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New Aussie International Student Visa Measures

New visa measures to assist international students.

The Australian Government is introducing new measures to assist overseas students affected by the closure of an international education provider.

The Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Chris Evans, said that from 1 January 2010, overseas students who require a new visa to complete their studies at another school or college will be exempt from paying the $540 student visa application charge.

Senator 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.

Twelve education providers have closed in 2009, affecting about 4,700 students.’In situations where an education provider can no longer offer a course, the government’s primary concern is the welfare of the student,’ Senator Evans said.

‘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.’

In the interim, students will be able to apply to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship for a refund of their visa application fee if they’ve been affected by the closure of an education provider in 2009 and have had to apply for a new student visa.

Senator Evans said the government is also increasing the minimum financial requirements for overseas students to ensure they can meet their living costs while in Australia.

From 1 January 2010, prospective overseas students will need to demonstrate that they have access to at least $18 000 a year to fund their living costs in Australia, instead of the current $12 000.

The new figure better reflects student costs in Australia and is consistent with information published for international students in Australian Education International’s (the international arm of DEEWR) ‘Study in Australia’ guide.

Living costs are one component of the financial requirements for a student visa. Students must also have sufficient funds for tuition fees, travel costs and costs of any dependents.

‘It is important that students understand these financial requirements are only the minimum amount required for a student visa,’ Senator Evans said.
‘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.

‘Prospective students are encouraged to conduct their own research so they can make an informed decision about what study in Australia will cost.’

DIAC will also make an assessment of whether the funds demonstrated by students will be available to them while they are in Australia.

‘The Australian Government values international students and is determined to make sure they have a rewarding and successful study experience in Australia, without financial hardship,’ Senator Evans said.

The latest measures will be implemented through regulation change later this month subject to approval by Parliament and the Governor-General.
The changes will support the enhanced integrity measures for the student visa program announced in August this year.

Those measures included:
upgrading the interview program to build a strong evidence base around fraud removing or restricting eVisa access for some agents where there is evidence of fraud or inactivity restricting access to eVisa for some segments of the caseload if analysis demonstrates restricted access would allow for better control of fraud.

The measures target parts of the student visa caseload in India, Mauritius, Nepal, Brazil, Zimbabwe and Pakistan.

Since these enhanced integrity measures were introduced, there has been an increase in the number of applications being withdrawn, from five per cent in July to 17 per cent in September.

And to date, more than 150 agents have had their eVisa access suspended due to evidence of fraud or inactivity.

457 Visa up-date

The 457 visa program plays an important role in the Australian economy says the Australian Immigration department.

The 457 is an uncapped temporary visa program entirely driven by employer demand for skills that are not available locally. It allows employers to access the skills they need, with the overseas workers then returning home when those skills are no longer required.

Given the growth in the size of the program it has become increasingly important that the 457 visa program complements domestic recruitment and training initiatives to meet the skill needs of industry and does not seek to replace them.

Alongside that growth, community concerns grew over the exploitation of overseas workers and the undermining of local wages and conditions after cases of some employers abusing the program emerged through 2005 – 2007. The vast majority of these cases involved trades’ level 457 visa holders with little or no English language skills who often lacked the technical skills claimed.

It was in response to the widespread concern about these abuses that the Government made it a priority to improve the integrity of the 457 visa and restore public confidence in the program.

The 2008 Budget included a number of immediate measures to address those concerns, including an increase to the minimum salary level (MSL) for the first time in two years, the passage of legislation to enhance monitoring and sanction powers and funding for increased compliance activity.

These 2008 measures also included the appointment of AIRC Commissioner Barbara Deegan to review the integrity of the 457 visa program through 2008 and the establishment of the Skilled Migration Consultative Panel to contribute towards the development of longer-term reforms to be introduced in 2009.

Seven measures announced:

• The indexation of the minimum salary level (MSL) for all new and existing 457 visa holders by 4.1% on 1 July 2009, in line with all employees’ total earnings last year as reported by the ABS. This ensures that the wages of overseas workers keep pace with local wages.
• The implementation of a market based minimum salary for all new and existing 457 visa holders from mid September 2009, to ensure overseas workers are not exploited and local wages and conditions are not undermined (a key recommendation of the Deegan Review).
• Increasing the existing minimum language requirement from 4.5 IELTS to 5 IELTS for 457 visa applicants in trade occupations and chefs, to address concerns about the exploitation of workers from non-English speaking countries and align the 457 visa English language standard with the permanent sponsored visa for trades’ occupations.
• Progressively introducing formal skills assessment from 1 July 2009 for 457 visa applicants from high risk immigration countries in trade occupations and chefs. The Government will consult with stakeholders in finalising an assessment framework that reflects Australian standards and meets the expectations of Australian workplaces.
• Introducing a requirement that employers seeking access to the 457 visa program have a strong record of, or demonstrated commitment to, employing local labour and non-discriminatory employment practices. This will help address concerns that some employers may discriminate against local labour in hiring overseas workers.
• The development of training benchmarks to clarify the existing requirement on employers to demonstrate a commitment to training local labour.
• The extension of the labour agreement pathway to all ASCO 5 – 7 occupations, to ensure that employers using the 457 visa program to access these occupations satisfy obligations on local training and employment.

Skilled Migration Visas cut by 14%

Source: www.immi.gov.au
The permanent skilled migration program is being cut by 14% to protect local jobs – at the same time, the Government hopes to ensure employers can access skilled professionals in industries still experiencing skills shortages.

