457 visa staff keep the dole queues short

THE latest report on temporary work visas reveals that the numbers granted fell sharply in the last four months of last year from a record 7000 visas issued in August to 4400 by December.

In September iron ore and coal prices tumbled, leading resource companies to rein in their expansion plans. Business profits across the economy slumped and surveys showed companies were cutting their workforces.

The unemployment rate rose from 5.1 per cent to 5.4 per cent but there was surprise, shared by Treasury and the Reserve Bank, that it did not jump further.

An important reason is that temporary workers provide a safety valve for the labour market. When demand surges, as in 2007-08, the ability to take on temporary labour means the economy is not choked by labour shortages and spiralling wages. When demand falls, as in the last four months of last year, temporary workers are the first to go, enabling the economy to adjust without unemployment rising.

Temporary workers were similarly crucial in dealing with the global financial crisis without the level of unemployment that affected so many other countries.

It is not just the 70,000 people on the 457 temporary work visa program that deliver this flexibility; there are about 250,000 foreign students with work rights, and 150,000 working holidaymakers. New Zealanders also come and go as they please. In all, about 5 per cent of the labour force comprises temporary workers from overseas who respond to downturns by going home rather than applying for the Newstart allowance.

But the 457 visa program also makes an important contribution to permanent skills. Australian National University demographer Peter McDonald notes that about 40 per cent of people on 457 visas remain here permanently and are the largest single source of skilled migration.

They are great migrants. They come with skills and their "try before you buy" approach brings faster integration.

By contrast, people who apply for skilled migration visas from overseas can have difficulty getting qualifications recognised and sometimes end up working in jobs below their skill level or becoming unemployed.

When McDonald described the 457 program as "the centrepiece of the Australian migration" on ABC radio yesterday, the Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union national office tweeted: "So Peter McDonald, you are saying that the best way for migrants to come to Australia is as bonded labour?"

McDonald and CFMEU national secretary Dave Noonan sit on the government's nine-member advisory council on skilled migration, so the debate over migration policy is close and personal.

The argument being advanced by Julia Gillard - that foreign workers are jumping to the head of the queue ahead of dinkum Aussies and driving down wages - is pure political theatre devised for an election year. It is intended to tap into the job insecurity of lower-paid workers by exploiting the fear of the foreigner.

But it betrays a complete lack of understanding of the contribution the 457 visa program, or indeed migration, makes to the economy.

Yes, a worker coming from overseas will take a job that might be filled by a local, if a suitable candidate could be found. But the foreign worker will spend on housing, goods and services that will generate more jobs. The best estimates show that the two effects balance, with migration contributing equally to the supply and demand for jobs.

It is one thing for the unions, obsessed with their declining membership, to focus only on the competition for jobs but it is a travesty that the federal government should be similarly blind to the national interest.

The notion that foreign workers drive down wages, as argued yesterday by Immigration Minister Brendan O'Connor, is without foundation. Wages paid to people on 457 visas exceed average wages by 15 per cent on average. For example, the average worker in the construction industry covered by the CFMEU earns $73,300, while construction workers on temporary work visas earn $90,600.

The point of employers using the 457 program is to get someone with the right skill, and they are prepared to pay for it. In no industry is there such a weight of workers on temporary visas that it has a material effect on average wages.

Both the Prime Minister and Tony Abbott played the migration card in the run-up to the 2010 election.

Gillard sought to differentiate herself from her predecessor, Kevin Rudd, declaring she did not support "hurtling down the track to a 36 million or 40 million population". The Opposition Leader sought to go one better, saying he would impose a cap on net overseas migration of 170,000 people a year. This ignored the fact many aspects of the migration program are demand-driven and cannot be capped, including the 457 visas, New Zealanders, working holidaymakers and students.

The 457 visa program, like any government operation, has integrity issues and may need tinkering from time to time to avoid abuse. But exploiting these issues for narrow political ends risks undermining support for a scheme that makes an important contribution to national prosperity.

Source  http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/opinion/visa-staff-keep-the-dole-queues-short/story-e6frg9qo-1226591921668

'Visa factory' concern in push on overseas students

THE federal government has been asked to consider pushing international students closer to the front of the immigration queue, sparking potential concerns of a re-emergence of the "visa factory" colleges that flourished under the Howard government's skilled migration policies.

