Oz immigration rules may hit us hard: Ravi

Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi has urged the Australian authorities to ensure that some transitional arrangements are in place so that the Indian students are not hit hard by the new changes in the Australian immigration rules. HT reports.

Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi has urged the Australian authorities to ensure that some transitional arrangements are in place so that the Indian students are not hit hard by the new changes in the Australian immigration rules.

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Australia is making changes in its migration rules that may affect the India students. It has decided to keep occupations like hairdressing, cookery and community welfare out of the Skilled Occupation List (SOL).

A place in SOL can lead to getting Permanent Residency in Australia.

Ravi, on a 5-day tour to Australia, held meetings with Simon Crean, Minister for Trade, Senator Chris Evans, Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Stephen Smith, Foreign Minister and Martin Ferguson, Minister for Resources and Energy and Tourism.

Since change in immigration policy will affect Indian students who had come under the previous Immigration Rules, Ravi sought "appropriate transitional arrangements" as part of this new policy.

"Ravi has impressed upon the Australian side that these proposed changes should be effected prospectively and not have retrospective effect," said a release from the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs.