Australia announces new visa measures for
students.
Melbourne, Nov 9, 2009
The Australian government is introducing new measures to assist
overseas students, including many Indians, affected by the closure
of an international education provider, a minister said Monday.
Minister for Immigration and Citizenship Senator Chris Evans said
that from Jan 1, 2010, overseas students who require a new visa
to complete their studies at another school or college will be exempt
from paying the A$540 (approx. Rs.22,500) student visa application
charge.
Just this year alone, 12 education providers have closed affecting
about 4,700 students.
Evans said that although most students will be able to complete
their studies on their existing student visa, some may need to enrol
in a new course that finishes after their existing student visa
expires and will require a new visa.
"In situations where an education provider can no longer offer
a course, the government's primary concern is the welfare of the
student."
"We understand that these situations are not the fault of
the student and the introduction of a fee exemption will ensure
they are not shouldered with an additional financial burden,"
Evans said.
Students will be able to apply to the Department of Immigration
and Citizenship (DIAC) for a refund of their visa application fee
if they have been affected by the closure of an education provider
in 2009 and have had to apply for a new student visa.
The government is also increasing the minimum financial requirements
for overseas students to ensure they can meet their living costs
while in Australia.
From Jan 1, 2010, prospective overseas students will need to demonstrate
that they have access to at least A$18,000 (approx Rs.748,000) a
year to fund their living costs in Australia, instead of the current
A$12,000 (approx Rs.498,000).
Evans said: "It is important that students understand these
financial requirements are only the minimum amount required for
a student visa."
"International students can supplement their income through
part-time work in Australia but the primary purpose of a student
visa is to study and students should not rely on part-time work
to meet their expenses."
The measures target parts of the student visa caseload in India,
Mauritius, Nepal, Brazil, Zimbabwe and Pakistan.
There are over 500,000 international students in Australia pursuing
university education and vocational studies of which about 94,000
are Indians - the second highest after the Chinese.
Thousands of Indians are enrolled in vocational courses in government
and private Technical and Further Education (TAFE) institutes.
In recent years, Australia's education industry has boomed to become
the country's third-largest foreign currency earner after coal and
iron ore, generating about $12 billion in revenue in 2008. Indian
students in Australia alone contribute $3.5 billion a year to the
economy.
An official said since these enhanced integrity measures were introduced,
there has been an increase in the number of applications being withdrawn,
from five percent in July to 17 percent in September.
"To date, more than 150 agents have had their eVisa access
suspended due to evidence of fraud or inactivity."
Source...NRIpress.com/IANS
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