This Indian student can’t wait to join his uni’s soccer team in Australia

All fully vaccinated Australian student visa holders will have the chance to return to campus in Australia from December this year. They no longer need to apply for a travel exemption.

For Indian students like Paramjot Singh, this is something he’s been looking forward to for 20 months now. The last year has felt like a waste to him, but he’s determined to stay positive. 

Below we ask this postgraduate student at Edith Cowan University (Joondalup Campus) his thoughts on this long-awaited news for Australian student visa holders and his future plans once he’s Down Under:

485 visa holders are still in limbo, many of them have got their visas expired and can’t travel to Aus.@AlexHawkeMP have made the promise of concession many times but nothing yet announced with date and time. Days, weeks and months are gone still waiting #extend485visas https://t.co/yv2wIVME5P

— Australian Temporary visa holders (@TempVisaHolders) November 24, 2021

How long have you been locked out of the country despite being an Australian student visa holder?

I’ve been in India since March and stuck there for 20 months.

What are your thoughts on Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s recent statement about students entering Australia?

For student visa holders, it brings a lot of hope. There are new students waiting for the border lift in Australia so unis and colleges get new enrolments.

What more should be done to inform and prepare you for your journey back?

As I’m a student visa holder with a temporary graduation visa, I’m hoping for the extension of my visa which has been wasted during the pandemic and not my fault.

What has your educational journey been like so far?

My journey has been awesome as I have a distinction in many subjects.

What are you most looking forward to doing in Australia besides your academic work?

I used to play soccer at uni so I want to join my team again.