Recent developments with Student Visa Processing Peta Dunn WA State Director and Global Manager Temporary Visas Department of Immigration and Citizenship
Streamlined Visa Processing - Background • In response to Recommendation # 3 of the Knight Review, Streamlined Student Visa Processing (SVP) arrangements have been in place since 24 March 2012 for those universities that opted in; • 41 of 42 universities operating in Australia applied and were approved to participate in the SVP arrangements. • Streamlined visa processing arrangements mean that eligible prospective university students are treated as lower immigration risk.
Streamlined Visa Processing Student visa application lodgements from eligible sectors: streamlined vs non-streamlined 60000 Streamlined Non-streamlined 50000 Total lodgements Application lodgements 40000 30000 20000 10000 0 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 2011-12 2011-12 2011-12 2011-12 2012-13 2012-13 2012-13 2012-13 Quarterly period
Streamlined Visa Processing Grant rate for streamlined higher education applicants 98% 96.4% Percentage of applications streamlined 96% 93.9% 93.0% 94% 91.6% 92% 90% 88% 86% 84% 82% 80% 30-Jun-2012 30-Sep-2012 31-Dec-2012 31-Mar-2013 Quarter ending
Streamlined Visa Processing Processing times for streamlined higher education applicants 30 Jun 2011 - 31 Mar 2012 (pre SVP) 60 30 Jun 2012 - 31 Mar 2013 (SVP in operation) 50 50 47 18% decrease 40 Calendar days 37 40% decrease 38% decrease 30 26 19% decrease 41 20 28 23 21 10 0 30 Jun 11 & 30 Sep 11 & 31 Dec 11 & 31 Mar 12 & 30 Jun 12 30 Sep 12 31 Dec 12 31 Mar 13 Quarter ending
Streamlined Visa Processing Top five countries by volume of Higher Education grants, March 2012 – March 2013 40 000 36 587 35 000 Total no. of HE student visas granted 30 000 25 000 20 000 15 000 10 000 6 529 5 020 4 952 2 813 5 000 0 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. PR of China India Malaysia Vietnam Singapore
Key streamlined visa processing events Timeframe Streamlined Visa Processing Events April 2013 Participating universities received their 12 month SVP data reports April 2013 Notification of any changes to universities’ nominated Educational Business Partners June 2013 Educational Business Partner changes come into effect October 2013 Participating universities to receive their interim 12 month SVP data reports August 2013 Notification of any changes to universities’ nominated Educational Business Partners November 2013 Educational Business Partner changes come into effect Universities invited to participate in second iteration of the SVP arrangements and will at December 2013 the same time be provided with updated Guidelines. December 2013 Notification of any changes to universities’ nominated Educational Business Partners January 2014 Educational Business Partner changes come into effect February 2014 Universities required to submit a further SVP ‘opt-in‘ application March 2014 First iteration of the SVP arrangements ends April 2014 Second iteration of the SVP arrangements proposed to commence
Assessment Level Review Recommendation # 32 of the Knight Review was for the Department, with input from an External Reference Group, to conduct a review of the Student Visa Assessment Level Framework. The Assessment Level Framework Review was undertaken in 2012 and involved broad stakeholder consultation with peak organisations, including unions and state governments. The Government is currently considering its response to the review.
Visa Pricing Transformation Changes to visa pricing from 1 July 2013 are part of a longer term strategy being implemented by DIAC, known as the Visa Pricing Transformation, which aims to deliver improved client service through expanded online services. The strategy involves: • additional capacity for clients to ‘self-service’ with online visa applications and payment capabilities • improving departmental efficiencies by introducing new charges for discretionary services, such as visa labels • generating revenue for government • ensuring Australia remains globally competitive and is seen as a destination of choice to visit, live, work and study.
Visa Pricing Transformation – 1 July 2013 Previous pricing From 1 July structure 2013 Base application charge Additional applicant charge Single VAC per application Subsequent temporary application charge Non-Internet application charge
Pricing and payments – what will change 1. The first instalment of the VAC will be made up of a number of components 2. The new VAC components are set out in Schedule 1 of the Migration Regulations 3. All applicable VAC components must be paid in full for the visa application to be valid 4. In a combined application all additional or ‘secondary’ applicants must now pay a first instalment VAC 5. Additional applicants added after the application has been made will be required to pay a VAC before they can be added
VAC changes for students Applicants applying for a Student visa will be impacted by the following charges: • Base visa application charge – a foundation amount that all applicants will need to pay in order to make a valid application. Some exclusions apply. • Additional applicant charge – an additional amount charged on a per- applicant basis. This amount varies depending on the age of the additional applicant/s. • Subsequent temporary application charge – an additional amount charged based on an applicant’s visa history.
Knight Review implementation in 2013 Recommendation #4 and #8: New post-study work arrangements • Implemented on 23 March 2013; • The Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa provides recent graduates with the opportunity to gain practical work experience to enhance their Australian qualification. Recommendation #24 & #25: Abolition of automatic and mandatory student visa cancellation • Implemented on 13 April 2013; • Automatic and mandatory Student visa cancellations were abolished and replaced with a discretionary framework that allows DIAC to consider the individual circumstances of a student when considering breaches of visa conditions.
Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa • There are now two streams to the subclass 485 – Temporary Graduate Visa; • The new Post-Study Work arrangements are designed for international students who have recently graduated with a Bachelor, Masters or Doctoral Degree from an Australian education provider; • The Graduate Work stream is for those with skills and qualifications that relate to an occupation in demand in the Australian labour market. Visas are granted for 18 months validity. http://www.immi.gov.au/visas/students/485/applicants.htm
Changes to the Student Visa Cancellation Framework Discretionary cancellation has replaced the Automatic and mandatory student visa automatic and mandatory cancellation cancellations has been abolished framework Automatic Cancellation Discretionary Cancellation Automatic cancellation occurred when a student visa holder was reported by their education provider for not Discretionary cancellation involves a DIAC decision maintaining satisfactory course progress or class maker examining a case and taking the individual attendance. Students who did not contact DIAC within circumstances, including the past, present and future the 28 days had their visa automatically cancelled. circumstances of the student into account when making a decision on whether or not to cancel a visa. Mandatory Cancellation The move from automatic and mandatory cancellation to discretionary cancellation will lead to Mandatory cancellation required a DIAC decision fairer outcomes for student visa holders. maker to cancel the visa unless exceptional circumstances applied.
Impact of the changes: Difference between the two frameworks Previous Regime New Regime Education Providers were required under the Education Providers are required under the ESOS ESOS Act and National Code to enter details of an Act and National Code to enter details of an alleged breach of academic progress or alleged breach of academic progress or attendance requirements in PRISMS. attendance requirements in PRISMS. When an alleged breach of academic progress or When an alleged breach of academic progress or attendance requirement was entered into PRISMS attendance requirement is entered into PRISMS a a s20 notice was generated. The Education s20 notice will not be generated. Provider sent this notice to the student. If a student attended a DIAC office in person, DIAC is now able to support fairer outcomes for DIAC had a limited ability to consider students with the ability to differentiate between circumstances of breaches, including whether to genuine and non-genuine students. cancel a visa.
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