Aust opens new visa centre in Port Moresby

By STEPHANIE BAWO
AUSTRALIA has opened a new office in Port Moresby to cater for the growing number of people lodging visa applications and seeking immigration and citizenship services.
Opening the Australian Visa and Application Centre at the Steamships Building yesterday, Australian High Commissioner Ian Kemish said it was a big step up to provide such services.
He said the significant thing about the office was that it was more accessible and convenient for the people of PNG.
Kemish said the most notable improvement to the services was the extended operational hours from 8.30am to 4.30pm on week days, with the phone lines operating until 7pm.
The High Commission’s first secretary immigration Pilar Davidson said the office was part of the improvements to service delivery across the South Pacific.
Fourteen visa centres in 11 countries are opening in the coming months.
She said with the improvements in service delivery, the number of days it took to approve or produce visas, especially business and tourist visas, would be reduced from 30 days to five days maximum.
A service fee of K49 will now apply for all visa applications.
All visa and citizenship lodgements, regardless of nationality, are to be lodged at the new office at the Steamships head office building on Granville and Hunter Street, on the corner of Champion Parade.
Another office will be opened in Lae later this year.