New Visa Campaign Is Launched By DIBP For Foreign Students

17 Jan 2014

Australia’s Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP), has launched a social media campaign to inform foreign students studying in Australia about their visa conditions and the potential impacts of changing courses.

Michaelia Cash, Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection said that she is worried that within the overseas student community, a perception exists that it is a fair practice for foreign students studying in Australia to downgrade or change courses from a provider eligible for SVP (Streamlined Visa Processing) to a provider who is not eligible for SVP soon after arriving in Australia.

She explained that students who partake in this kind of behavior are likely to be in violation of their visa conditions and as a result, these foreign students studying in Australia may be subject to visa cancellation.

Cash added that although the percentage of foreign students who have violated their visa conditions is small, the Australian government wants to send a strong message to both education providers and students.

She said that DIBP is making effective use of its website and social media platforms to increase awareness about the possible impact of foreign students changing their study courses after arriving in Australia.

Cash pointed out that this education campaign from DIBP will have FAQs, regular updates on the migration blog, and will demonstrate a number of relevant scenarios so that foreign students in Australia can evaluate the proper action that needs to be taken for their circumstances.

She added that apart from the education campaign, DIBP is also personally engaging with students who arrive in Australia under SVP and then changed to a course that is not eligible under SVP. These foreign students studying in Australia will receive an advice letter and will be given a chance to explain their circumstances.

The education providers who are participating in SVP also need to set up strategies to reduce incentives for foreign students studying in Australia to arrive under the SVP arrangements with the goal of downgrading or transferring out of their course.

Streamlined Visa Processing has been operating since 24^th March, 2012, for eligible students. Foreign students studying in Australia through this program are allowed change courses, but, only under specific guidelines.

However, prior to changing the course with a different educational sector, a foreign student must complete at least 6 months of the highest qualification course in which their visa was granted. Also, these foreign students need to obtain a new visa to study in Australia in a different educational sector.