Australia opens 8th visa centre in Chandigarh

With the opening of a visa application and collection centre in Chandigarh for Australia, it will now be easier to assist people from Punjab aiming to migrate, John McCarthy, Australian High Commissioner to India, said today.

The centre, managed by Bangalore-based TT services, would accept Australian visa applications. McCarthy said the move would help boost the number of Indians travelling to Australia, be it tourists, students or businessmen.

The Australian High Commission receives 1, 20,000 to 1, 50,000 applications annually, majority of which are for travel and business visitors, followed by students. According to Australian immigration officials 10 per cent of the applications are from Punjab.

The Australian visa application and collection centre will provide clients a face-to-face contact point,and visa application service.

"Our intention is not to increase business but to provide an improved client service and partnership by allowing more flexibility, personalised relations and heavily cut down travel cost," said McCarthy.

At present, Australian has seven visa application and collection centres in India at Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai, Bangalore, Pune and New Delhi. Plans are afoot to have another centre at Ahmedabad early next year.