International students interested in obtaining permanent residence in Australia may have better prospects in the future. A federal parliamentary committee on migration is examining measures to make the route to permanent residence in Australia more transparent for skilled workers.

The Joint Standing Committee on Migration released a report on Australia’s skilled migration programme, which included numerous suggestions. Australia has lost more than half a million temporary migrants, according to Liberal Party MP, since the country’s border was closed last year.

The committee had received compelling evidence of major skill shortages that had developed throughout the epidemic. Moreover, it found that skilled migrants play a critical role in generating more employment for Australians, which was one of the main reasons for the proposal. Migrants who are competent and committed should be provided with clear pathways to PR, but their pathway length and conditions should differ based on their skill level.

We have proposed additional incentives for migrants to move to regional Australia, as well as encouraging the best international students to stay in order to address continuing skill shortages, and simplifying and improving procedures at the Department of Home Affairs.

Recommendations To Obtain Permanent Residence in Australia

The committee recommended modifying post-study employment arrangements for international students who met specific requirements, such as graduating in the top 10% of their course and meeting appropriate English language standards.

Under the employer-nominated system, these graduates would be eligible for a discount in the work experience component for permanent residence from three to two years. Additional points may be given to graduates who fulfil the following requirements when applying for a points-based visa, according to the committee. The government could also consider three-year temporary graduate visas to provide graduates more time and flexibility in their job search.

The committee further recommends that the Department of Home Affairs modify the visa requirements for the Temporary Skills Shortage visa (subclass 482) short-term stream in order to offer a path to permanent residence for temporary migrants.

All visas sponsored by an employer should offer a path to permanent residency. The time needed to get permanent residence and the criteria associated with it may vary depending on the visa, for example, with applicants in lower-skilled professions taking longer to obtain permanent residence than visa holders with higher levels of education.

Permanent residency requirements should continue to include a good command of the English language and candidates must be under the age of 45.

Reference

The New South Wales government announced the pilot plan on 10 June, stating that its administration intends to bring back 250 foreign students each week from abroad to Sydney, a number that is expected to grow to 500 students by the end of the year.

This proposal is now awaiting approval from the federal government, and it may take another eight weeks before the first group of international students may return to New South Wales.

The New South Wales government’s finance spokesman said that the program’s launch would be dependent on the federal government’s evaluation. It would take a minimum of six to eight weeks from the time NSW has told us that we may continue and operationalize the plan until the first student batch returns to the state.

When asked whether Indian students will be included in the return plan, the spokesman said that they will be brought back from a variety of important source countries that have not yet been named.

The New South Wales government has also announced that in the first phase of the transfer, the state would prioritize the return of continuing higher education students from the state’s institutions and five major independent education providers. Other industries and suppliers will quickly follow suit.

India will be added to the list if the country’s public health condition improves

Kaplan Business School (KBS) is one of five private education providers that have been selected to participate in the return plan. In its statement, KBS says that “for the time being, passport holders from the following countries will be eligible for the NSW Student Arrivals Plan: China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, and Vietnam.”

Once the public health situation in India improves, the nation will be included in this list. At a later point, it is anticipated that more nations would be included on the list.

According to the New South Wales government, the list of source countries was determined based on a number of factors, including “the number of overseas students enrolled in an institution, the public health situation in that country, and whether or not those nationalities are permitted to transit through Singapore.”

Reference

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

After Covid-19 imposed border restrictions, newly appointed Immigration Minister Alex Hawke announced today that the government intends to allow temporary visa holders to return to the country as soon as possible, including international students and visitors.

Immigration Minister, Mr. Hawke said the government is planning to open the international border soon. COVID taught us one thing, and that is, we must cherish tourists to our economy and temporary visa holders. Mr. Hawke said we want them back as soon as possible. He believes that migration will be crucial to Australia’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.

That’s why the government is expanding our vaccination program and planning to open our international borders so that we can have visitors in our country who spend so much money and also, international students which is largest export sectors of our country, they both add value to the Australian economy. Mr. Alex said we want them back.

Mr. Alex Hawke’s statement comes as the latest data from the Ministry of Home Affairs shows that offshore international students’ visa applications have dropped by 65% in the second half of 2020 relative to the previous year 2019. He also said the biggest drop has been seen in visa applications from India- which is the largest source of students to Australia.

Mr. Hawke said he believes that international students visa applications will surely rise once they reopen the country’s border because we have the best education system internationally.