Risk level changes to Student visas

Australia’s world-class international education sector contributed $34 billion to the local economy last year, an increase of 15.3 per cent. Australia hosted a record 690,000 international students in 2018 who paid tuition fees and spent money on living costs.

The department of Home Affairs has made changes to the risk levels (assessment levels) for some countries. These changes are based on a balance of offshore refusals (both fraud-related and non-fraud related) and onshore immigration ‘trailing risks’: rate of visa cancellations, overstayers and subsequent protection visa applications.

India, Pakistan and Nepal rated ‘high risk’ for Australian Student visa

India, Nepal and Pakistan are among the higher risk countries and therefore Students from these countries would need to demonstrate more documentary evidence such as:

Evidence of financial ​capacity;

Which you must provide either:

• sufficient funds to cover your travel costs and 12 months of living and tuition fees for you and your accompanying family members and school costs for any school aged dependants, or
• evidence that your spouse or parents are willing to support you and they have an annual income of at least AUD 60,000 for single students or at least AUD 70,000 for students that are accompanied by family members
• an Acceptance Advice of Secondary Exchange Students form for secondary exchange students only
• a letter of support from Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade or Department of Defence.

Student visa applicants from India, Nepal and Pakistan must also provide evidence of their English language skills at the time of visa application

English language ability:

• This must be evidence that you have either obtained a satisfactory test score in an English language test that has been approved by DHA or evidence of certain eligible studies in English or if you fall into an exemption category.

you must provide evidence that you:

• have obtained a certain test score in an English language test that the Department has approved (below table)
• have completed certain eligible studies in English, or
• fall into an exemption category

The department of Immigration uses a combined evidence level of the student’s education provider and country of citizenship to determine whether the student needs to provide evidence of financial and English language capacity with their student visa application.

Colombia, Brazil, Ecuador, Hungary, Philippines, Indonesia, Taiwan, South Africa are now considered ‘low risk’ for Australian Student visa

On the positive side students from Colombia, Brazil, Ecuador, Hungary, Philippines, Indonesia, Taiwan, South Africa are now cosidered low risk and therefore do not need to demonstrate Financial ability and English unless the department specifically requests them.