Australia has adopted a new student visa processing system that might make life a little easier for future students and higher education providers. The proposed new process, called, the simplified student visa framework (SSVF), will launch in July 2016 replacing the streamlined visa processing (SVP), which has been used since 2012.
The changes are great news for international students in that it will make the process of applying for a student visa simpler. In a nutshell, the changes will mean:
• A reduction in the number of student visa subclasses from eight to two
and
• the introduction of a simplified single immigration risk framework for all international students
The changes come as the international education sector recorded strong growth, providing an export boost to offset the slump in the resources industry. Figures provided by the Department for Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) show that intake of new students is at its highest level ever in the March quarter, 11.5 per cent above 2014.
Education Minister Christopher Pyne announced the new changes in June this year saying, “Australia is open for business and welcomes genuine and high-quality international students who provide a much-needed boost to our economy, our local communities and jobs, and who boost our country-to-country relationships.”
“After coming to office, the Government moved immediately to improve competitiveness and it is pleasing to see growth in international student enrolments in Australia has resumed.”
Australia’s student visa system is currently so complex that colleges attending education fairs end up spending half their time explaining the visa system instead of talking about the quality of education.
Under the new system, students applying to all education providers will be assessed for visa risk under a single framework. It will be based on the country they come from and the immigration compliance record of other students who have studied at that particular education provider. A student’s financial and English language requirements will be based on the immigration profile of their country and of their chosen education provider.
Universities welcomed the new system. “The new simplified student visa process will boost equity and support an environment where high quality and low risk providers can prosper,” Universities Australia deputy CEO Anne-Marie Lansdown said.
If you would like to apply for an Australian student visa, Visa Solutions Australia can help. Visa Solutions Australia is a specialist visa consultancy with over twenty years of experience dealing with visa applications. Please feel free to contact us for further details.
