Enhancements to Australia’s student visa framework to take effect from 1 July

Beginning 1 July, enhancements to the Australia’s SSVF (simplified student visa framework) will see the student visa subclasses numbers being reduced to two from eight. The two visas that would continue to be there are student and student guardian visas and also will be in place one streamlined single immigration risk framework for all foreign students.

David Wilden, the DIBP’s (Department of Immigration and Border Protection’s) First Assistant Secretary, Immigration and Citizenship Policy Division, said that student visa settings were an important aspect of the international education strategy of Australia.

DIBP press release quotes Wilden as saying that the international education sector, which is Australia’s third-largest export segment and its largest services export, is expected to see its value surpassing A$19 billion for the period of 2014–15.

National Strategy for International Education, which was released recently, recognises the DIBP’s role in backing international movement via handling of the student visa programme.

With SSVF in place, the framework for bona fide foreign students and education providers in Australia would be less complicated, reasonable and broader.

An easier route to a visa framework, which also offers a better-directed approach to immigration sincerity, would cut down red tape and enhance productivity and competitiveness globally.

Henceforth, the SSVF will not let students go through the existing intricate process. Now, students are required to apply online for a single student visa subclass and they would be evaluated under one single immigration risk framework.

Applying online is in consonance with DIBP’s policy to step-up digital services and streamlining the application process.

If you are a student who plans to go to Australia to pursue higher education, do come to Y-Axis, which has experienced staff to assist and advice on how one should go about it.