* Background
* What are these measures?
* When will this happen?
* Why is Australia strengthening its checking for certain student applicants?
* If I apply for a Student visa, will I be subject to these checks?
* Will these checks lead to processing delays?
* How do I know if my agent has access to or is suspended from the eVisa system?
* What happens to my application if my agent is suspended?
* Where can I get further information?
* Other relevant information
Background
On 20 August 2009, the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship announced the strengthening of checks on student visa applications to prevent fraud and ensure students have the financial capacity to live and study in Australia.
See: Student visa checks strengthened
As one of the measures to strengthen integrity, the department will be strengthening checks around parts of the student visa case load in India, Mauritius, Nepal, Brazil, Zimbabwe and Pakistan.
Australia’s student visa program supports the entry of genuine international students, for whom the department provides a convenient, efficient service. The targeted measures will address concerns around some elements within the student case load relating to document fraud, financial capacity and student bona fides.
What are these measures?
The measures implemented with immediate effect include:
* upgrading the interview program to confirm the genuineness of the applicant and to check financial capacity
* removing or restricting eVisa access for some agents where there is evidence of fraud or inactivity
* restricting access to eVisa for some segments of the case load if analysis demonstrates restricted access would allow for better control.
When will this happen?
The measures come into immediate effect.
Why is Australia strengthening its checking for certain student applicants?
The purpose of undertaking these measures is to ensure genuine students receive high quality education and enjoy their experience in Australia. These measures build on work already conducted across the Student visa program to combat fraud.
This approach is consistent with other countries that receive large numbers of student visa applications.
If I apply for a Student visa, will I be subject to these checks?
All Student visa applicants are subject to standard immigration checks which include health, character and security checks. In addition, all applicants for a Student visa must show that they have a genuine intention to enter Australia for the purpose of study. The evidence required to meet this requirement varies according to the level of immigration risk of the visa applicant, which is determined based on objective data. All Student visa applicants must meet certain financial, English language proficiency and other requirements (including educational attainment).
The department routinely seeks further information to verify the evidence provided with visa applications. The precise checks to be undertaken will be determined on a case by case basis. This will include face to face, or phone interviews for some applicants.
Will these checks lead to processing delays?
Prospective students are encouraged to apply well before their intended course commences in Australia and to ensure their application is complete. Incomplete applications without all relevant documents can cause delays in processing an application. For students applying through eVisa from outside Australia, they can lodge their application up to three months before their course commences. For students lodging paper visa applications, they can lodge up to four months before their course commences.
Where additional checks are required, the application may take longer. However, every effort will be made to process complete applications within published service standards.
How do I know if my agent has access to or is suspended from the eVisa system?
Education and migration agents lodging visa applications online via the department’s eVisa system sign up to meet certain standards as a condition of access. A list of agents with access to eVisa is available on the department’s website.
See: List of Agents Participating in the Trial of Electronic Visa Application Lodgement (254KB PDF file)
Based upon a recently completed audit of agents with eVisa access for Student visas, the department will suspend those agents who have been found not to meet agreed standards. The agents who have their access removed will be taken off the list.
What happens to my application if my agent is suspended?
Your application will still be processed by the department and assessed the same as any other application. The department will contact your agent to discuss the process for finalising outstanding applications.
Where can I get further information?
Further information and updates about student visas are available on the department’s website.
See: What's New for Students and Sponsored Training?
For enquiries please contact the department.
If you are in Australia
Telephone: 131 881
If you are outside Australia
Contact your nearest departmental office
See: Immigration Offices outside Australia
Other relevant information
The department has special arrangements in place to help international students when education providers have ‘defaulted’ on their agreement with students to provide a course.
See: Information for students affected by provider default
Information on standards for agents to access eVisa
See: Agreement for Registered Migration Agents to Lodge eVisa applications (94KB PDF file)
Education agents (offshore) will need to contact their nearest Australian Immigration office to obtain a copy of their Agreement to Lodge eVisa Applications.
