It is a common sight along Reservoir Road from Mondays to Fridays.
On many days, more than a hundred people are seen lined up outside the gates of the Australian High Commission in Suva, awaiting the word from the security guards to allow them in, to lodge their visa applications.
No shelter is provided to these potential visitors to Australia by the High Commission and the system has remained this way for years.
They wait on the roadsides for their call.
Many people who have gone through this visa application process, question why proper shelter is not provided and whether Australia entertains its potential visitors to be treated in this manner.
Over the past months, Fijivillage News has witnessed people lining up, young and old, and sometimes the line goes about 300 metres from the gates.
A month ago, Fijivillage News sent questions to the Australian High Commission questioning whether it is happy and satisfied with the ongoing system and whether the status quo would remain.
We questioned the High Commission whether other favorable systems can be implemented to ensure that people do not have to go through the current process.
Responding today, the Australian High Commission said the Department of Immigration and Citizenship is aware of the issue and aims to ensure that each client is as comfortable as possible.
However they encourage applicants to lodge their visa applications ahead of the date of intended travel, lodge the visa application by mail or courier rather than in person and obtain visa application forms and information sheets on their website.
The High Commission said traditionally November is the busiest month of the year for visa applications from clients wishing to visit Australia in the Christmas/New Year period.
It said in November 2009, the Suva office received 3,226 visa applications.
It further states that the Suva office is currently receiving up to three times the normal number of visa applications due to the Christmas peak.
However the High Commission is yet to clarify whether a new system will be implemented to ensure the applicants are well sheltered.
Many people have compared the visa application systems used by other embassies and High Commissions where they say proper waiting rooms are allocated for applicants, and a proper appointment system in place.
Fijivillage News has been told that the new US embassy at Princes Road will even go a step further and have a waiting room and benches near gardens outside the rooms so that people can wait in comfort for their names to be called.
We are awaiting the response from the Australian High Commission on whether the current system will remain.
Story by: Vijay Narayan
