Tag: study visa australia

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.

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Many Indian international students who stayed in Australia during the pandemic to complete their studies faced difficulties, including living alone and losing jobs due to COVID-related lockdowns.

A number of students lost their jobs due to COVID. They felt alone and vulnerable but they chose to remain in the country since they were concerned that returning would entail an endless wait to return to Australian shores due to the continued closure of borders.

An organization AISECS (Australian-Indian Sports Educational and Cultural Society) has come up to assist Indian students in New South Wales, they claim that there is an urgent need to assist Indian students, many of whom are experiencing mental health problems as a result of continuing border restrictions.

On 3 June, they co-hosted an event called ‘Care, Connection, and Community’ exclusively for Indian international students in NSW, in collaboration with Study NSW and the Consulate General of India, Sydney (CGI Sydney).

They said they were inspired to organise this event because they thought that many international Indian students who lost loved ones in India’s second devastating COVID wave were unable to return home and were forced to mourn alone in Australia’s lack of a support structure. They wanted to demonstrate to them via this event that they are not alone.

The event was attended by about 75 Indian international students. It was also attended by the Consul General of India, the Consul General of Nepal, Superintendent NSW Police, CEO of Cricket Australia, and a mental health speaker from Headspace.

Additionally, they have developed a unique program to assist students with start-up business ideas in Australia. Those with feasible ideas will be coached, guided, and provided with financial assistance to help them get their ventures off the ground.

AISECS recognizes and thanks the Indian Consulate General for organizing this event, as well as the NSW Government’s assistance in initiating and making this event possible.

They also stated that they are in frequent contact with the NSW and federal governments, pleading with them to return foreign students from countries like India, where huge numbers of students are stranded. According to sources, the NSW Cabinet has authorized such a proposal to fly students home as early as August.

South Australia’s government has also contacted the federal government with a proposal for student return. If approved, the plan would bring in 160 kids at a time for two weeks of quarantine at a facility near Parafield Airport in Adelaide’s north, which is now under construction.

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International students will be welcomed back to New South Wales at the beginning of July, as part of a pilot quarantine plan announced by the state government.

The government introduced the plan on Thursday, which would initially see 250 students quarantined in specially designated student housing every two weeks.

The government said that the number of students will climb to 500 every fortnight by the end of the year and that it would not interfere with the present hotel quarantine procedures. Most importantly, as a consequence of this plan, not a single returning Australian will get a seat on a plane.

This will operate concurrently with the 3,000 returning Australians who enter our hotel quarantine system each week. Prior to the epidemic, around 250,000 overseas students studied in New South Wales, the state’s second biggest export.

Around 50,000 international students were actively attempting to get admission to NSW. The government said that it would give job security for the sector’s 100,000 employees. This is a significant win for the New South Wales economy.

We estimate that the cost to our economy since the pandemic started, especially in relation to international students, has been roughly $5 billion, and that if we do nothing, the cost will rise to $11 billion by the end of next year. This is critical because there is evidence that countries such as Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom are deliberately targeting the sector on which NSW is so dependent.

The NSW government has not disclosed the location of the student quarantine facility, but indicated that discussions with the provider were nearing completion. The pilot program has been accepted by NSW Health and Police. The government also said that the request to the federal government had received “strong support” and will be approved in the coming days.

The student quarantine system, which includes travel expenses, accommodations, and security, would be funded by the university sector, whether students pay for flights is up to individual colleges.

Students from across the world will come to NSW on chartered aircraft in the next six to eight weeks, before transitioning to commercial aircraft.

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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.

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