The International Education Advisory Council, chaired by National Australia Bank chairman Michael Chaney, proposes a doubling of the bonus points available to would-be migrants with Australian qualifications.

The council's report, released yesterday, also suggests spending more of the foreign aid budget on education and giving international students equal access to hospital treatment and transport concessions.

Mr Chaney said international education, Australia's fourth-biggest export industry, was "on the cusp of embracing a changed global future". He said an "appropriate focus" on the report's 35 recommendations could help boost overseas student numbers by 30 per cent, to more than half a million by 2020.

Tertiary Education Minister Chris Bowen said he expected the government to accept most of the recommendations. He has already adopted the first two: a co-ordinating council of federal and state ministers and a five-year strategy for the industry.

Insiders said they supported the recommendations but had hoped for "more meat on the bones" in terms of timelines, funding and government involvement. The International Education Association of Australia said a ministerial council that met just twice a year was "frankly not enough", and it had expected the report to contain a strategy rather than a proposal to develop one.

But IEAA president Helen Zimmerman said the bonus-point proposal for skilled migrants was "sensible" and wouldn't revive the past decade's immigration-driven skewing of international education. Until 2008, students were virtually guaranteed residency if they graduated with Australian qualifications in areas such as hairdressing and cooking. Enrolments snowballed but there were major concerns about the quality of these courses.

The new proposal would give would-be residents with Australian credentials 10 of the 60 points they need before they can apply for skilled migration. Points are also awarded for youth, English-language ability, high-level qualifications and work experience.

"There's nothing in there which is about using education as a quick pathway to migration," Ms Zimmerman said, adding that only 5 per cent of colleges had rorted the old migration rules.

Australian National University vice-chancellor Ian Young said the proposal was "more moderate" than the old rules, and didn't concern him, provided "we can guarantee the quality".

"As long as you've got a regime in place that can ensure we're not going to damage the Australian brand, that's fine," he said.

The Council of International Students Australia said students wanted consistency and clarity, after years of abrupt changes. "If the policies are clear and have a set quota, then the people applying for these courses are not misled when they complete," said CISA president Aleem Nizari.

But he said policymakers should not be overly concerned about waves of migrating students. "People don't like to stay in one country nowadays for too long," he said.

Peak higher education body Universities Australia said it supported the Chaney report's "sustainable growth model" of a 5 per cent annual increase in student numbers.

Source  http://www.theaustralian.com.au/higher-education/visa-factory-concern-in-push-on-overseas-students/story-e6frgcjx-1226587210186

Globe trotter: Emerging destinations overseas

As students approach a new academic session, Pratibha Jain, international education consultant, writes on emerging destinations overseas

Astaggering six billion rupees is spent annually by Indian students studying abroad, which is almost twice the annual budget spent on education by the government. For decades Indian students preferred the US, UK and Australia for higher education . However, the tightening of rules and low economic opportunities in these traditional destinations have opened options, enticing Indian students to look at institutes in Canada, Europe, New Zealand and Singapore. Courses in professional disciplines such as engineering and IT are still the most sought-after , as they are seen to be the most employable.

ASIA

Singapore has benefited the most. For Indians , it meets almost all features of a familiar culture, weather and world-class universities. The indigenous Singapore universities are highly selective, but offer generous funding of 75% tuition grant for those who make the grade (three-year bond). However, many are looking at the numerous private universities, which offer accredited degree programmes of universities of UK and Australia at lower costs. Academic institutes in Hong Kong and Malaysia are making it to student lists due to low cost and employment prospects, though the numbers are still small.

UK & EUROPE

UK has scrapped the two-year post-study leave to remain in the country, replacing it with a new policy that requires a student to hold a job that pays around 20,000 pounds before applying for a visa. This has dashed the hopes of Indian students to recover costs by working, as there are very few bursaries or scholarships available.

Countries in Europe are moving in to fill the gap by offering more courses taught in English. Sweden, Denmark, Italy and Ireland are offering a number of scholarships and the cost of living too is low. Yet, the numbers applying are limited to a few adventurous Indians due to language and cultural barriers . France and Spain are emerging as attractive destinations as many of their institutions are in the global rankings, which is a big factor for the brand-conscious Indian. Germany is attracting more numbers due to its academic excellence and merit-based scholarships, especially in engineering and bio-sciences . While it is known for automobiles, aeronautical, mechanical and environmental engineering, it is marketing its courses in business and economics as well. "The student visa can be converted into a residence permit for employment and is issued for up to five years,'' said the director of the German Academic Exchange Service's (DAAD) regional office in New Delhi. With fee subsidies and government stipends, the tuition fee is low even though living costs are still high.

