Highlights
- Australia 'on track' to welcome visa holders on Wednesday, health minister says
- The government delayed the reopening of the international border from 1 to 15 December due to concerns about the Omicron COVID-19 variant
- Indian international students and skilled migrants welcome the announcement
It was 6:30 am in India when 28-year-old Shivangi Dhawan awoke to a phone call from her husband in Australia bringing her the news she had desperately been waiting to hear for the past two years.
Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison confirmed that the Australian government, after a two-week hiatus, would go ahead with 15 December as the date to welcome back skilled migrants and international students.
Ms Dhawan said she is unable to contain her happiness at the thought of reuniting with her partner after two years.
"The feeling is out of this world. My partner's call made me burst into tears of joy," Ms Dhawan told SBS Punjabi.
The federal government had previously announced on 29 November that it would push back the reopening date for international students and skilled migrants two weeks from 1 December to 15 December out of concern for the Omicron variant.
"As soon as the announcement was made this morning, I booked my flight for 19 December."
We will celebrate Christmas together in Australia
Shivangi and Rahul Dhawan at their wedding in February 2020. Source: Supplied by Rahul Dhawan
Shivangi and Rahul Dhawan got married in February 2020, and later that month the couple flew to Australia together to start a new life.
Less than one month later, on 16 March, Ms Dhawan returned to India to finish up her job.
Little did she know that what was supposed to be a one-month trip would be extended to almost two years.
On 19 March 2020, three days after she left Australia, Prime Minister Morrison announced that the country would close its borders to non-Australian residents from 9 pm that evening.
"We thought the borders would open up a couple of months later, but the situation continued to get worse, and life became dreary for both of us," said Rahul Dhawan, Shivangi's 29-year-old husband from Geelong, Victoria.
Mr Dhawan, a temporary graduate visa holder, said that the last two years had been the most devastating in his life.
"My wife cried almost every day, and seeing her in this condition made me so uncomfortable," he said
'Temporary visa holders lost thousands of dollars'
As of December 15, international students and eligible visa holders holders will have access to the Australia's borders again. Source: Getty Images
After the initial announcement that borders would reopen on 1 December, Mr Dhawan booked a flight for his wife from New Delhi to Melbourne. She was due to fly out on 10 December but, due to Omicron concerns, the booking was cancelled.
The decision impacted many visa holders who had been denied entry to Australia for nearly two years because of international border restrictions.
"The rebookings and overhead expenses had already burnt a hole in our pocket, but I am delighted to live our married life together finally.
"I can't believe she will be with me in a few days. I am so grateful," said Mr Dhawan.
"I was checking the news every second for further announcements after the delay and, at last, we got it this morning."
From 15 December, international skilled and student visa holders and humanitarian, working holiday and provisional family visa holders will have access to the country's borders again.
For eligible visa holders to enter the country, they must have had a vaccine approved by the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration and a negative COVID-19 PCR test within three days of departure.
Vaccinated international students with a valid visa will no longer need an exemption to travel to Australia. Source: Getty Images
Fully vaccinated visa holders would no longer need to obtain an exemption to enter the country.
Even though Australia's international borders have been open since the beginning of November, only fully vaccinated citizens and permanent residents have been permitted to visit without hotel quarantine.
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