Changes to the Student Visa Program
Commencing 5th November 2011
Reducing the financial requirements for some student visa applicants
The government reduced the financial requirements for higher risk Assessment Level 3 and Assessment Level 4 student visa applicants. This means that students subject to these assessment levels will will need up to approximately AUD $36 000 less in the bank when applying for a visa.1.
The genuine temporary entrant requirement
- Student visa applicants are assessed on their individual circumstances; their main aim should be to obatin a temporary stay in Australia for study purposes.
- Applicants to the student visa program those whose main purpose is assessed to be work, will have their applications refused.
- Student visa holders who have completed their studies and not obtained a further visa will be required to depart Australia.2
More flexible arrangements for English language study
The English language test requirements for higher risk Assessment Level 4 and above stand-alone English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students (ELICOS) visa applicants have been removed
Increasing the visa period of all new Postgraduate Research (subclass 574)
New Postgradutate visas periods have been increased by six months to allow for interactive marking of a thesis.3
Formal Homestay Arrangements can be included in the financial requirements assessement for student visa.4
For more information contact:
| Carlos Turini Migration Agent (MARN 1069474) Telephone: +61 2 6206 1300 Email: cturini@elringtons.com.au Facsimilie: +61 2 6229 9233 |
Nanae Yoshiwara Migration Agent (MARN 0964316) Telephone: +61 2 6206 1300 Email: nyoshiwara@elringtons.com.au Facsimilie: +61 2 6229 9233 |
Migration Agent Registration Authority (MARA) – Code of Conduct
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1.Fact Sheet – Stage One Implementation of the Knight Review Changes to the Student Visa Program: http://www.immi.gov.au/students/_pdf/stage-one-knight-review-changes-fact-sheet.pdf
2. www.immi.gov.au/students/_pdf/2011-genuine-temporary-entrant.pdf
3. www.immi.gov.au/students/_pdf/2011-higher-degree-by-research.pdf
4. www.immi.gov.au/students/_pdf/2011-vet-schools-non-award.pdf
