The Australian Department of Immigration and Border Protection recently announced the implementation of a new simplified student visa policy effective July 1, 2016. With the simplification of the Australian student visa application process, it is expected that the number of individuals traveling to Australia for education will increase significantly. As the number of individuals obtaining Australian educational qualifications rises, this may spark a new trend in studying and immigrating to Australia.
The fundamental changes to the Australian student visa policy, effective July 1, 2016, are as follows:
I. The seven current student visa subclasses (subclasses 570 to 576) will be consolidated into a single Student Visa (subclass 500). From July 1, all international students, regardless of their chosen course of study, must apply for this visa.
II. Starting July 1, all international students are required to register for an account on the Australian Department of Immigration and Border Protection's ImmiAccount webpage and submit their visa applications online.
III. A "Simplified Student Visa Framework" (SSVF) will be implemented to replace the current "Assessment Level Framework." This framework is based on the student's education provider and nationality, and requires applicants to provide evidence of English proficiency and financial capacity when applying for a visa.
IV. Family members of current students who apply to visit them in Australia after July 1 should also apply for a subclass 500 visa online. Guardians applying to accompany students should apply for the new Student Guardian visa (subclass 590) online.
V. The new policy applies only to student visa applications submitted on or after July 1 and will not affect those currently holding visas under subclasses 570 to 576 or subclass 485.
VI. The Australian Department of Immigration and Border Protection states that approximately 75% of student visa applications will be processed within one month. Applicants are advised to submit all required documentation at once to expedite the visa process. Failure to provide the required materials will lead to delays or even the refusal of the visa application.
In addition, under the new Australian government policy, citizens from any country aged 6 or older can apply for an Australian subclass 500 student visa starting next month. The Department of Immigration states that this policy adjustment is not intended to increase the number of international students in Australian primary schools, but to allow international students to pursue limited studies in Australia; for example, applicants may choose to attend fifth and sixth grade in Australia and then continue their secondary education in the country.
China is the largest source of international students for Australia. In 2015, 27.3% of Australian student visa holders were Chinese nationals, totaling 136,097 people. Under the current policy, assessments are based on the migration risk level of the student's home country; therefore, most Chinese students were classified at risk level 3, meaning they were subject to the most stringent requirements for supporting documentation.
With the simplification of the Australian student visa application process, it is believed that more people will have the opportunity to study in Australia. According to Australia's skilled migration policy, having an Australian educational background can provide additional points for immigration applications, which means a higher chance of success for those seeking to immigrate to Australia.