Understanding the 2024 Student Visa Priority Processing
Highlights
Australia has been one of the top destinations for international students who want to advance in their studies and eventually in their careers. As the second most popular visa, student visa contributes a big chunk of applications every year. To meet the demand, the Australian government announced that Student (SC 500) visa applicants would enjoy priority processing to fast-track their applications.
How will the priority processing work?
Under the new directive, the priority processing will primarily be based on where the application is lodged, and the risk level of your education provider.
Lodgement
Applications lodged offshore have a higher priority level
Education provider
Each CRICOS-registered education providers are allocated an evidence level based on immigration risk (levels 1,2, & 3). Immigration officials will use this ranking to prioritize visa applications, granting faster processing times for level 1 education providers.
(This directive will apply to all visa applications lodged on or from 15 December 2023, as well as applications lodged before this date that are yet to be finalized.)
Should you expect more changes in the coming months?
Yes. The year 2024 is considered to be a transitional phase to a more sustainable migration system. Thus, we will see more changes, especially for the Student Visa program. Furthermore, the government is dedicated to improving the education experiences of international students and linking their studies to opportunities for permanent migration.
How we can help you
If you are having a hard time planning your pathway to Australia, the best thing to do is ask for assistance from certified migration experts. At Think Visa, we specialize in processing visas in these complex situations. By ensuring that all the essential documents are submitted, our team of skilled migration consultants can help you get through the process. Start your migration process with people you could trust.
