Temporary visa holders in Australia
A new report Temporary entrants and New Zealand citizens in Australia is now available on the department’s website. The report provides a snapshot of various groups of temporary visa holders and New Zealand citizens who were present in Australia as at the end December 2011. A copy of this report can be accessed here.
The report highlights some key trends:
- some 1,045,840 temporary visa holders were present in Australia on 31 December 2011, a 0.6 per cent increase from last year;
- the largest groups of temporary visa holders present in Australia on 31 December 2011 were visitors (367,970), followed by students (254,680), working holiday makers (subclass 417 and 462) (134,840) and Business (Long Stay) (subclass 457) visa holders (128,600);
- between December 2010 and December 2011, the number of student visa holders decreased by 12.5 per cent and visitor visa holders by 1.1 per cent, while the number of subclass 457 visa holders and working holiday makers increased by 10.9 per cent and 14.1 per cent, respectively;
- during the same period, the number of visitors from India and China increased (16.7% and 10.5% respectively) while the number of students from India and China decreased ( 34.7% and 7.6% respectively);
- the countries with the most number of Working Holiday (subclass 417) visa holders were the United Kingdom (19.4%), South Korea (16.6%) and Ireland (12.2%);
- the countries with the most number of Business (Long Stay) visa holders were the United Kingdom (26.7%), India (13.7%) and the Philippines (7.3%); and,
- some 597,730 New Zealand citizens were present in Australia on 31 December 2011,
a 6.9 per cent increase from the previous year.
Did you hold a Student visa on 8 February 2010?
New web page for Student visa holders who were affected by the skilled migration reforms announced on 8 February 2010.
There is a new web page for current and former Student visa holders who held a Student visa on
8 February 2010, when the Australian Government announced the skilled migration reforms.
The new web page can be found here.
Increasingly in the years leading up to the reforms, the composition of the skilled migration program was being determined by those who wished to apply, rather than by labour market demand. A series of reforms were necessary to reposition the program as demand driven and able to respond better to Australia’s skilled labour needs.
One of the key changes was the withdrawal of the Migration Occupations in Demand List (MODL) and the introduction of a new Skilled Occupation List (SOL). The SOL is a list of occupations that are eligible for independent, or unsponsored, skilled migration. The new SOL consists of 192 occupations, down from more than 400 on the old list, and delivers a skilled migration program that is tightly focused on high value skills that will assist in addressing Australia’s medium to long term skill needs.
When these reforms were announced, the Australian Government also announced generous transitional arrangements for those who held Student visas when the changes were announced. The new web page includes information about these transitional arrangements, as well as other information about extending a Student visa, and also information about the skilled migration program. We plan to expand the page with further information in the coming months.
It is important for students to be aware that the Student visa program and the skilled migration program serve different purposes. A Student visa allows a person to come to Australia and study for a specified period. On the other hand, the skilled migration program has an economic focus. It is designed to meet the needs of the Australian labour market and strengthen the whole economy. Because of this, the requirements for skilled migration may change depending on the economic circumstances of the time, and that is why students should study a course based on their academic interests, rather than to achieve a particular migration outcome.
Student visas are temporary visas, so students should be mindful of their visa expiry date so they can consider their options early. It takes time to apply for another visa, and if a person is unable to obtain another visa they must depart Australia before their Student visa expires. There can be serious consequences for overstaying a Student visa and becoming unlawful, including being unable to return to Australia for up to three years.
Some students might be thinking about lodging an Expression of Interest (EOI) in SkillSelect when their student visa expires. An EOI is not the same as a visa application. It is an indication that a person would like to apply for a skilled migration visa, rather than an application itself. A Bridging visa will not be granted after submitting an EOI. If a person is not invited to apply for a skilled migration visa before their existing visa expires, they will need to obtain another visa or depart Australia.
Further Knight Review changes to the Student visa program
At the end of 2010, the Hon Michael Knight AO was appointed to conduct the first independent review of the Student visa program (the Knight Review).
Mr Knight made 41 recommendations in his report, Strategic Review of the Student Visa Program 2011, to improve the competitiveness of the Australian international education sector and to strengthen the integrity of the Student visa program. All of the recommendations have been accepted in principle by the government. For more information, visit www.immi.gov.au/students/knight/
Staged implementation
Stage one of the Knight Review changes was implemented in late 2011 and a number of key stage two Knight Review changes were implemented recently on 24 and 26 March. The remaining stage two changes are proposed to be implemented later in 2012 and in early 2013.
