious Workers and Visiting Academics.
Applicants whose visas have been granted onshore and who require a visa label may also lodge their passport through any TT Services office. This will guarantee a secure and reliable courier service for their passport and visa, including internet tracking.
Each visa application and collection centre provides a comfortable client waiting area and has sufficient capacity to ensure clients are not required to wait for extended periods. Each provides services to clients between the hours of 9:00am and 5:00pm Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays). TT Services will charge a service fee of Rs 350 for each application.
The locations for the visa application and collection centres can be found at: http://www.ttsaustraliavisas.com/ or www.ausgovindia.com . For further information please contact: Kelly Raj 2688 8223 ext 139 or Margaret Carseldine 2688 8223 ext 152 or TT Services 011 - 51540880 - 81.