The Department of Home Affairs is introducing measures to ensure integrity in international education and support legitimate international students, as this sector is a significant export industry for Australia. A loophole that allowed education providers to shift new international students who have been in Australia for less than six months from study to work arrangements has been closed. Concurrent enrolments increased in 2023, raising integrity concerns. The Department is also investigating more than 200 educational institutions that are considered “dodgy providers” and that have visa refusal rates higher than 50%. The government will scrutinize high-risk groups more closely, demanding additional documentation to prevent fraud. Additionally, under Section 97 of the ESOS Act, suspension certificates might be issued to high-risk education providers, stopping them from recruiting international students. This marks the first use of such power in Australia. This measurement takes effect immediately.
Main changes:
STOP CONCURRENT CONFIRMATION OF ENROLMENT
Under clause 500.214 of the Migration Regulations 1994, applicants for student visas are required to have genuine access to funds to meet the costs and expenses of the applicant during their stay in Australia, and the costs and expenses of each member of their family unit who will be in Australia with them.
The Department will now demand international students to demonstrate higher savings for a student visa, reflecting increased living expenses. Starting October 1, 2023, $24,505 in savings will be required, a 17% rise since 2019. Previously, this amount is only AUD 21,041. However, the Department did not announce the increase in for the amount for each member of the students’ family unit, so this figure will remain AUD 7,362, and for each dependent child is AUD 3,152.
To calculate how much funds you should demonstrate when applying for a student visa please click here: Student Visa Funds Calculator
The Department is also planning to replace the Genuine Temporary Entrant Requirement by the Genuine Student Test.
Under Genuine Temporary Entrant Requirement, students must prove that they are a Genuine student, and a genuine temporary entrant. That is, students must provide evidence showing that their main purpose in Australia is to study, and they are not using student visas to work in Australia. In addition, students are also assessed against their intention to stay in Australia temporarily only, and that they will depart Australia when they complete their study.
Under the new Genuine Student Test, students need to prove they come to Australia to study, but they do not have to prove that they are coming to Australia temporarily. This is considered align with the General Skills Migration program, where the Department wants to attract more people educated and trained in Australia to enter the workforce and ultimately get Permanent Resident.
This measurement is not official announced yet by the Department. We will update further details about this once more information becomes available.
The government plans further measures to enhance international education integrity in the upcoming Migration Strategy release.
Related:
The post More savings required, changes to concurrent COEs for international Students appeared first on Australian Migration Agents and Immigration Lawyers Melbourne | VisaEnvoy.
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