www.konnecting.comStudent Visa Report
Student Visa Report
Feb 16, 2011
The Department of Immigration & Citizenship (DIAC) has released the first in what will be a quarterly publication, the Australian Student Visa Report, which endeavours to be a comprehensive tracking of overseas student trends.
The report demonstrates the decline in applications in 2009-2010, broken down by sector and country of origin, and compares the numbers to previous years.
To download the full report click: http://www.immi.gov.au/media/statistics/study/_pdf/student-visa-report-to-31-12-2010.pdf
Here is an extract from the Executive Summary:
Key Points
- In 2009-10 the top five source countries for international students to Australia (based on visas granted) were the People's Republic of China, India, South Korea, Thailand and Brazil, in that order.
- The number of Australian student visa applications declined by 18.9% between 2008-09 and 2009-10.
- The higher education and postgraduate research sectors have seen the least change in applications lodged compared with the previous year.
1. TRENDS
Student visa applications fell by 18.9% between 2008-09and 2009-10.
The postgraduate research sector and the higher education component of the program have been themost resilient with overall numbers remaining relatively steady over the 2008-09 and 2009-10 periods. The decline in student visa applications has coincided with the global financial crisis; escalated concerns about the welfare of international students studying in Australia; ongoing college closures creating uncertainty about the stability of Australian education providers; the rising value of the Australian dollar; and the introduction of a range of changes to visa processing to improve theintegrity of the student visa program. There have also been changes to the skilled migration program which have effectively decoupled the studentvisa program from permanent residence.
Student visa applications fell by 18.9% between 2008-09and 2009-10.
The postgraduate research sector and the higher education component of the program have been themost resilient with overall numbers remaining relatively steady over the 2008-09 and 2009-10 periods. The decline in student visa applications has coincided with the global financial crisis; escalated concerns about the welfare of international students studying in Australia; ongoing college closures creating uncertainty about the stability of Australian education providers; the rising value of the Australian dollar; and the introduction of a range of changes to visa processing to improve theintegrity of the student visa program. There have also been changes to the skilled migration program which have effectively decoupled the studentvisa program from permanent residence.
Visa grants
270,499 student visas were granted in 2009-10. Of these, 45.8% were granted to nationals from the top fivesource countries: People's Republic of China, India,South Korea, Thailand and Brazil.
Visa holders in Australia
There were 382 716 student visa holders in Australia on30 June 2010. This compares with only 209 169 student visa holders in the country on 30 June 2006. 52.2% of student visa holders in Australia on 30 June 2010 held a higher education (subclass 573) visa.41.8% of student visa holders in Australia on 30 June 2010 were Indian or Chinese citizens.
2 LODGED
Application rates can vary significantly from one month to another depending on the time of year. The student visa program typically experiences peak periods in September and March.
To the end of the December 2010, 129,632 student visa applications had been lodged in the 2010-11 program year. This compares with 152 393 applications received over the same period in 2009-10.The decline in the number of applications lodged by potential international students outside Australia has been slightly offset by the number of student visa applications lodged by persons already in Australia.The number of onshore applications rose from 52 842 in 2009-10 (by 31 December) to 61,715 in the same periodin 2010-11.The increase in onshore applications may be a response to:
o changes in the skilled migration program, withstudents opting to alter their courses; and
o college closures.
o changes in the skilled migration program, withstudents opting to alter their courses; and
o college closures.
The higher education and postgraduate research sectorshave seen the least change in applications lodged as compared with the same period in the previous year.With the exception of Nepal and Saudi Arabia, the application rate has fallen across all major markets in 2010-11 to the end of December 2010, compared with the same time in the previous year.
3 GRANTED
The number of applications lodged in a given timeframe is not comparable with the number of visas granted inthe same period due to processing times. 116,690 student visas were granted to the end of December 2010 in 2010-11, compared with 130,958 in the same period in 2009-10. The Schools and the Independent ELICOS sector visa subclasses have experienced the largest decline to the end of December 2010 compared to the same period in 2009-10 ( -20.2% and -15.4% respectively). There is no 'cap' on student visa numbers. Applicants who meet requirements will be granted a student visa.
The number of applications lodged in a given timeframe is not comparable with the number of visas granted inthe same period due to processing times. 116,690 student visas were granted to the end of December 2010 in 2010-11, compared with 130,958 in the same period in 2009-10. The Schools and the Independent ELICOS sector visa subclasses have experienced the largest decline to the end of December 2010 compared to the same period in 2009-10 ( -20.2% and -15.4% respectively). There is no 'cap' on student visa numbers. Applicants who meet requirements will be granted a student visa.
4 GRANT RATES
The grant rate for offshore student primary applications for the 3 month period between 1 October 2010 and 31 December 2010 increased to 91.5% as compared tothe previous 4 periods. The grant rate for onshore student primary applications remained consistently higher than offshore grant rates. The grant rate for offshore international students from India for the 3 month period between 1 October 2010 and 31 December 2010 was 43.1% and for onshore applications it was 89.6%.
The grant rate for offshore student primary applications for the 3 month period between 1 October 2010 and 31 December 2010 increased to 91.5% as compared tothe previous 4 periods. The grant rate for onshore student primary applications remained consistently higher than offshore grant rates. The grant rate for offshore international students from India for the 3 month period between 1 October 2010 and 31 December 2010 was 43.1% and for onshore applications it was 89.6%.
5 PROCESSING TIMES
The time required to process visa applications depends on whether the applicant is on or offshore, the assessment level applicable to the applicant and the supporting evidence provided by the applicant. Applications that are complete are generally processed faster than incomplete applications. Where applications are incomplete processing officers may request additional material from applicants. Student visa applications can also be lodged via the internet which is quick, easy and guarantees priority processing. During the 3 month period from 1 October 2010 to31 December 2010 the processing times for offshore applications improved compared to the previous four periods. During the same period the processing times for onshore applicants increased as compared to theprevious three periods. Offshore student applications receive priority to give students lead time to organise travel and other arrangements related to their study in Australia.
The time required to process visa applications depends on whether the applicant is on or offshore, the assessment level applicable to the applicant and the supporting evidence provided by the applicant. Applications that are complete are generally processed faster than incomplete applications. Where applications are incomplete processing officers may request additional material from applicants. Student visa applications can also be lodged via the internet which is quick, easy and guarantees priority processing. During the 3 month period from 1 October 2010 to31 December 2010 the processing times for offshore applications improved compared to the previous four periods. During the same period the processing times for onshore applicants increased as compared to theprevious three periods. Offshore student applications receive priority to give students lead time to organise travel and other arrangements related to their study in Australia.
6 ON HAND
The number of student visa applications on hand a t31 December 2010 was 24,329. This was lower than the number of on hand student visa applications at 31 December 2009 which was 36 390.
The number of student visa applications on hand a t31 December 2010 was 24,329. This was lower than the number of on hand student visa applications at 31 December 2009 which was 36 390.
7 VISA HOLDERS IN AUSTRALIA
At the end of December 2010 there were 291,204 international student visa holders in Australia. 83.5% of student visa holders in Australia at the end of December 2010 were primary visa holders.
8 DESTINATIONS
At the end of December 2010 there were 291,204 international student visa holders in Australia. 83.5% of student visa holders in Australia at the end of December 2010 were primary visa holders.
8 DESTINATIONS
The largest proportion of former student visa holders who were granted another visa in the first six months of 2010-11 were granted another student visa. The Skilled Independent (subclass 885) visa was the most common permanent visa option for former students with 4,281 visas granted to former student visa holders to the end of December 2010-11, up from 2,189 in the same period in 2009-10.
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