Australia’s Student Visa Process Resumes With New Measures
Australia is adapting to the new changes, by changing the student visa processes
Australia is resuming the process of the student visa’s to strengthen international education. During the pandemic, some students have transitioned to online studying, making it easier to stay in education during these uncertain times. Some of these have transitioned to study outside of Australia and during the pandemic, study times can count towards being eligible for post-study work visas in Australia.
The government in Australia announced that they have different developments for the student visa process, to help ensure that any international students aren’t effected or any worse off during the pandemic. Australia is adapting to the new changes, by changing the student visa processes as the pandemic has affected many places, in different ways. Obviously, this will affect international students and their student visas, but Australia is working hard not to let the pandemic change anything.
So what does this mean exactly? Australia plans to resume student visa applications and the process of these, so that when borders reopen, and students are able to travel again, the visas will already be sorted and travel plans can be made. It makes it a lot easier for those that are planning to return to Australia, once the Corona Virus pandemic has calmed down and things start to return back to normal.
As the Corona Virus pandemic has affected the student visa processing and international students, Australia is also putting other things in place, to make it a more straightforward process. Those students who did originally have a student visa, but couldn’t complete studies due to the Corona Virus pandemic, are now entitled to an additional visa application, for free. It doesn’t seem fair to make those pay for their application when the situation can’t be avoided, so they’re offering this free of charge for the time being.
As well as this, some students have to carry out an English language test and due to the Corona Virus pandemic, the test services have been disrupted. Students are now given extra time to provide their test results.
For graduates that have previously had a student visa, they are now able to apply for the post-study work visa, even if they are unable to return to Australia due to the Corona Virus pandemic and travel restrictions in place.
At first, it was uncertain as to whether this information and new process would apply to current and new students, but it has since been confirmed by the Department of Home Affairs, that it is.
At Australia’s universities, around 1.4 million students enrol, with 29% of these being international students. As a result of this, it will affect the number of people studying and enrolling at Australia’s universities. The university and education sector is the 4th biggest export-industry and plays a massive part in keeping Australia connected with the world. The industry contributes an incredible AUS$40 billion to the economy and offers 250,000 jobs. Due to the Corona Virus pandemic, their economy and education sector has decreased drastically, putting jobs and businesses at risk.
It is thought that as a result of the pandemic, it will have an effect on Australia’s economy, resulting in them losing AUS$16 billion, to the year 2023. As one can imagine, this will massively affect the country, and its economy, so by keeping the education sector running as smoothly as possible is critical for them.
The Corona Virus pandemic has had a massive impact on most things and countries, but Australia is doing their best to keep students in education and giving international students the opportunity, making the application process a lot easier. If they didn’t do this, it could massively affect the universities and education sector in Australia, the connection they have with other countries, their economy and put the future of the education sector, at risk. As education plays a significant role in their economy and providing jobs for people, the last thing they will want is to put any trouble on the future of the sector, which could cause harm in years to come.
