Australia has adopted a new student visa processing system that might make life a little easier for future students and higher education providers. The proposed new process, called, the simplified student visa framework (SSVF), will launch in July 2016 replacing the streamlined visa processing (SVP), which has been used since 2012.
The changes are great news for international students in that it will make the process of applying for a student visa simpler. In a nutshell, the changes will mean:
- A reduction in the number of student visa subclasses from eight to two; and
- the introduction of a simplified single immigration risk framework for all international students
The changes come as the international education sector recorded strong growth, providing an export boost to offset the slump in the resources industry. Figures provided by the Department for Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) show that intake of new students is at its highest level ever in the March quarter, 11.5 per cent above 2014.
Education Minister Christopher Pyne announced the new changes in June this year saying, “Australia is open for business and welcomes genuine and high quality international students who provide a much-needed boost to our economy, our local communities and jobs, and who boost our country-to-country relationships.”
“After coming to office the Government moved immediately to improve competitiveness and it is pleasing to see growth in international student enrolments in Australia has resumed.”