Australian study visas take a hit

Even as Australia eventually admitted that some of the attacks on Indians were racist, getting student visas has got tougher with the government Down Under making its migration policies strict.

Several visa applications by students have been rejected in the recent past. After proper evaluation, only they get the visas who the country thinks are actually going there for studies, and not in search of work.

According to Harmeet Pental, the regional director of IDP Education, the official placement agency for Study in Australia, almost one-third of student visas have been rejected in the past couple of months.

“Last year, over 50,000 student visas were given. However, there has been a drop of about 40% after July,” said Pental. Currently, students who have applied for a non-degree course are being denied visas.

“The new migration policy is applicable from January 1, but the Australian government is yet to streamline a process for evaluation of applications. The basic criterion at the moment is rejecting the ones who have applied for diploma and certificate courses.
Students going for short-term diploma courses are facing the axe,” he said. However, he added that a systematic evaluation process will soon come into force.

According to IDP, Australia wants to prevent students from working there and then migrating. “Several people applied for student visas and have eventually migrated to the country,” said Pental.

However, Nilesh Nikade, a student who applied for a post-graduate degree, is yet to get his visa. He has already paid a fee of Rs3 lakh and booked a ticket for February 14.

“I am still waiting for the visa. My course begins from February 22. I have expressed interest to work there as well. But, I am still uncertain.” Although Nikade has sent an e-mail to the authorities concerned inquiring about his visa, there has been no response yet.

Another student, Maheep R (name changed), has been denied a visa for a one-year diploma course. “Obviously, I intend to work there. Their policy allows students to work for 20 hours a week. They should be having a criterion for rejecting visas and not just do it randomly.”

Gaurav K, who studied in Australia for two years and then took up a six-month course, was expecting a temporary residentship. However, it was rejected and he is coming back to India.

According to Pental, the Australian government is taking such measures to prevent migration.