How to cope with Australia’s migration policy changes
Highlights
It is not new for the Department of Home Affairs to change its policy and provisions from time to time. However, in the past few months, the changes have become so constant that some visa holders cannot cope.
Why are there changes in Australia's migration policy?
Before we delve into details, let’s first understand why the Australian government proposed changes to the migration system.
Australia’s migration intake peaked in the last financial year 2022-2023, reaching 510,000. This is Australia’s solution to the country’s skill shortages and the government’s mission to rebuild population growth post-pandemic.
The government had cracked down on fraudulent refugee and student visa applications, visa processing delays, and gutted government agencies not enforcing existing rules.
The Albanese government believed that tightening visa processes for migrant workers and international students would fix the “broken” migration system and bring the migration back to sustainable migration levels.
How to cope with the changes in Australia’s migration policy?
A large majority of temporary visa holders are affected by the current immigration policy changes, and most of the time, they are unaware of the impact of these adjustments. If you are currently in Australia or planning to migrate to Australia, take note of these guidelines:
New Student Visa applicants
The Australian government is aiming to increase the standards of international students in the country. Thus, be prepared for these adjustments:
New financial capacity requirement- minimum of AUD24,505
New English proficiency requirement- IELTS score of 5.5 to 6.0
New Genuine Student Test- assessment of the overall authenticity of the application
New visa charge- from AUD650 to AUD710
If you are planning to apply for a Student Visa, think twice about the impact of these changes. Will the financial burden be worth it? Will this visa program serve my migration goal? What’s my next plan after the Student Visa?
To cope with the constant changes, you must have solid answers to the following questions. With our years of experience, we don’t advise applicants to figure these things out when they are already in the Student Visa program.
Current Student Visa holders
Most Student Visa holders choose to apply for subsequent visas after completing their studies in Australia. The most popular route they choose is the Temporary Graduate Visa (SC 485). Although this visa is currently available, it accumulated a lot of changes in the past few months.
New age limit- from age requirement of 50 down to 35 years old
The processing of student visa applications will be closely monitored, with strict regulations in place.
There will be an increase in the required English language test scores- from an IELTS score (or equivalent) of 6 to 6.5.
The list of approved courses will be reduced, and limitations will be applied to course swapping.
The length of stay for international graduates will be reduced
There will be no more extensions to post-study work rights (except for Indian nationals)
With the current changes, the Temporary Graduate Visa is a bleak option for Student Visa holders. But as the Australian government promised to bring an end to “permanent-temporariness”, they set to launch a new visa program that can guarantee stability to temporary visa holders.
The Skills in Demand Visa will replace the Temporary Skills Shortage Visa (SC 482). This new visa program has 3 streams with a 4-year stay duration and a clear pathway to permanent residency. If this visa program is made available, it is projected to be a viable option for Student Visa holders who want to stabilize their careers and life in Australia.
(Take note: No legislation has yet been made for Skills in Demand Visa. This will still be subject to changes or adjustments.)
How can we help you?
If you are having a hard time establishing what’s the best option for you, we recommend asking for assistance from certified migration experts. A “Do-it-yourself” visa application is not advisable, especially with the constant changes in Australia’s immigration policies. With the help of ThinkVisa, we can guide you with complex situations, we can ensure that all the essential documents are submitted, and we can provide you with a personalized migration action plan.
