CHENNAI: In a move that will save students time and money, Australia is encouraging Indians to apply online for their student visa. Currently in the second stage of a three-stage trial, online applications must be processed through one of 19 registered agents in India, who are responsible for evaluating the students and the system. If the trial is successful, students may one day be able to apply online independently. In Chennai, the office of the International Development Program (IDP), a not-for-profit company owned by 38 of the 39 Australian universities helps students with their applications.

"Australia is the only country doing this for Indian applicants," says Racquel Shroff, manager of IDP. "However, not enough people know about this at the moment. It's Australia's best kept secret!" Between July 2004 and February 2005, only 148 of the 7,271 student visas issued to Indians were e-visas. In comparison, over 90 per cent of the visas issued for Singapore and Malaysia were e-visas. "India is the second largest recipient in the world for Australian student visas, and more people obviously need to know about this," said Ms. Shroff.

To use the service, students must bring relevant documentation (such as academic records and financial information) to the IDP office, where an associate will help the student and ensure that they are submitting a complete application. The IDP staff will enter the details into an online application system, and scan the relevant documents for the Australian authorities. This electronic application is then sent to the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs in Adelaide. "This is quicker and more convenient for the student because it eliminates hassle, reduces the number of steps involved, and streamlines the entire process," said Ms. Shroff. As soon as the application is sent the IDP officials can print out a medical form so that students can move to the next stage of their application.

Currently, all paper applications must be processed through New Delhi, which often leads to a backlog of applications. The paper applications also require an extra step, the preliminary approval, before students can move to the stage of getting a medical form. Only after the application is received by mail in Delhi and vetted there is the medical form sent to the applicant. Overall, because of the extra steps involved, and the time taken to mail documents across the country, the paper application process takes at least 7 to 10 weeks. With the new online service, the quickest approval was reached in seven working days, and the average e-visa takes just two weeks. Students can also check the status of their application online. The IDP charges no fee for their service and the e-visa is at least Rs. 1,000 cheaper than the paper application (depending on the exchange rate).

Anisha Shahnawaz, Chennai's first successful e-visa applicant, said the process was "quick, and extremely easy" as the IDP counsellors guided her through the entire process. Her visa was granted in just over two weeks. Leaving soon for the University of Melbourne she says, "everyone should use the e-visa service."

For information, look up www.idp.com or call IDP Chennai on 52179388

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