The European Union's Erasmus Mundus programme, launched in 2004, has helped 2,000 Indian students study in institutions at very low costs in Europe including in Germany, France and Spain.

NEW ZEALAND

The country is attracting a large number of Indian students due to easier norms for admissions, visas, with a perception of lower costs and long-term immigration. Tourism is still the largest employment sector. Institutes offer one and two-year diplomas, which lead to residency as soon as students get a related job. Currently, courses in hotel management, cookery and management are in high demand.

AUSTRALIA

Under the new regulations, international students who graduate with a Bachelor or Masters degree after studying for at least two years in Australia, would be able to work in the country for two years after graduation. Those with research Masters degrees may remain for three years poststudy and work. Merit-based funding is being offered by individual universities and departments.

CANADA

The ageing demography of Canada being well known, young Indians see it as a country which needs them and where they can be a part of the growth story. Canada is becoming increasingly popular with easier work permits, residency permits and even immigration.

Universities are known for high quality academics with tougher entry norms. Eight Canadian universities have come together to announce funding for Indian students at over $4 million, including the new Globalink Canada-India Graduate Fellowship , which will provide up to 51 scholarships . The trend of Indians going abroad to study will continue to be driven by the aspiration to improve quality of life through quality education. Many take the risk of loans to fund overseas education, which makes employment options and visa rules key factors in student choices. US still remains the land of education opportunity despite slowdown, as returning students have an edge vis-a-vis jobs in premier companies in India and in the Asean region. Hence, a complex interplay of variables makes it difficult to predict the direction and of the continual growth in student numbers going abroad. 

Source  http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/education/news/Globe-trotter-Emerging-destinations-overseas/articleshow/18551733.cms

Australia Cancelled 10,000 Student Visas

More than 10,000 student visas were canceled by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship in Australia in the last year because they did not satisfy the conditions according to which they were issued, authorities said.

The cancellations in 2011-2012 were due to various reasons, mainly to the fact that the students that were issued a visa card, could not meet the requirements of their studies, while many of them were not taking the courses they were supposed to be studying.

Other student visa cards were cancelled due to false information regarding the attitude and character of foreign students, officials said. There were some 461,447 foreign students in the country as of August, about 7.6 percent less than the previous year.

Source  http://au.greekreporter.com/2012/10/07/australia-cancelled-10000-student-visas/

Key conditions released for significant investor visa in Australia

The full conditions for a new visa designed to encourage significant migrant investment into Australia were released today by the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Chris Bowen MP.

The significant investor visa, first announced in May, is being introduced as a key component of the Government’s business innovation and investment program, and requires visa holders to invest at least AUD 5 million.

The visa will commence from 24 November this year, when applicants can submit an expression of interest through Skill select.

'The business innovation and investment program is positioned to target migrants with a demonstrated history of success in business and investment, to make a powerful contribution to national innovation and the Australian economy,' Mr Bowen said.

Australia is offering a significant investor visa to provide a boost to the local economy and to compete effectively for high net worth individuals seeking investment immigration on an international scale.

'The AUD 5 million minimum is considered to be sufficient for a meaningful investment contribution, justifying eligibility for visa concessions such as not having to meet the points test, no upper age limit and access to reduced residence requirements,' Mr Bowen said.

'Importantly, significant investors will be required to make complying investments in Australia which include state and territory government bonds, Australian Security Investment Commission-regulated managed funds that invest in Australian assets, and direct investment into private Australian companies not listed on the stock exchange.

'Where visa holders choose to invest directly into Australian companies, these companies will need to meet certain qualifying business standards.'

Mr Bowen said visa holders would have the flexibility to extend their initial four year visa by additional two year periods. They would also be able to satisfy the residence requirement of 160 days in Australia at any time throughout their four year visa.

'This flexibility recognises the needs of the global investor community while also encouraging investment into Australia,' he said.

State and territory governments are partnering with the Commonwealth when selecting prospective high net worth migrants, to ensure the available visas are offered to the most experienced business people and high profile investors.

Source : http://www.investinaustralia.com/news/key-conditions-released-significant-investor-visa-australia-12c3

ACCC to help fight 'dodgy' colleges

AUSTRALIA'S consumer watchdog could begin policing the operations of training colleges, enforcing standards and carrying out checks to help weed out dodgy providers.

