Extension of SVP & proposed simplification of the Student Visa AL Framework

English Australia is delighted to see the new government taking some immediate action to support international education.

Yesterday, the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, Scott Morrison, and the Minister for Education, Christopher Pyne, announced a package of measures that would simplify the Student Visa Assessment Level Framework (ALF) and extend Streamlined Visa Processing arrangements to low-risk non-university degree providers.

The announcement accompanied the release of the report of the Review of the Assessment Level Framework which was initiated as a result of the Knight Review but which had been shelved by the previous government.  English Australia’s Executive Director, Sue Blundell, was on the reference group for this review and is pleased to finally see some of the positive recommendations of this report finally see daylight and implementation by the new government.

Extension of student visa streamlined visa processing arrangements to non-university education providers from March 2014

It is proposed that streamlined visa processing arrangements will be available to certain low immigration risk non-university education providers who offer Bachelor, Masters and Doctoral degree courses. This would be an extension of the arrangements that have been available to the university sector since March 2012.  It is intended that these proposed arrangements to commence in March 2014.  The 22 providers identified as being eligible would receive an invitation to participate from the Department of Immigration and Border Protection in the first week of November 2013.

Streamlined visa processing for certain university applicants has been operating since 24 March 2012. There will be no change to these arrangements or how they operate as a result of this announcement.

Click here for more detail.

Proposed simplification of the student visa Assessment Level Framework from early 2014

It is proposed that the student visa Assessment Level Framework would be reduced from five assessment levels to three (AL1 to AL3). Currently no country or education sector is subject to AL5. It is proposed that countries and education sectors currently subject to AL4 would be reduced to AL3. 

It is also proposed that the financial requirements for an AL3 student visa applicant would be reduced from the current 18 months to 12 months. These funds must be provided by a close relative of the student visa applicant.

These proposed changes would lower the minimum evidentiary requirements needed for the grant of a Student visa for AL3 countries and education sectors, providing a benefit to prospective students.

Click here for more detail.

Release of the Review of the Student Visa Assessment Level Framework – 29 October 2013

On 29 October 2013, the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection publicly released the final report of the Review of the Student Visa Assessment Level Framework.

The review considered how the student visa risk management framework could be reformed to achieve enhanced integrity in the student visa program while at the same time facilitating the competitiveness of Australia’s international sector. Consideration of how the student visa risk management framework could be informed by a provider-based risk approach was a key issue for the review.

The review also examined whether the student visa risk framework was appropriately responsive to differences within countries and between education providers, what eligibility thresholds should apply, and how the framework will be reviewed to ensure future immigration risks are identified and managed.

Click here to view the report and its recommendations.

Click here for: A copy of the media release from Ministers Morrison and Pyne

Whilst these are all positive developments, English Australia will be continuing to discuss the need for further changes to the student visa program, including:

- a review of the implementation of the Genuine Temporary Entrant criteria;

- the removal of the recently introduced Subsequent Temporary Application charge;

- a review of the student visa fee framework;

- consideration of a more sustainable framework for managing risk as an alternative to SVP.