May 15th, 2024 at 05:23 am

Australia’s New Immigration Policies & Impact on International Students

Australia is changing its immigration laws significantly to drastically lower the number of new arrivals by 2025. Foreign students have been particularly hard hit by this move. These modifications could have the following effects on bilateral ties and the educational landscape:

Stricter Visa Policies

By tightening its stance on student visas, the Australian government hopes to cut immigration in half. The second-largest group of international students in Australia, those from other countries, have been badly impacted. The number of international student visas approved has decreased by 48% since 2022.

Universities have put a complete stop to accepting applications from overseas students out of concern for the government’s new risk assessment system, which designates schools as high-risk based on canceled or rejected visas.

What are the New Tougher Requirements?

Among the modifications are

• More stringent eligibility requirements to guarantee that only highly qualified students are granted visas
• Raising the bar for language proficiency with enhanced English language tests
• Agent scrutiny: keeping an eye on hiring agents to stop dishonest behavior
• Increased financial proof: in a few months, the proof of savings demand will rise from $31,800 to $119,500.

What’s the Economic Impact?

In 2022, international education was one of the major export industries in Australia, bringing in approximately $24 billion. However, the exodus of international students brought housing scarcity and skyrocketing rental costs. As a result, the administration had to move quickly.

What are the Challenges and Implications?

These rules are raising questions even though they are intended to stop the exploitation of the school system for immigration. Universities are losing a significant source of funding, and Australia’s reputation and ties with India may suffer as a result of the deliberate denial of visas.

International students’ futures are being reshaped by Australia’s immigration reforms. Although the country’s immigration policies may be successful, caution is needed to prevent long-term diplomatic and economic repercussions.

3 New Changes in Australian Immigration 2024

Three fresh updates about immigration from Australia. Important updates essential for professionals and immigrants in Australia are included in this week’s edition of the Australian Immigration Update. This blog covers changes in South Australian migration options, difficulties with regional sponsorship, and skill assessment reopenings.

Skill Assessment Re-openings

The largest skill testing organization in Australia, Vetassess, has stated that assessments for particular trades, such as cooks, diesel motor mechanics, and general motor mechanics, are once again available. This comes after a closure that happened last year and impacted seven deals.

To improve efficiency and equity in the evaluation process, candidates can begin submitting documents to Vetassess for a pre-assessment starting next week. This will allow applicants to confirm that their evidence is adequate before paying and submitting a full application.

Changes in South Australian Migration Opportunities

The government of South Australia has added 128 new jobs to the list of occupations covered under the Designated Area Migration Agreement, or DAMA. This covers industries including ICT, renewable energy, health, education, construction, and trade. Up to age 55, PRs are eligible for an age reduction under the DAMA framework, but locating an employer sponsor who is prepared to sponsor them is still difficult.

Challenges in Regional Sponsorship

The high-income criterion of $70,000 for the 491 Visa under Pathway 1, which is more than the average salary in many regional occupations, has drawn criticism to the New South Wales government’s 491 Visa policy. These developments are a reflection of the continuous challenges and changes in Australia’s immigration policy environment.

To successfully manage these processes, immigrants and visa applicants are recommended to be informed and seek advice from immigration professionals.