New student visa changes to come. The changes that will come into effect are as follows:
New Student Visa Assessment Levels;
Streamlined Processing; and
Education Provider List
1. Student Visas: Changes to Assessment Levels from early 2014
Following the release the Review of the Student Visa Assessment Level Framework 2013 Report the Government has announced a proposed simplification of the Stu
dent Visa Assessment level Framework which would include:
only three assessment levels (AL1, AL2 and AL3)
countries and education sectors currently subject to AL4 would be reduced to AL3
financial requirements for an AL3 student visa applicant would be reduced from the current 18 months to 12 months. These funds must be provided by a close relative of the student visa applicant. The proposed changes would lower the minimum evidentiary requirements needed for the grant of a Student visa for AL3 countries and education sectors, providing a benefit to prospective students.
2. Streamlined student visa processing from early 2014
Streamlined visa processing arrangements will be available to certain low immigration risk non-university education providers who offer Bachelor, Masters and Doctoral degree courses. This would be an extension of the arrangements that have been available to the university sector since March 2012.
3. New List of Eligible Education Providers and Educational Business Partners
There is a new list of eligible education providers and their educational business partners for subclass 573 Higher Education Sector and 574 Postgraduate Research Sector Student visas and specifies eligible education providers for subclass 575 Non-award Sector Student visas. These changes include the addition of educational business partners, the removal of some educational business partners and updating the details of some educational business partners already specified. This new list will be effective from 23 November 2013. Would you like to come to Australia to study and work?
