Preeti.Biswas@timesgroup.com
Hyderabad: 07.12.2021
Jobless and debtridden, thousands of Australia-bound professionals, including those from Telangana and AP, are stranded in India for the last 21 months with little hope to return to Australia.
After pursuing education in Australia, international students can avail temporary graduate visa (subclass 485) that enables them to work in Australia for two years. Following completion of studies in November-December 2019 and securing work visa, many returned to India to meet families. But lockdown led to Australian government sealing borders, leaving many stuck.
Bagudu Giribabu, 27, returned after almost three years of education in Central Queensland University in Melborne in December 2019. “I had a work visa valid till December, 2021. I planned to stay in India till March, 2020. However, pandemic has been a nightmare. I lost my father in June 2020 to an accident. Now, I am the bread-winner of my family with ₹30 lakh loan. EMIs begin this month,” said Giribabu, whose work visa is to expire by December 9.
Mounika Nama, 27, got married in Australia and returned to India with her husband in February 2020. Now, she is stranded in India with an expired temporary graduate visa. “For six months in the pandemic, I spent $2,000 per month on rent. Later, I got my belongings shifted to a rental space where I spent $600 per month. This, in addition to my education loan. Me and my husband are in financially weak condition. Australia government is not allowing our return,” said Nama.
Many students are unable to apply for jobs here as original certificates are in Australia. Although Australia said it’ll allow temporary graduate visa holders to apply for a visa replacement from June, 2022, many rue it would lead to a loss of another six months.
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