Silly decision reversed.
The Indian man, Jignesh Sanghrajka who won the all-expense trip to watch the cricket finals but was not granted an Australian visa because the case officer formed the opinion that he may not leave Australia, is now making plans to fly to Australia.
The embarassed Australian High Commission in India, having faced media backlash in Australia and India, went into damage control mode and quickly reversed the case officer's decision. It has granted Mr Sanghrajka and his brother visas to enjoy the cricket.
“I am so happy, I am just speechless,” Jignesh, 28, told The Australian yesterday, minutes after receiving the good news by email from an Australian Immigration official in Delhi.
The issue has been a public relations disaster for the Australian government, months after high-profile state visits by Tony Abbott to Delhi and then Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Australia helped reset a sometimes-troubled diplomatic relationship, reports The Australian.“I have no words to thank everyone who helped us.”
It has also struck a nerve with many Indians who face onerous bureaucratic hurdles to secure travel and work visas in Western countries.