Major Changes to Student Visa System
February 08, 2017

Major Changes to Student Visa System

The transition of Australia’s student visa system from Streamlined Visa Processing to Simplified Student Visa Framework that took place on the 1st July 2016 has upped the ante for all good reasons. The student visa programme has unshackled itself from impositions of assessment levels and exclusion of education providers that were not a part of SVP. Certain education providers were out of bounds for high risk countries, given that the criteria of assessment were tough. Though the assessment has been hardly made lenient, at least the mention of such providers does not set a doubt in the very beginning!

The distinguishing factors are:

  • Merger of Subclasses:
    All different subclasses that existed under SVP have been merged into one single subclass 500, except Student Guardian Visa. Applications for different education sectors such as vocational education, higher education, sponsored education or school sector education now fall under the same subclass.

  • Education Provider, and Country of Citizenship- Key factors in assessing immigration risk:
    Under SVP, students applying to eligible education providers were not assigned assessment levels and were subject to lower evidentiary requirements, regardless of their nationality.

    Under SSVF, immigration risk outcomes of education providers is a vital factor in deciding about evidentiary requirements. Enrollment with an education provider that has the lowest immigration outcomes will call for lower evidentiary requirement. Similarly, the evidentiary requirements will be reduced if the applicant is from a country with the lowest immigration risk, regardless of the immigration risk outcomes of the education provider. Not to forget, immigration risk of education provider and applicant’s country of citizenship will be a decisive factor for English language and financial documentary evidence.

  • All Education Providers Equally Accessible:
    With SVP gone, the education providers which were not considered a safe option to get enrolled at are now given an equal opportunity in a less complex visa framework. They are now a part of the network of all Australian education providers that could be accessed by anyone willing to come to Australia for higher education, with the provision of same level assessment structure.

  • No Impact on Other Related Visas:
    The change in student visa system does not result into any impact on Graduate Work Visa eligibility criteria, not does it affect existing student visa holders. The changes are applied to student visa applications alone made after the 1st July 2016.

    The change has imminently resulted in confusion amongst those holding student visas other than SC 500. The Aussizz education team at Adelaide is there to let you in on the impact of these changes and could guide you in complex matters of course change or changing your education provider. Talk to a consultant at Aussizz Adelaide office before planning any change or to explore future options!

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