Australia has further relaxed student visas for genuine students
Effective 24th March 2012, Australia has introduced a more favourable scheme of issuing visas to genuine students. The scheme applies to students seeking enrollment into Bachelor degrees, Masters Degrees by coursework or by research and Doctoral degrees. The visa scheme also applies to established twinning programmes ( 2+ 2 or 3+ 1) with partner universities and English ( ELICOS), Foundation or pre university diploma courses packaged with a degree programme. The 19 Australian universities represented by Edlocate are all in this new scheme known as the Streamlined Student Visa programme.
Under the programme, students keen to enroll in an eligible program are recommended to lodge the application through an authorized university representative with an unblemished record, like Edlocate. It is the responsibility of Edlocate to properly scrutinize the applicants’ financial ability to continue the studies of the chosen courses to completion meeting tuition and living costs. The universities may clarify any issues with Edlocate and being satisfied that the students meet the genuine student criteria applicable as recommended by Edlocate will issue the COE. An applicant has to declare with proof that he/ she has access to enough money to pay for tuition, living and travel expenses for the duration of the programme. However as in the past there is no requirement to show funds as deposits or bank balances for specific periods such as three or six months. Any genuine sponsor is accepted.
Student visa holders would be able to take advantage of more flexible work conditions too. The current work condition of 20 hours per week during any week while the course is in session would be changed to 40 hours per fortnight during any fortnight while the course is in session. This will provide more flexibility for student visa holders and their employers.
It is pertinent to note that the above scheme will not be available for students enrolling in short courses, Associate degrees, Graduate Cert i f i c ates and Diplomas, non-award courses like Flying training or ARNTP for registered nurses or courses below Bachelor level delivered by universities ( TAFE Diplomas offered by Swinburne University TAFE division) which are dual sector ( VET and university). These students will be subject to the conditions applicable to higher assessment levels.
The issuance of a student visa by the visa division of the Australian High Commission fur- ther depends on the student meeting all criteria under the Genuine Temporarily Entry (GTE) criteria. Students need to demonstrate that the primary aim of going to Australia is to study, study well, obtain valuable knowledge and an internationally recognized degree and not for any other purpose including migration or working to earn money at the expense of studies. There are many factors which determine students meeting GTE criteria and it is only an established and credible university representative like Edlocate that will make sure that students and parents are guided well and only genuine students are assisted to seek student visa. The counse- lors at Edlocate are being continuously briefed by the international and recruitment staff of the 19 Australian universities regarding these requirements. There is constant dialogue between them. We at Edlocate are thus geared to ensure genuine students are assisted and not to mislead and waste valuable funds of parents of students whose applications for visa are bound to fail.
Contact Edlocate counselors in our offices in Colombo on Tel. 4724735 in Kandy on 081- 5631583 and in Jaffna on 021- 2228060 or send your inquiries on email inquiries@ edlocate. lk or through our web www. edlocate. lk for next intake in July 2012.