Category: News

Australia is one of the desirable and welcoming study destinations for international students. The Australian government has announced a variety of visa measures intended to assist students. These visa measures will be temporary, and will only be in force for as long as they are required.

Student Visa Fees

Government will waive the visa application cost to enable students to apply for a new student visa to finish their studies. This will be offered to students who obtained a student visa on or after 1 February 2020 and were unable to finish their course within the validity period of their original visa due to the effects of COVID-19. This category includes students who:

  • postpone their studies because they were unable to visit Australia due to travel restrictions
  • were forced to lower their academic burden to part-time
  • were not able to complete their work-based training or assignments

These visa measures are not meant for students who are asking for a new student visa for ordinary reasons, such as failing a course or unit of study, postponed a course for personal reasons or reduced their study load deliberately.

Whether the application is onshore or offshore, it must be submitted online. Attached a completed Form 1545-COVID-19 Impacted Students from your educational institution which is required for approval of your fee waiver.

Eligibility For a Temporary Graduate (Subclass 485) Visa

The Government has amended the eligibility criteria for a Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa for those who have been affected by COVID-19:

  • Online study conducted outside Australia due to COVID-19 travel restrictions will count towards the Australian study requirements for current and new student visa holders.
  • Graduates affected by COVID-19 travel restrictions can apply for and obtain a temporary graduate visa outside Australia (where they meet all requirements).

If you are applying from outside Australia, you must currently possess or have had a student visa within the last 12 months to apply.

Extended Time Frames For Additional Information- English Tests, Biometrics and Health

The government will provide you more time to submit your English language exam results if you were unable to take the exam due to COVID-19. Additionally, more time will be allocated for biometrics collection and health screenings in areas where COVID-19 caused service disruptions.

Reference

International students studying in Australia may be eligible for temporary financial assistance in the state of Victoria. Australian Prime Minister stated on Thursday (June 3) that the government will provide up to 500 Australian dollars to employees harmed by the state’s extended lockdown.

Eligibility Criteria For The Emergency Financial Assistance

International students may be eligible for the Commonwealth payment, according to Federal Minister for Agriculture, Drought, and Emergency Management David Littleproud. The government said that individuals would be able to apply for the payment online or by calling Services Australia from 8 June 2021.

International students are permitted to work up to 40 hours every two weeks while studying and an unlimited number of hours during vacations. During the pandemic, the federal government has given a temporary relaxation of working hours for student visa holders. Students employed in some industries such as aged care, agriculture, tourism and hospitality, may work more than 40 hours per week.

To apply for emergency financial assistance, students must be above the age of 17 and reside or work in a commonwealth-defined hotspot region. Additionally, they must have liquid assets of less than A$10,000.

Payment would be made “week by week.” If a lockdown lasts more than two weeks, you must reapply for another weekly payment for the duration of the lockdown. Once the commonwealth no longer classifies an area as a hotspot, the payment will be stopped by the government. This indicates that if a state or territory government maintains a lockdown after removal of the hotspot criteria, the payment will end.

Reference

Key Points:

  1. Victoria lifts travel restrictions on Western Australia
  2. Victoria reserves 120 seats for International Arrivals from May 2021
  3. Victoria renews plans to accept International Students

Victoria has made changes in travel rules from red to orange under the state’s travel permit system for the Peel and Perth regions of Western Australia.

Under the orange zone, people are allowed to travel but are required to isolate until their negative test. If they receive a negative COVID-19 test result,  then travellers will be eligible to end their isolation early after travelling from Perth. 

People can finish isolating themselves after receiving a negative report who have entered Perth and Peel when they were declared orange zones. Whereas people who entered Victoria when it was declared as a red zone will have to wait for approval from the Department of Health.

Victoria has renewed plans to start accepting international students and other international arrivals from next month. 120 people per week would be quarantined in a hotel outside Victoria who would arrive under the existing quarantine system.

Travellers who would be allowed to travel into Victoria from May 24 will include international students, actors and film crew, and major event organisers.

The Victorian government said that on the advice of their public health experts they have a proposal for a dedicated quarantine plan for economic cohorts, including international students. They would work together to welcome back international students.

Due to the pandemic, International students have been unable to travel to Australia after the country closed its border in 2020. With the delays in Australia’s vaccination rollout, the sector is asking the Australian government to establish a “Vaccination Passport” arrangement, CEO of IEAA Phil Honeywood added.

A vaccination passport would permit overseas students If international students can provide evidence of vaccination before boarding their flight. The Australian government is concerned with ensuring that the type of vaccine meets its health clearance protocols and that there is some independent verification that the student has actually been vaccinated. 

The chief executive of Australian Universities, Catriona Jackson said we hope the issues with the vaccination program won’t delay the return of overseas students. He said any further delay in reopening international borders for international students will mean a huge loss to Australian universities and national prosperity. 

The government is looking forward to the peaceful return of international students, who bring a great deal of cultural and economic prosperity, adding $40 billion to the GDP and supporting 250,000 jobs.

Catriona Jackson called for a national plan to bring universities, state and territory governments, and the Commonwealth together to coordinate safe return efforts. Border closures are causing increasing concern among Australian institutions that depend on international students.

The education department said that International students are an integral part of the Australian community and will be welcomed back with the help of “Vaccination Passport”.