In a recent development, Indian students aspiring to pursue their studies in Australia will have to demonstrate a higher amount of savings while applying for a student visa for Australia. According to a report by the Special Broadcasting Service (SBS), Australia every aspirant is required to show a minimum balance of at least $24,505 in their savings bank account during their visa application process. This change is made to make sure that students have enough savings to sustain in Australia, SBS reported. The 17 percent increase in the financial requirement is made to make sure that international students arriving in the country to study in Australia have sufficient funds to sustain a life in the country and they don’t have a need for immediate employment after joining a program. The move is part of a broader effort to manage the influx of students into the Australian job market. As per data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, in July 2023 1,31,640 international students arrived in Australia, representing a substantial increase of 60,420 compared to figures from the previous year.
Australia Visa Rules Change
Clare O’Neil, the Minister for Home Affairs in Australia, reportedly explained that the recent hike in financial requirements for student visas is primarily aimed at discouraging students from seeking employment during their studies. The Australian government revised the restrictions for people with student visas in February of this year, limiting the amount of time students could work to 48 hours per week, effective July 1, 2023. Work restrictions had been lifted for the duration of the COVID. Furthermore, the Australian government plans to intensify scrutiny for high-risk international students to prevent fraudulent visa applications. The government is also actively working on implementing regulations for the suspension of a student's enrollment in the event of discrepancies in their paperwork.
Crackdown on High-Risk Education Providers
High-risk education providers will be provided with suspension certificates under section 97 of the Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Act. This measure will result in the providers not being able to recruit international students thereafter. The move comes in response to reports of fraudulent applications and irregularities in admissions. Earlier this year, several Australian universities took the unprecedented step of imposing bans or restrictions on students from India and other South Asian countries due to a surge in fraudulent applications. The Australian government's most recent initiatives aim to preserve the standard and reputation of the nation's educational system while ensuring that students have a sincere desire to continue their education without turning to employment opportunities that might be harmful to the domestic labour force.
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