The push to involve the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission in enforcement in the private training industry comes as the latest figures show the troubled international student sector has shrunk by almost 10 per cent in a year.

Data released by the federal government this month shows a 9.1 per cent decrease in enrolments to May on the same period last year.

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Changes to visa rules, the high Australian dollar and negative publicity about the safety of international students in Australia have all contributed to the drop in demand from overseas students. Several private college closures have added to the problem, and Overseas Students Ombudsman Allan Asher said he intended to work with colleges to ensure students are getting a fair deal.

''It's our expectation that any education providers who want to stay in business, who want to create a good reputation … are going to respond reasonably quickly,'' he said. ''We know [that it is not everyone] and for those who do engage in misleading or deceptive conduct, or unfair conduct, we'll have tools to use there too.''

Mr Asher said the ACCC would be part of the ombudsman's enforcement strategy, and the two agencies were working on reaching a formal information sharing and investigative relationship. He said he hoped the two bodies would sign a memorandum of understanding later this year.

''We're hoping to enlist them so that, if we do find instances of deliberately wrongful conduct on behalf of providers, there can be some swift intervention,'' he told the Council of International Students Australia's education conference on Tuesday.

''They have quite wide powers … and so far they've expressed a willingness to act to try and protect and enhance the credibility of this sector.''

The Overseas Students Ombudsman was established this year as part of a federal government strategy to better monitor and regulate the international education sector.

The ombudsman has jurisdiction over Australia's 900-odd private education providers, and has received about 100 complaints so far.

Mr Asher said he expects that number to rise significantly, but that complaints have mostly been resolved quickly once his office became involved.

The new watchdog is one measure the federal government is hoping will help improve the international student experience, following sustained pressure on the industry as student numbers plummet.

The latest enrolment figures show there is some growth in enrolments at the university level - a 2.3 per cent increase on May 2010 - but that in the vocational training sector numbers continue to slide.

Year-to-date vocational training enrolments at May 2011 fell by 18.8 per cent on last year, with the largest drop in the English language sector.

Source http://www.theage.com.au/national/education/accc-to-help-fight-dodgy-colleges-20110713-1he1b.html

Victoria announces ten scholarships for Indian students

Ten Indian scholars will be awarded 90,000 Australian dollars each to pursue their PhDs at any of nine universities in the state of Victoria from next year under a new programme.

"The nine top nine universities have agreed to provide a full tuition waiver and the new scholarships, providing Australian dollar 90,000 over the duration of doctoral studies for each PhD scholar and will support living costs and education-related travel," Australian High Commissioner to India Peter Varghese said, launching the Victoria India Doctoral programme.

The universities where the Indian students can pursue their PhD are Deakin University, University of Melbourne, La Trobe University, Monash University, RMIT University, Swinburne University, Australian Catholic University, University of Ballart and Victoria University. Varghese said same visa conditions will apply to the scholars going to Victoria and they will not be treated differently.

He also maintained that the scholarship programme is in no way linked to wooing India students Down South. Victoria is one of the most populous states of Australia with a large concentration of the Indian diaspora.

Launching the programme in Melbourne, Victoria's Minister for Innovation, Services and Small Business and Minister for Tourism and Major Events Louise Asher said, "the scholarships programme will contribute to global knowledge and help build a closer partnership between India and Australia.

Source http://www.deccanherald.com/content/172213/victoria-announces-ten-scholarships-indian.html

Australia is looking for the best of people

Whether you are a professional planning to migrate to Australia, or a student, come July 1, migration rules are set to change. As the Australian economy rebounds to normal, the country is set to face a shortage of qualified personnel, and the labour force growth is projected to go into the negative by 2036, unless preventive measures are taken.

Peter Speldewinde, assistant secretary, department of immigration and citizenship, government of Australia, says that the focus will now be on strategically selecting migrants whose skill-sets match Australia's labour market requirements.

"Australia is looking to filter the best of people to come and help us build the nation. There will be a highly qualified flow of people applying for migration," says Speldewinde.

VISA APPLICATION

Australia will move to a two-stage process for visa applications from July 1. People will have to submit an electronic 'expression of interest' indicating their skills, work experience, English language skills, qualifications, etc. Based on the self-assessment done electronically, the government will make offers to apply for a visa, electronically. The offer will be valid for two months. This will allow the government to match applications to the available processing resources and the labour market requirements in the country, besides cutting down on visa processing time.

