International students now wanting to study in
Australia will benefit from the new simplified student visa framework which
came into effect from 01st July 2016.
* International students will apply for a single student visa (Sub Class
500) regardless of their chosen course
of study
* Student
guardians will apply for the new student guardian (Sub class 590) visa
* All students and student guardians will be required to lodge their visa
application on line (e-visa) using the immi account
A single immigration risk framework applies to all
international students and replaces the previous streamlined visa processing
and Assessment Level frameworks. Under the SSVF, the combined immigration risk
outcomes of the student’s education provider and country of citizenship will be
used to guide the level of documentary evidence of English language and
financial capacity that the student needs to provide with their visa
application.
Streamlined evidentiary requirements:
Students associated with the lowest immigration risk will generally have
streamlined evidentiary requirements. This means these students will generally
be able to satisfy the Department of their financial capacity by providing a
declaration and their English proficiency by a Confirmation of Enrolment. The
Department will however retain the discretion to seek further evidence where
appropriate.
By using the online client service tool students
will be able to obtain details about the documentation and evidence that will
need to be included with their student visa application.
Financial Capacity & Requirement:
All student visa applicants must have sufficient funds available for the
duration of their stay in Australia. Students associated with higher
immigration risk, based on their country of citizenship and education provider
immigration risk outcomes, will generally need to provide additional
documentary evidence of financial capacity with their visa application.
The immigration department’s online client service tool
will indicates that documentary evidence of financial capacity is required
based on the institute the student is applying for. Where additional evidence
of financial capacity is required, the student will be able to demonstrate this
by providing either:
·
Evidence of funds to cover travel to
Australia and 12 months living, course fees and (for school-aged dependants)
schooling costs for the student and accompanying family members or
·
Evidence of meeting the annual income
requirement
The income demonstrated must be the personal income of
the student’s spouse or parents only. In circumstances where both the student’s
parents are working their combined income can be considered for this
requirement. In all cases the evidence of annual income must be in the form of
official government documentation, such as a tax assessment.
All students must show evidence of the first 12-month
living costs. The type of evidence, where required, includes: money deposit or
education loan with a financial institution, government loan, scholarship or
sponsorship.
Living cost amounts From 1 July 2016, the 12
month living cost will be:
·
Student/guardian AUD 19,830
·
Partner/spouse AUD 6,940
·
Child AUD 2,970
(For any dependent children aged 5 years
and above the evidence of school costs also applies)
Please Note: Financial
amounts including annual income, living costs and schooling costs will be
regularly reviewed and adjusted from time to time
Insurance (OSHC)
All student visa holders must maintain adequate
arrangements for health insurance while they are in Australia. Evidence
of the cover must be submitted at the time of visa application.
English language requirements:
Where evidence of English Ianguage proficiency is required, the following
minimum English language test scores will be accepted:
·
English Language Testing System (IELTS)
overall band score of 5.5 or
·
IELTS overall band score of 5 when packaged
with at least 10 weeks English Language Intensive Course for Overseas Students
(ELICOS) or
·
IELTS overall band score of 4.5 when packaged
with at least 20 weeks ELICOS. The equivalent of the above minimum IELTS test
scores from the following English language providers will also be accepted:
·
Test of English as a Foreign Language paper
based test (TOEFL)
·
Pearson Test of English Academic
·
Cambridge English: Advanced
·
Occupational English Test.
·
The Immigration Department’s online client
service tool will indicates that documentary evidence of English language
proficiency is required, it is important for applicants to attach these
documents to their visa application prior to lodgement. Failure to do so may
result visa refusal.
English
language exemptions:
Currently some institutes offer some students exemption from
providing evidence of an English language test score, regardless of the level
of immigration risk that applies. Under the SSVF, the following student
categories will continue to be exempt from providing evidence of English language
proficiency requirements with their visa application regardless of the
immigration risk rating that applies:
·
Students enrolled in fulltime school studies
as a principal course, including secondary exchange programmes; postgraduate
research courses; standalone English Language Intensive Course for Overseas
Students (ELICOS); and Foreign Affairs or Defence sponsored students
·
Students who have completed at least five
years study in one or more of the following countries; Australia, Canada, New
Zealand, South Africa, or the Republic of Ireland
·
Citizens and passport holders of one of the
following English-speaking countries; UK, USA, Canada, NZ or Republic of
Ireland
·
Students who have successfully completed in
Australia in the English language either the Senior Secondary Certificate of
Education or studies at the Certificate IV or higher level, in the two years
before applying for the Student visa.
Packaging
English Language Intensive Course for Overseas Students (ELICOS):
Under the SSVF, there is
no limitation on the maximum duration of ELICOS study that may be undertaken.
Genuine students will be able to undertake as much ELICOS study as either a
standalone course or prior to their principal course, as required.
Genuine
access to funds:
The funds shown in the visa application must be available
for use by the student to financially support them and any accompanying family
members during their stay in Australia.
When considering whether the funds shown will
be genuinely available, the Department will take into account factors
including:
·
The nature of the relationship between the
student and the person who is providing the funds, where applicable
·
Income, assets and employment of the student
or the other person who is providing the funds
·
Previous visa history of both the student and
the person providing the funds.
Evidence
of enrollment:
All students must be enrolled in a registered course of
study and provide a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) when they lodge their
student visa application.
Welfare:
All students under 18 must continue to have welfare arrangements in place for
the duration of their stay in Australia AND provide one of the following
forms of evidence at the time they lodge their visa application:
· * Form 157N which nominates a suitable relative
in Australia or
· * Form 157N and an application for a Student
Guardian (subclass 590) for a nominated relative or
·
A Confirmation of Appropriate Accommodation
and Welfare letter from the education provider or
·
An Acceptance Advice of Secondary Exchange
Students (AASES) form.
Course Packaging Arrangements:
All students will continue to be able to package two or more courses on the one
student visa where there is progression from one course to another.
Processing time frame:
The Department aims to finalise 75 per cent of complete
student visa applications within 4 to 6 week from the time of lodgement. To
reduce visa processing times, students are strongly encouraged to submit all
required documents with their visa applications. Failure to submit all required
documents may lead to processing delays or visa refusal.
Fraud:
The Department of Immigration and Border Protection will continue to focus on
ensuring that only applicants who are genuine students, and their immediate
family members, are granted a student visa to Australia. Instances of fraud are
taken very seriously and are thoroughly investigated by the Department. An
individual’s visa application may be refused or their visa may be cancelled if
there is evidence that the individual has given, or caused to be given, a bogus
document or false or misleading information.
Nishi Borra
Director – Atlas Education Consultants
