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Immigration Daily News Thoughtless decision by Australian High Commission case officer in India
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Thoughtless decision by Australian High Commission case officer in India
A case officer who just could not see the wood for the trees in a decision to refuse a young Indian cricket fan a tourist visa, will have that decision internally reviewed by the department’s office in India.
Jignesh Sanghrajka of Mumbai reportedly won an all-expenses paid trip to the MCG for the World Cup final this weekend had his visa application refused because he apparently doesn’t have enough money in the bank, according to a report in The Australian.
For correctly predicting the winner of the February 15 match between India and Pakistan, he won two economy-class return flights, two of the best seats at the MCG and three nights’ twin-share accommodation in a five-star hotel in an Emirates competition. The rough estimate of the package would cost around R3 to 4 lakh per person (which is about AU$12,000 to AU$16,000).
“I was just so taken aback,” he told The Australian. “How could I receive this over 1.2 billion people? I was, like, ‘Wow!’ I immediately informed my family and friends (and) decided to take along my brother.”
They submitted their visa applications in February, with confirmation of return flights and a supporting letter from the International Cricket Council.
But an Immigration official based in India has denied Mr Sanghrajka a visa, noting in a letter last Wednesday that his income is “not significantly high and therefore I am not satisfied such an income/occupation would constitute an incentive for you to return. Considering this, I am not satisfied that a genuine visit is intended.”
However, The Australian reports that an Australian high commission spokesman is reviewing that matter and told the media that: “We’re looking into it and will contact the applicants to see what can be done.”
Comments
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Monday, 23 March 2015Every applications should be assessed on its own merits.
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Monday, 23 March 2015"Thoughtless" would be a charitable description of this decision, "mindless" would be another!
Unfortunately a "robotic" or "mechanistic" "consideration: of the genuine temporary entrant criterion is all too common - maybe an extreme and extremely stupid decision like this will prompt change! -
Monday, 23 March 2015
This world and its resources belong to the rich and the unfortunate. India would not refuse visa to an Australian on the basis of bank balances because we think every oz is rich enough.i am prepared to accommodate him in my house as I live very close to MCG.
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Tuesday, 24 March 2015
I dont know just because 1 out of a kajillion ppl coming to watch the cricket, didnt get a visa. Its not like he was fleeing a war zone. We should focus our light on the real humanitarian crisis. Missing game isnt life or death.
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Wednesday, 25 March 2015
Yes, that should be a criteria for granting a visa. You must be fleeing a war zone. Whatever
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Tuesday, 24 March 2015
So happy that he got the visa. Any assistance required contact me.
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Wednesday, 25 March 2015
We had a very very similar case, same situation, same visa, application reviewed by the department's office in India and his application was refused the first time for the exact same apparent reason.
We would like to add our case to the same complaint. Could we get more details? Maybe who should we address now? -
Wednesday, 25 March 2015
Case officers in Australian High Commission in India still have the old colonial mentality and they are very happy to refuse cases for silly things. Both people of Indian origin and other ethnic origins working in New Delhi refuse considerable number of applications. They need to change the way they work. No responses for any emails and contacts clients’ directly even though a registered migration agent is acting behalf of a client. People are scared to approach them.
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Wednesday, 25 March 2015
Who said he got the visa? What further assistance would be required if he got the visa?
This is typical of the jealousy that runs rife in overseas posts. Don't believe the lie that decisions are made by DFAT/Immi staff. They are made by locals and signed off by Immi staff.
The "genuine" term is always contentious. I reviewed an application by a Thai teacher whose visitor visa was refused because it was considered her salary was insufficient and 15 years employment with same school that provided a letter stating she had two weeks leave over Christmas New Year period "was not significant enough incentive to ensure you will return to your home country." -
Wednesday, 25 March 2015
Welcome to AHC New Delhi,
This is one of the more thoughtful decisions.
Thoughtless one's are - with a 15 Million A$ turnover and assets worth 50 Million was refused a tourist visa (for exploring the business opportunities in Australia) because he did not show them a booking in a hotel. Needless to say that the letters from Friends was not strong enough evidence for the morons at AHC New Delhi -
Wednesday, 25 March 2015
Use a registered migration agent who can cut through the bullsh1t of case officers and force a proper decision.,
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Wednesday, 25 March 2015
I have had the same experience Robert where a case officer had deemed an Indian lawyers' salary too low and therefore insufficient incentive to return despite a letter provided from the Indian company regarding leave granted. Letters from an Australian community organisation supporting his visit. Sufficient funds. There is no room for consultation, visitor visa refused. Indian nationals are not even in the top three 'overstayers' and New Delhi make it so so hard.
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Thursday, 26 March 2015
Dear Rms
Please explain your method of forcing a proper decision? In my experience and that of most of the many RMAs I have spoken to, you just get a refusal; no ifs, no buts and these decisions are non-reviewable. The not so generous offer allow the applicant to re-apply if the circumstances change seems to indicate that the real purpose is seeking multiple VAC.
I had an Indian client who was refused an ELICOS student visa because he had only considered several colleges in Australia and none in India. -
Thursday, 26 March 2015
Robert
You are probably right. What I try to do is set out all the legislative criteria in the application plus all their policy guidelines and address them all so they cannot NOT give a positive decision. But you are right, these people are like robots. I could just as easily get a refusal with the method I describe. I have done before and then made a fresh application, different case officer, approved. Same submission. -
Thursday, 26 March 2015
Rms
You have just defeated your own statement that "they cannot NOT give a positive decision" by admitting that they have done. Legislative criteria and policy guidelines are all subject to personal interpretation. What seems "genuine" a reasonable-minded person does not necessarily seem so to a hostile, unreasonable and most likely jealous one. -
Thursday, 26 March 2015
Yes Robert, on reflection you are right again. I am fast becoming cynical of our entire DIBP. It needs an urgent review. Talking about reviews, where the F are the results from the Office of the MARA review?
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Tuesday, 23 July 2019
I got refusal today , but I want to ask , can I make communication with AHC directly
Immigration blog
Is it time we name and shame this officer?