Afsal Mansuri is a Permanent Resident of Australia living in Perth.
His parents came to Australia on 8th Jan 2020 on a 3-month multiple-entry visitor visa 600.
“They did not intend to stay more than 3 months and were planning to fly back home before their visa expires on 8th April,” Afsal said.
Under the 21 day travel ban announced by the Indian government no commercial passenger flight was allowed to land in India until 6.30 pm IST on 14th April. These restrictions have now been extended to 3rd May 2020.
“Our only option was to apply for a renewal of their visitor visa which is costing us a lot. My father is over 70 years of age so we need to pay for his medical exam in addition to the visa renewal fee.
Source: Supplied
"Our original tickets have been cancelled, there is no confirmation from the airline about any refund or a possible reschedule.”
Afsal’s parents are among many other Indian citizens stranded in Australia on a visitor visa. They have joined a WhatsApp group to discuss issues and support each other.
Chintan and Dwigal Shah’s parents and parents-in-law are also waiting to go back home.
Their main concern is that they are running out of medication for their multiple health conditions.
Dwigal’s mother takes a combination of medicines for high blood pressure, diabetes and a thyroid condition. She had brought her prescribed medicines from India to last for three months as that is all she planned to be in Australia for.
IGI airport, Terminal 3, on March 24, 2020 in New Delhi, India. Source: AAP
'Mental and psychological stress'
“She is extremely anxious about getting a new prescription from a doctor in Perth as she is worried about whether her body will accept these new Australian medicines,” Dwigal said.
Chintan’s father Shirish Shah said, “It’s the mental and psychological stress of running out of life-saving medicines away from home that is the most difficult right now.”
Chintan says his parents and parents-in-law are constantly monitoring news from India.
“We have close to 100-150 people in a similar situation. They are in Australia on a visitor visa and want to go back home but can’t due to coronavirus lockdown.
“Many airlines fly to India via Singapore, Bangkok or other Asian cities. But in current circumstances we are worried about lockdown laws in those countries, so we have created a WhatsApp group of Indian nationals wanting to fly back. And we are discussing the option of approaching an airline for a direct flight to India.” Chintan added.
While Hundreds of Australians stranded in India have pooled together to charter their own rescue flight, Amit Gandhi is looking for a flight for his in-laws to fly back home to India from Melbourne.
Source: Supplied
“Even if Indian citizens in Perth get together to find a solution as a group my parents-in-law would not be able to fly to Perth at the moment.”
Families have also contacted Indian consulate in respective Australian cities and are waiting to see if Indian government will allow its citizens to come home amid international travel restrictions.
