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‘Missing’ Indians’ visas to expire today

Melbourne:With their visas set to expire by Thursday, the 34 “missing” Indians, who arrived in New Zealand as “pilgrims” but later claimed they were victims of an immigration scam, faced an uncertain future even as 10 of them applied for an extension of their travel permits.

Forty pilgrims, part of a group of more than 200 people, disappeared last month while on stopovers in New Zealand before flying to Sydney to take part in the Pope’s World Youth Day rally. Since then four of the Indians have returned home, and now a fifth has surfaced, the New Zealand Press Association reported on Wednesday.

“He contacted us and said he wanted to go home, so arrangements are being made for that,” a Department of Labour spokesman said, adding “we’ll keep looking for the others, we’ve got a fair idea where 20 of them are.”

So far 10 have applied to remain in New Zealand and their applications are being considered. Three of them are seeking an extension of their visitor’s permit, and seven have applied for student permits. – PTI

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