The Australian Department of Home Affairs approves visas for international students in 16 days, instead of 30-50 days as before.
The announcement was posted by the Australian Trade and Investment Commission on social network LinkedIn on September 6. The change comes as a number of study abroad destinations in Australia see a surge in applications. variable and encounter visa delays.
Statistics from the Australian Department of Home Affairs show that in the second half of 2022 alone, the number of visa applications from foreign students is nearly 180,000, an increase of more than 220% over the same period last year. On average, it takes 30-50 days to process these applications.
A Home Office spokesman said processing visa applications was now the government's top priority. Australia has allocated 48.1 million USD from the budget to enhance this. Nearly 600 new staff have been recruited since July last year, assisting with temporary visa applications and immigration processing.
These efforts have helped reduce the backlog of student visa applications and improve processing speeds. The Ministry of Home Affairs also said this process could be even faster, in just 13 days.
However, the agency warns foreign students not to apply for a visa late. Application processing times may be affected by complex cases and increased application volume. Therefore, the agency recommends that international students apply for a visa at least eight weeks before their course begins in Australia.
Student at University of Adelaide, Australia. Photo: The University of Adelaide
Australia is in the top 5 most attractive destinations in the world for international students. According to the Home Office, the number of study visa holders in 2022 has increased by almost 45% in a year. Of these, the number of Vietnamese international students applying for visas alone has reached nearly 8,000, an increase of 119% compared to 2021. As of May, there were about 610,000 international students in this country.
International education is Australia's fourth largest export, worth more than $17 billion last year. The average cost of studying and living for an international university student is 40,000-60,000 AUD (0.6-1 billion VND) a year.
Since the Covid-19 pandemic, the government has issued a series of new policies for international students. For example, international students are allowed to stay for an additional two years after graduation. However, they are limited in the number of overtime hours they can work and must make a larger deposit when applying for a visa. The agencies explain this is to ensure international students focus on their studies.
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