Changes implemented for applications made on or after 24 March 2012
- Streamlined visa processing for applicants studying Bachelor, Masters and Doctoral courses at participating universities in Australia are assessed as though they are a lower risk (similar to the current Assessment Level 1), regardless of their country of origin. This means that these applicants will generally have reduced evidentiary requirements when applying for a Student visa.
- The maximum period of English language study that a Schools sector (subclass 571) visa applicant subject to Assessment Level (AL) 3 and above can undertake, has been increased to 50 weeks. Prior to 24 March 2012, the maximum period of English language study for Schools sector applicants was 40 weeks for AL 3, 30 weeks for AL 4 and nil for AL 5. The arrangements for AL 1 and AL 2 applicants remain unchanged, with no English language study period restrictions.
- New Student Guardian (subclass 580) visa holders can undertake English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students (ELICOS) study on a part-time basis (less than 20 hours per week) for the duration of their visa. However this change only applies to ELICOS study—other study restrictions remain unchanged.
Changes implemented on 26 March 2012
- More flexible work conditions for Student visa holders have come into effect. Postgraduate Research (subclass 574) visa holders can now work unlimited hours once their courses have started and all other Student visa holders work entitlements are now 40 hours each fortnight instead of 20 hours each week.
- The above changes apply to both new and existing Student visa holders.
More information
You can access Mr Knight’s full report, fact sheets and frequently asked questions on the stage one and stage two Knight Review changes on the department’s website: www.immi.gov.au/students/knight/
Open Q&A on the 457 program
We’re always trying new ways of communicating with the public about our migration programs. So this week our 457 policy team is opening up the migration blog to any questions you have about the 457 visa and temporary skilled migration to Australia.
While we can’t provide advice about individual cases, any other questions about the program no matter how specific or broad are welcome.
Here are some examples to stimulate ideas:
- Why do we have temporary migration to Australia?
- How do market rates work?
- What happens if I get fired while on a 457 visa?
- Why do I need to get health insurance while on a 457 visa?
We are looking forward to your questions.
Knight Review of the Student visa program—stage one implementation
This is a guest post written by Bingbing, who works in the department’s Student Implementation Taskforce Section.
What is the Knight Review?
At the end of 2010, the Hon Michael Knight AO was appointed to conduct the first independent review of the Student visa program (the Knight Review).
Mr Knight made 41 recommendations in his report, Strategic Review of the Student Visa Program 2011, to improve the competitiveness of the Australian international education sector and the integrity of the student visa program. All of the recommendations have been accepted in principle by the government and stage one of the changes was implemented on 5 November 2011.
See: www.immi.gov.au/students/knight/
Why are the changes being made?
The changes are being made in order to help make Australia a destination of choice for international students. Fewer international students have been coming to Australia in recent years because of a number of factors, including the high Australian dollar and increased global competition. The government is determined to give the international education sector—one of Australia’s largest export sectors—a boost.
What changes were introduced on 5 November 2011?
1. A new genuine temporary entrant (GTE) requirement
The GTE requirement addresses whether the individual circumstances of a Student visa applicant indicate that their intention is for a temporary stay inAustralia. This new requirement aims to help maintain the integrity of the student visa program.
2. Reductions in the financial requirements
While not a Knight Review recommendation, the financial requirements for higher risk assessment level 3 and 4, student visa applicants were reduced by up to approximately AUD 36 000. This helps students who wish to obtain a visa to study in the vocational education and training (VET) sector.
3. Removing English language test requirements for ELICOS visa applicants
Stand alone English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students (ELICOS) (subclass 570) visa applicants who are subject to assessment level 4 and above, are no longer required to provide evidence of an English language proficiency test as part of their visa application. This helps to make English language study more accessible.
4. Stopping the pre-visa assessment (PVA) policy
Education providers no longer need to receive a PVA letter from us before they can issue a confirmation of enrolments (CoE) to students. This change is intended to reduce the time it takes to process a student visa.
5. Changes to policy for prepaid homestay fees
Prepaid fees for formal homestay arrangements through education providers are now taken into account when assessing whether an applicant meets the financial requirements for a student visa. This change helps to reduce the financial burdens on some Student visa applicants.
6. Increasing the visa period for new Postgraduate Research visa grants
The visa period for Postgraduate Research (subclass 574) visas granted from
5 November 2011 have been increased by six months. This extra time is to allow for interactive marking of a thesis.
More information
You can access Mr Knight’s full report, fact sheets and frequently asked questions on the stage one and proposed stage two Knight Review changes on the department’s website: www.immi.gov.au/students/knight/
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