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Australia Considers Visa Changes for Limiting the Impact of COVID-19 on Foreign Students

The Department of Home Affairs reported that the Australian Government is working closely with universities to protect international students’ interests. It involves international students now staying in Australia as well as those stranded overseas and unable to come to Australia due to COVID-19 travel restrictions.

According to the SBS, Australia’s Federal Government is expected to soon announce improvements to its Australia post-study work visa system as a way to keep international students who could be given job rights after graduation, even though they’ve completed their online degrees and remained in their home countries.

In view of COVID-19, these proposed changes to Australia’s visa are an endeavour by the Australian Government to ensure Australia retains its place among the world’s most preferred international study destinations.

The work visa reforms are expected to allow Australian universities to compete more with institutions in Canada and UK that are expected to accept significant numbers of international students to arrive in time for the beginning of the academic year in the northern hemisphere.

Australia’s Department of Home Affair’s spokesperson said, “We are directed by the idea that the effect of COVID-19 does not disadvantage students. International students are important for Australia, and we want to ensure we remain a preferred destination for international study”.

Universities in NSW are known to have formed a plan with NSW state government to fly 250 international students into Sydney every day for 100 days, beginning later this month, while Victorian universities had a proposal to bring in 7000 international students.

The minister said his Government continues to work with universities to encourage students returning from overseas, but he warned that there was no set timetable. “Preconditions for this include reopening Australia’s internal state and territorial borders, as well as returning to on-campus learning for domestic students and international students already in Australia.

What Is the Post-study Work Visa?

Australian post-study work visa – Temporary Graduate visa [subclass 485] is for international students who have completed two years of study in Australia. Depending on the case, it can last from 18 months to 4 years, and temporarily lets qualified applicants stay, work, and study in Australia.

Subclass 485 is much in demand among international students who complete their Australian graduate or postgraduate studies. For a 485 visa subset, an international student may extend their stay in Australia to obtain local job experience.

We can also stay back and work towards their permanent Australian residence via the foreign student’s ways.

Amit Kumar

FreeEducator.com blog is managed by Amit Kumar. He and his team come from the Oxford, Stanford and Harvard. At FreeEducator, we strive to create the best admission platform so that international students can go to the best universities - regardless of financial circumstances. By applying with us, international students get unlimited support and unbiased advice to secure the best college offers overseas.