So now the big freeze is over all PG5's can celebrate that there is at least a light at the end of the tunnel, even if still a little dim.
Don't forget many of these former international students have had to endure years of hardship separated from their spouses who are regularly denied tourist visas so they can visit their husbands. There are also many have not been able to return home so they can marry and start a family life. Not forgetting the applicants have been forced to work on a casual basis since they cannot land jobs in their professions without being permanent residents.
I mention spouses visiting husbands since the majority of PG5's would have to be single males who have finished their courses, lodged their GSM application and been placed on bridging visas remaining patiently for some action to occur. They have then at some point returned home and married but had to leave their beloved's behind.
One of these poor souls came to visit me yesterday and showed me a rejection letter his wife received from the Australian High Commission in India for her second tourist visa application. They stated they believed tourist visas cannot be used so partners can cohabitate in Australia.
How ridiculous.
Partners are entitled to come to Australia and enjoy this country just as much as anyone, what possible difference can it make just because they will be doing this with their husbands who are already here.
Perhaps not all decision makers at the High Commission will have the same opinion but I have seen enough rejection letters lately to develop the picture. There is no reasonable reason to make such negative decisions for those who obtain the 3 month tourist visa from India normally have the condition 8503 imposed, No Further Stay. This means they cannot apply for another visa while they remain in Australia anyway, so what are they worried about at the Australian High Commission.
They can try and raise the argument there is not enough reason the applicant may return to Australia but that is not the reality. Any GSM applicant isn't about to have their wife stay unlawfully in Australia since they want to sponsor them lawfully when their PR is granted in the near future.
GSM applicants have been waiting responsibly, working hard and paying their taxes like every other resident. There has been no burning cars in the street nor any defecation on the steps of parliament. This is to their credit for I am sure they all feel like doing so.
Does DIAC think their spouses are all of a sudden jump ship and remain here unlawfully? No of course they don't, only an idiot would think that and the staff there are unlikely to fall into that category.
These decisions from the Australian high Commission in India seem to be more about making sure PG5 applicants suffer as much as possible so they may cave in under the stress, withdraw their files and return to India.
We strongly condemn this tactic, which causes great distress to be kept apart from the one you love. Given the majority of PG5 applicants would most likely be from India we are talking about thousands of people who can directly relate to what I am saying.
Over the past few months many PG5's told me about how they may have to return to their country, giving up hope on their GSM applications. I tell them to hand in there and not to give up hope but you can see their heart is not in it anymore to stay here. The stress of being apart from their loved ones has been too much to endure.
For those immigration officers cuddling up to their spouses and children tonight, please keep this in mind.