NEW POINTS SYSTEM

Under the new points system (announced on July 11, 2010) to come into effect from July 1, points will be awarded for recognised overseas qualifications, unlike earlier, as a means to filter those with cream qualifications. Points will also be awarded for work-experience of up to 10 years from the date of submission of the visa application, under this new system.

Speldewinde says that students wishing to pursue career opportunities are welcome. "Overseas students are an important part of our programme. For students pursuing their degrees here and whose skills are required by an employer, there is no reason why they will not be able to migrate or get visas."

For those seeking permanent migration, the upper limit of the age for application for permanent migration has been increased to 50 years from 45 years. Also, maximum points will be awarded to people in the age-group of 25 to 32 years.

In the temporary migration space, the government will negotiate with mega resource projects under the Enterprise Migration Projects (EMP). Under the EMP, project owners will sign an agreement with the government , which will cover the range of occupations and number of people required for the project, on a temporary basis.

Source  http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-06-20/education/29679097_1_visa-application-overseas-students-migration-rules

Students throng expo to get admissions to overseas institutes

Hundreds of students appeared at the education expo organised by Students Solution on Sunday at a local hotel.

The Students Solution is a counselling organisation which provides opportunities for Pakistani youngsters who are willing to get admission to overseas colleges and professional institutes, Managing Director of the organisation Saima Asim told The News.

“We offer admissions to several colleges and universities of Australia, USA, Canada and the UK.” The candidates, who enrolled themselves during the day-long education expo, said that they would apply for admission to the autumn semester. The organisation offers admission and visa counselling for the UK and Australia against Rs15,000 while the package for USA and Canada is Rs19,500.

“I would take classes for IELTS, an English language test, which will complete in two months and after that I will appear in the test before applying for admission to a UK-based university,” said Muhammad Adeel who had come to the expo to get briefed about the technicalities of admission process.

Another student, Aziz, said that he had scored 7.0 bands in the language test and now he would apply for admission to an educational institution in the USA.

“I came here to get information about universities and their requirements. I was informed that the admission process would take at least three months,” Aziz said.

The organisation has a vast experience of over 10 years in counselling and almost 8,000 students have applied through Students Solution, Saima said.

During the exhibition, the consultants of the organisation briefed the students and parents on the procedure of admission and visa policies. Founded in 1998, the organisation helps students in getting answers to their problems, before they actually face them abroad, Saima claimed.

“My husband, Asim Mairaj, the founder and CEO of the organisation, got his higher degree from a UK University. During his stay, he learned that Pakistani students were not able to get highly paid jobs due to their language skills and educational background and I noticed the same problem during my education career in the USA. We then planned to establish a platform to guide the students so that they can overcome their problems,” she elaborated.

Students Solution asks its candidates to prepare and appear in the IELTS before applying for admission and visa in foreign universities. The organisation does not deal with cases without IELTS, Saima Asim added.

“Students Solution not only helps the students in learning about the academic policies and their impact on students’ visa but also guide them about alternatives available in travel, accommodation, and scholarships,” she said.

“Almost 80 per cent Pakistani students, especially people belonging to middle and lower middle class segments of society, have language issues. As such they usually get back-office jobs, which have low salary packages.”

Besides counselling the students, the organisation also helps candidates in immigration, work and visit visa category as well accommodating families in the UK.

Source http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=52226&Cat=4&dt=6/13/2011

New immigration policies fail Australia’s national interest

New immigration policies favour employers of temporary workers but disadvantage skilled migrants and family sponsorship applicants, and could ultimately harm Australia’s long-term future.

Employers have been handed much of the power to control who stays and who goes in Australia following a series of key changes to Australia’s Migration Program, the last of which will come into effect in July.

Winners and losers

The biggest winners under the new system will be people sponsored by employers for temporary work visas which can later be converted to permanent visas. The biggest losers will be Australians seeking to bring family members into the country, and those applying for entry under the General Skilled Migration system.

In 2010-11, while the overall size of Australia’s migration program remained at 168,700 places, family migration visas were slashed by 5,750 places and skilled visas by 3,600 places. At the same time, employer sponsored places were boosted by 9,150.

“In the Government’s view it seems employers are the best judges of who should migrate to Australia,” says Mark Webster, Director of Acacia Immigration Australia.

