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I would like to share with your readers the ordeal that I am going through to get an Australian visa. I am a 51 years old woman working as director of a reputable local organization in Lahore. My daughter lives in Australia with her husband who is an Australian citizen. He is doing his PhD to be completed early 2009. I have been visiting my daughter off and on in the last three years. On 15-7-2008, I applied for a visit visa but even after three and a half months, I do not know the fate of my application. Every time we call the embassy there is always the standard reply that your application is under going a security check, I do not know what kind of security check is this that takes so long?

The insensitivity being shown by Australian Embassy for a genuine application like mine is really deplorable. Through this letter I request the Australian High Commissioner to look into my application. By delaying bonafide visas; the western embassies are creating barriers of hate. Terrorism cannot be fought by creating barriers of hate. You have to win hearts and minds of the people. -RAHEELA MOBASHIR A. MALIK, Lahore, November 3.