The Australian delegation was led by First Assistant Secretary, Migration & Visa Policy, Mr. Kruno Kukoc. The Indian side was led by AS (CPV), Shri B.K. Gupta.
During their stay in India, besides the delegation-level talks, the Australian delegation had one-to-one meetings in the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of External Affairs. Members of the Australian delegation were also given the opportunity to visit the Unique Identity Authority of India (UIDAI) and the Regional Passport Seva Kendra in Chandigarh, in what was the first visit by any foreign delegation to any Indian Passport Seva Kendra. These visits demonstrate the strength of the relationship between India and Australia on CPV matters that has been built over the past three years.
A broad range of issues were discussed covering visa, migration, citizenship, irregular people movement, surrogacy, extradition, mutual legal assistance requests, consular access and crisis management. There are about 90,000 Indian students in Australia. The Australian side gave a detailed briefing on various steps taken by the Australian government to ensure security and welfare of these students.
Outcomes from the meeting included agreement to exchange information and best practice on issues such as identity documentation, biometrics, irregular migration and people smuggling legislation.
India will organize a meeting of the Australian officials with the Ministry of Law and Justice on their understanding of the new surrogacy legislation proposed by the Government of India. Also, India and Australia will exchange their expertise on Consular Crisis Management and will organize a Joint Workshop.
India will regularize its participation in various Workshops, Conferences and meetings of the Bali Process.
Outcomes from the meeting included agreement to exchange information and best practice on issues such as identity documentation, biometrics, irregular migration and people smuggling legislation.
India will organize a meeting of the Australian officials with the Ministry of Law and Justice on their understanding of the new surrogacy legislation proposed by the Government of India. Also, India and Australia will exchange their expertise on Consular Crisis Management and will organize a Joint Workshop.
India will regularize its participation in various Workshops, Conferences and meetings of the Bali Process.
Australian side requested for locating an Australian airline officer in India in case Air India commences its direct flight to Australia. This will help in their providing and sharing information on peoples movement between the two territories.
Both sides welcomed the Indian announcement that it would process and shortly issue notification on establishment of RILON (Regional Immigration Liaison Officer Network) in India. Next meeting of the RILON will be held in India. RILON is a forum for immigration and border management specialists in India from a range of regional countries to share information and best practice policies and procedures.
For all Consular, Passport and Visa issues both sides identified nodal points and the mode and the institutionalization systems for sharing information.
Both sides also agreed to discuss on the Agreement on International Transfer of Sentenced Persons as well as Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs’ Human Resources Mobility Agreement.
On the issue of biometrics identity documents and other security related documents, a cooperation mechanism will also be established between Unique Identity Authority and Australian authorities.
The size and scope of this third meeting reflects the significance of these issues in strengthening the people-to-people links between India and Australia and the importance of a whole-of-government approach to both bilateral and international movement of people issues.
The 4th meeting of the Joint Working Group on Consular, Passport and Visa Matters in Canberra in 2012.
Both sides welcomed the Indian announcement that it would process and shortly issue notification on establishment of RILON (Regional Immigration Liaison Officer Network) in India. Next meeting of the RILON will be held in India. RILON is a forum for immigration and border management specialists in India from a range of regional countries to share information and best practice policies and procedures.
For all Consular, Passport and Visa issues both sides identified nodal points and the mode and the institutionalization systems for sharing information.
Both sides also agreed to discuss on the Agreement on International Transfer of Sentenced Persons as well as Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs’ Human Resources Mobility Agreement.
On the issue of biometrics identity documents and other security related documents, a cooperation mechanism will also be established between Unique Identity Authority and Australian authorities.
The size and scope of this third meeting reflects the significance of these issues in strengthening the people-to-people links between India and Australia and the importance of a whole-of-government approach to both bilateral and international movement of people issues.
The 4th meeting of the Joint Working Group on Consular, Passport and Visa Matters in Canberra in 2012.