Robbery victim has Australia visa rejected

August 14 2009 by Matt Jones

Australia visa denied for Singh

An Indian student in Australia was the victim of three armed robberies in four months, which delayed his degree. But when he applied for an Australia visa extension he was rejected and will now face deportation.

30-year old Shivendra Singh has already started this semester's study at the University of South Australia but could find himself deported back to India within the week.

After being the victim of three armed robberies, the IT Masters student sunk into depression and found his concentration and ability to study decreasing. He was reduced to sleeping on friends sofas and eventually ended up living on the streets, so great was the psychological trauma.

The robberies took place in 2004 when Singh was working on his first job. They were committed by the same man who threatened Singh with a knife. On one of the three occasions a second man was there as well, with a gun. The men have since been caught.

Singh said: "It was really bad. I had nightmares continuously about whether I should have done something. But I was not able to do anything. Everything fell apart in my life. I didn't realise... culture-wise as well that I can be a patient of depression, but as I went on I just realised that my concentration in studies and other things were worsening."

He went on to say that if he is deported back to India like this without his degree he will be socially outcast.

Independent Senator Nick Xenophon says this is a special case and that compassion should be exercised by Australian immigration.

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