As has long been the case, the Government can adjust immigration levels according to the economic circumstances of the day and last week Cabinet agreed to cut the permanent skilled migration program in light of the worsening global economic situation.

Clearly, the economic circumstances in Australia have changed as a result of the global financial crisis so it is prudent to reduce this year’s migration intake accordingly.

The changes to the program are:

• A 14 per cent cut in the 2008-09 permanent skilled migration program intake from 133 500 to 115 000.
• Removing building and manufacturing trades from the Critical Skills List, such as bricklayers, plumbers, welders, carpenters and metal fitters. The list will now comprise mainly health and medical, engineering and IT professions.

These changes follow measures announced in December that resulted in only those migrants sponsored by an employer or in an occupation on the Critical Skills List being granted visas under the permanent skilled migration program. Almost half of the permanent visas granted are to applicants already living and working in Australia.

The Critical Skills List will remain under constant review and the Government will remove occupations from the list if demand for those skills can be satisfied by local labour.

The overwhelming message from business and industry is that Australia still needs to maintain a skilled migration program but one that is more targeted so that migrant workers are meeting skills shortages and not competing with locals for jobs.

There are still skills shortages in some sectors, such as healthcare, and these measures will enable industry to continue to source the skilled professionals they need while protecting local jobs and the wages and conditions of Australian workers.

The Rudd Government remains committed to a strong migration program but will continue to monitor the migration intake and will set the 2009-10 migration program to reflect the economic climate as part of the Budget process.

Skilled migration plays a crucial role in stimulating the economy and combined with the Government’s Nation Building and Jobs Plan, will help Australia come out of the global economic downturn.

Tourism Australia attracts more Backpackers than ever.

The Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship have recorded an increase of 21% in working holiday visas.

More Working Holiday Visas are Available

Source: http://www.immi.gov.au/ Good news for working holiday fans.

Young people from Australia and Indonesia will benefit from a new reciprocal work and holiday visa arrangement between the two countries, the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Chris Evans said today.

The arrangement, which was signed in Jakarta by Senator Evans and Mr Andi Mattalatta, the Indonesian Minister for Law and Human Rights, allows university-educated Australian and Indonesian travellers who are aged between 18 and 30 to work and holiday in each other’s country for up to 12 months. ‘The work and holiday visa arrangement allows young people from our two countries who want to travel and experience a different lifestyle and culture to work and subsidise their holiday,’ Senator Evans said.

The work and holiday visa differs from a working holiday visa as it requires applicants to have the support of their government, hold or be studying towards tertiary qualifications and speak functional English or Indonesian respectively.

Applicants must also must meet health and character requirements and have no dependent children. Work and holiday visa holders may do temporary or casual work for up to six months with any one employer.

Indonesia has become the seventh country to agree to a reciprocal work and holiday visa arrangement with Australia.

There will be an annual limit of 100 work and holiday visas for both countries but this figure will be reviewed on an as-needs basis.

‘Indonesia is a key partner for Australia and this new arrangement is an investment in future relations with Indonesia. It will also help develop links between people in both countries.

‘It will provide a further incentive for young people from both nations to deepen their understanding of our histories, cultures and economies,’ Senator Evans said.

Thailand was the first South East Asian country to agree to a reciprocal work and holiday visa arrangement with Australia in July 2004. Australia also has reciprocal work and holiday arrangements with Malaysia, Chile, Turkey, Bangladesh and the USA. Further information on the work and holiday visa program can be found online at: http://www.immi.gov.au/

Which student visa are you seeking?

A student visa, costs and is only issued once you’ve been accepted onto a course and paid half of the first year fees up-front.

You can be going to a University, TAFE, or a college. Student Entry to Australia (form 1160i) and Application for a Student (Temporary) Visa (forms 157a).

The 7 Types of Student Visas

• English for Overseas Students ELICOS.
• Primary or secondary school.
• Certificate and diploma studies- Vocation Education and Training.
• Bachelor degree or a graduate certificate or diploma – Higher Education.
• Masters and Doctorate Studies
• Non-award Foundation Studies
• AusAID or Defence Sponsored

Visa 457 Integrity Review

The Minister for Immigration and Citizenship has published an integrity report for the visa subclass 457.

In this report the situation has been assessed and a number of recommandations have been listed.

The Australian Computer Society (ACS) have said that they believe the visa 457 is an important source of labour and skills for the ICT sector where shortages are at present, and added however that there should be more levels of skills verification.

The integrity report can be found here: http://www.minister.immi.gov.au/media/media-releases/2008/457-integrity-review-report.pdf

The ACS submission to the review can be found here: http://www.acs.org.au/457submission

Have you had a good or a bad experience with this visa?… leave a comment below.

Visa Information Sites

1 More Immigrate-to-Australia Visa information resources:

Employer Nomination Scheme

If you have found a job here and an employer to sponsore you,

Fancy Marrying An Australian?

Well, if you plan to marry (fiance), are married to/or living with someone (for 12 months), or are in a committed relationship with an Australian citizen or permanent resident, (this includes same sex couples) there is the partner-based visa for immigration to Australia.

• The Australian citizen/permanent resident will act as a sponsor for your visa.

This means that your sponsor will provide a written statement pledging to support you for your first two years in Australia, including accommodation and financial assistance to meet reasonable living needs.