February 1st, 2024 at 12:19 am

Student Visa Priority Processing for Australia & Major Changes 2024

Australia will give student visas top priority in 2024. Australia’s new Ministerial Direction 107, which gives priority to student visas for 2024, is covered in this update. Read through to the end as we provide some updates on Australian immigration for international students and their guardians.

Prioritizing applications for Student and Student Guardian Visas is the goal of a newly signed Ministerial Direction by the Australian government. Ministerial Direction 107, signed on December 14, 2023, formalizes the processing priority for the student and student guardian visa programs. It expands on continuous initiatives to protect the integrity of the international education industry.

Programs and Applications by Ministerial Direction for Top Priority

The Ministerial Direction lays out specific priorities for different sectors within the student and student Guardian Visa programs. However, applications for student visas filed abroad by the following educational sectors are given precedence;

• Postgraduate research sector
• Foreign Affairs or Defense Sector
• Applicants higher education
• English language intensive course for overseas students
• Applicants in the non-award sector studying an education with an Evidence level of one
• Vocational education and training
• All applications for student guardian visas that are submitted outside of Australia and involve unmarried family members under the age of eighteen

Second Applicants to Receive a Similar Priority as Primary Applicants

A similar priority would be accorded to the second applicant for a visa as well. The following could be the second applicant:

• Bouse dependent child
• Defecto partner

It is important to remember that the secondary student visa applicant is regarded as a subsequent entrant if they did not submit a joint application with the initial visa holder or applicant. It should be mentioned that the priority order will be decided by the primary course of study.

The principal course of study—the course with the highest level on the Australian qualifications framework—will determine the order of priority for an application if the primary applicant intends to enroll in two or more courses of study. Another name for this is course packaging.

Major Changes for Australia Student Visa

New year, new regulations. The Australian student visa guide for 2024. The most recent modifications to the Australian student visa for 2024 are covered in this update. For holders of Australian student visas, the Australian government implemented some significant reforms. I’ll walk you through these modifications in this article for student visa applications submitted on or after October 1, 2023.

Current Australian Student Visa Rules

Let us first get familiar with the current rules that are placed on Australian student visas.

• Applicants must first be enrolled in a course in Australia
• Also, applicants must be of a minimum age of 6 years or more
• In addition, their bank accounts should hold sufficient funds for their stay in Australia
• Lastly, applicants are required to have proper health insurance

New Australian Student Visa Rules

New regulations for student visas were announced on November 25, 2023. These are the modifications;

1. Higher scores on the English proficiency test

Higher English proficiency exam results are required of overseas applicants. Reapplying students will be closely examined in light of the potential for a longer stay. For postgraduate studies, international students must obtain a minimum IELTS score of 6.5 or 6.0. Additionally, students enrolled in undergraduate courses need to obtain a score of 6.0.

2. Latest Working Hours Changes

Australia was quite lenient about the working hours of international students after the COVID-19 pandemic. Nevertheless, during academic sessions, students now have a working hour cap of 20 hours per week.

3. Approved Degrees

For Indian students, this is wonderful news! The revised criteria provide that degrees obtained in Australia gain recognition in India, while degrees obtained in India also gain recognition in Australia.

4. New Visa Introduced

The new Skills In-Demand introduced by the Australian government will replace the Temporary Skill Shortage Visa. Graduates under the temporary graduate visa will now have the permit to remain in Australia for the following period.

The two-year bachelor’s degree remains unchanged. Master’s degrees via coursework, formerly three years, are now two years. The three-year Master’s by research program remains unchanged. PhD lowered from four to three years

Updated Financial Capacity Requirement

On October 1, 2023, the amount needed to support dependents and students financially was revised. You will need to provide proof of your financial capability if you intend to apply for an Australian student visa. Living expenses could exceed the cost of the visa itself and differ depending on where in the nation you live. It will be necessary for you to have at least $24,500 in your bank account.