THE more than 250 Government sponsored students studying in PNG institutions are urged to submit their visa application forms for processing to avoid late registration.
Last year a total of 20 continuing students who study at University of Technology and Divine Word University were de-registered by their respective institutions since they were a month’s late for start of the academic year.
Delaying of the process to renew study permit by the PNG immigration department is the primary cause.
Solomon Islands Divine Word University student’s club president, Ron Arawa, yesterday urged continuing and new-intake students of Solomon Island for PNG institutions to submit their visa applications forms early.
“To avoid lateness to school it is best for each student to fill-in the visa application form with requirement and tries as much to hand-in this week,” he said.
“I did submit mine last week and want continuing students to do likewise,” advised Mr Arawa.
The visa application forms can be collected at the PNG chancery office in Honiara.
After filling-in, the form should be submitted back to the office with a an attached fee of 100 kina or SBD271.
It is the Chancery’s responsibility to mail the visa application forms to the Immigration Department in Port Moresby for processing.
Under the new PNG visa application policy it will take 15 working days to process the papers before entry permit are accepted.
PNG has shifted the visa processing back to Port Moresby February in 2014 after a standoff with Australia.
This resulted in PNG banning visas on arrival for all Australian visitors, after the Abbott government refused to return the favor to their nearest neighbour.
Mr Arawa says he wants to help students to arrive on time in their university campus to commence registration process.
“I hope that this year the process to approve student study permit are improved and fast-tracked,” he said.
As reported early last year, more than 86 students studying at institutions like Goroka, UNITECH and Divine Word University are late for registration due to visa process being delayed.
Divine Word University outgoing registrar, Mrs N’Drower said there is nothing wrong with the system particularly processing of the visa; it’s the people that need to find ways for the visa to be ready on time.
“The responsible offices from both countries need to re-think on how they’ve deal with the student’s affairs.”
She said PNG institutions are extremely concern about Solomon Island students arriving on time in school to ensure they catch up with lectures, tutorials and assignments.
Meanwhile, acting PNG High Commissioner Tommy Angau believes the visa problem faced by Solomon Islands students studying in Papua New Guinea should be improved since an education attaché was installed.
Claire Damutalau took up the post of student attaché to PNG since November last year.
Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development (MEHRD) says the student’s attache’s main role is to concentrate in attending to the welfare needs of Solomon Islands students studying in PNG.
PNG Government has been and will continue to sponsor 800 students from Solomon Islands to study in various tertiary institutions in Papua New Guinea from 2014-2018 under the PNG Government Scholarship Grant.
List for Solomon Islands continuing and new-intake students for PNG institutions is expected to be posted by the NTU sometimes this month.
By TEDDY KAFO
