June 23rd, 2024 at 04:52 am

Australian Government Sets New Australian Student Visa Limits Starting July 1, 2024

To curb visa hopping, the Australian government announced new limitations on student visas on June 12, 2024. These restrictions will take effect on July 1, 2024. The purpose of these modifications is to improve the program’s integrity for student visas.

Affected Visa Holders

A variety of Visa holders will be affected by the new limitations, including those with Subclass 485, 600, 601, 602, 651, 771, 988, 995, 403, and 426.

Australian Government Addressing Visa Hopping

The limitations placed on holders of guest visas are an attempt to counter the habit of people abusing this pathway to get around Integrity checks about offshore student visas. Through this route, more than 36,000 applications were submitted between July 2023 and May 2024.

What about holders of temporary graduate visas?

Additionally, holders of temporary graduate visas will not be able to apply onshore for student visas. By encouraging graduates to seek skilled employment or other visa options, this reform seeks to address the issue of international students who are temporarily studying abroad.

Changes to Post-study Work Rights

With effect from July 1, 2024, The Graduate Work Stream—formerly known as the Post Vocational Education Work Stream—will have fewer post-study work privileges. The maximum stay duration is 18 months, with the possibility of a 5-year stay for holders of Hong Kong or British National Overseas passports.

The 2-year extension for certain degrees under the Post-study Work Stream, now known as the Post-Higher Education Work Stream, will expire. Most Visa holders will be permitted to continue for up to 3 years, while holders of Hong Kong and British National Overseas passports may continue for up to 5 years. The Australia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement allows Indian nationals to remain for a maximum of four years.

Changes in Age Limit and English Language Requirements

Both streams will have a 50-year-old age limit lowered to 35 years old. The stricter English language requirements that were put into effect in March will also be applicable.

Sustainable Migration Strategy

These adjustments align with the government’s plan to stabilize migration, which calls for net overseas migration to drop from 528,000 locations in 2022–2023 to 268,000 locations in the upcoming fiscal year.

Australia ImmiAccount Visa System 2024: 4-Step Process

Via an online service called ImmiAccount, the Australian Department of Home Affairs helps prospective immigrants and visitors to Australia electronically create and manage their visa applications and related processes. If you want to apply for a temporary or permanent visa to Australia, you can create an ImmiAccount and prepare your application.

In this blog post, we’ll walk you through the setup and usage of the Australia ImmiAccount dashboard to apply for an Australia visa.

Types of Australia ImmiAccount

Even though anyone can form an ImmiAccount, there are various account types available depending on whether you are an individual or an entity, such as an immigration agency or legal business.

You must register as an individual to apply; however, family members who may be assisting you or filing one on your behalf may also create an account if they are assigned as your representative. Your migration attorneys in Australia can register as an organization.

Australia ImmiAccount Step-by-Step Registration

To initiate the process of creating an ImmiAccount, all you require is your current email address that is operational and your details.

Step 1

On the Department of Home Affairs website, click the “Create an ImmiAccount” link. This will take you to a landing page where you need to provide your email address to register. After entering the address, you will receive a verification code; thus, make sure you can immediately verify by logging into your email account.

Step 2

After entering the verification code sent to your email, you will be asked to enter your user information. If you did not receive a code, check your spam or garbage folder or select “Resend Verification Code.”

Select an individual account while selecting the required Services. Since applications for citizenship and visas are already included in each unique ImmiAccount, no additional Services need to be selected. Afterward, you can input your details precisely as they appear in your passport.

Step 3

You have to complete setting up your account, including choosing a password and responding to security questions. Ensure that your password is secure and that your questions are personal to you. If you would like to be notified if someone unauthorized gains access to your account, you may find it useful to activate the security alert.

Step 4

Lastly, you must check the box attesting to your human nature and read and accept the terms and conditions of the account. After confirming that you are human and reading and accepting the rules, you can submit your application. You will immediately receive an email with a link for confirmation.

Role of ImmiAccount for the Australian Visa Application Process

The main location where you can upload documents is through your ImmiAccount. Send them in, edit them, and get in touch with the Department of Home Affairs. From the time you submit your application until you hear back regarding the status of your application, this will likely be your first and last experience applying for a visa to enter Australia.

In more detail, an ImmiAccount enables you to

• Apply for a visa, either temporary or permanent.
• Update personal data or include new files
• Obtain accurate and thorough updates regarding the status of your application.
• Review the conditions stated on your visa.
• Make any necessary payments with a safe and secure method.
• Register to receive email notifications if your application’s status changes.

What Happens After You Apply Using Your ImmiAccount?

Even after you have filed your initial visa application, there is more to come for your ImmiAccount. Utilizing your account as a gateway, you can monitor the terms of your current visa, read and respond to Department of Home Affairs information requests, and check the status of your application.

More specifically, after you submit your application, ImmiAccount lets you receive and analyze communications from the Agency of Home Affairs, learn what information the agency needs, be alerted to any errors in your application, and much more.

Creating an ImmiAccount is essential if you wish to manage the Australian immigration process effectively. This helpful tool ensures you stay informed at every stage and streamlines the process of applying for a visa. By making the effort to create your ImmiAccount, you can provide yourself with the resources and support you need to achieve your Australian dream.