The new Skilled Occupations List which came into effect in July 2010 puts the brakes on the General Skilled Migration program with the number of occupations on the list dropped from 400 to 181. The new Skilled Migration Points Test which starts on 1 July this year will see the system tightened even further.

The cut in places for family migration services means that processing times are getting longer and longer with many people waiting nine months or more for their visas to be processed. Under the new Skilled Migration points test, there is hardly any advantage given to applicants with family members in Australia.

On the other hand, employer sponsored visa options are being actively encouraged by the government which has opened up more of these opportunities within the migration program and streamlined processing arrangements.

The changes reveal the Government’s preference for ‘demand-driven’ migration, where migrants are selected by employers, rather than ‘supply driven’ options, such as General Skilled Migration, which require applicants to pass a points test set by the Australian Government.

“Migration intake should reflect the economic climate and help ensure employers can gain access to skilled professionals in those industries where there are skills shortages,” Mr Webster says.

“The Government is limiting General Skilled Migration, which is about meeting long-term skills shortages, in favour of employer sponsorship which fixes short-term employment problems.

“Many applicants for employer sponsored visas are not highly skilled and are increasingly former working holiday or students visa holders,” Mr Webster asserts.

“Australians need to ask themselves whether it is in the national interest to give so much say to employers in deciding who stays and who doesn’t. The new points test was rushed through cabinet just before the last election with only minimal consultation with stakeholders. However, the legislation has not yet been finalised so it is not too late to make changes.

“It’s time to rethink the demand-driven strategy and look at the migration program as a whole. Otherwise, in a few years time we may be looking at unwinding an out-of-control employer sponsored migration program which does not meet Australia’s needs,” he warns.

Source   http://www.newsmaker.com.au/news/9354

Fall in the number of Indian students going to Australia

While the Australian Immigration Department is trying to relax the visa application process for foreign students interested in studying abroad, the universities are faced with the decrease in international enrolments in the first half of year, especially from India.

According to the latest data on enrolment figures of international students coming to study in Australian universities, there has been a major dip in the number of students getting enrolled in the country. Australian education institutes have reported a further fall of 8.7 per cent in the number of Australian student visa applications in the first quarter of the year compared with the same period last year.

A major concern among the universities and vocational training providers in Oz is the dropping number of Indians entering to study in Australia. Also according to Australian education institutes' report, Indian student numbers have decreased by over 30 per cent. This is adversely affecting the education export sector because India has been major contributor to it. Previously, India has been the second largest market for Australian education industry, only after China.

One of the main reasons for this issue is the racial violence against the South Asian community in the Australian subcontinent. Although the government has been assuring safety to international students visa, parents seem not to be willing to take risk.

If you are interested in Australian visas, contact Migration Expert for information and advice on which visa is best suited to you. You can also try our visa eligibility assessment to see if you are eligible to apply for a visa to Australia.

Source   http://www.migrationexpert.com/australia/visa/australian_immigration_news/2011/jun/0/451/fall_in_the_number_of_indian_students_going_to_australia

Australian Student Visa Program not “Sufficiently robust.”

A new release from the Australian National Audit Office has revealed that there are not sufficient systems in place to ensure that the Australian Student Visa program is monitored and controlled. It said that the process is not “sufficiently robust.”

The Audit Office found that the DIAC is “struggling to cope” with the number of people involved in the Students Visa Australia Program.

By March last year there was a backlog of 350,000 non-compliance notices from schools and universities where students have not started, attended or finished a course. By March this year the number of students visa with non-compliance notices had reduced to 124,000.

Lead Auditor-General Ian McPhee said “The rapid growth of the program, with over 400,000 overseas students living in Australia in 2009-10, places significant pressure on DIAC’s compliance functions.”

“While the large number of the NCNs (non-compliance notices) in the backlog are trivial and carry no compliance implications, there are potentially serious cases of student non-compliance ‘hidden’ within the backlog, particularly in the category of ‘non-commencement of course’.

This means that Australian Student Visas have been obtained with no intention of the named visa holder enrolling on the course, making their presence in Australia illegal.

“The backlog has prevented these cases from being identified and dealt with.” Mr McPhee said

Source   http://www.embraceaustralia.com/australian-student-visa-program-not-sufficiently-robust-9586.htm

Student visa breaches mounting

THE Gillard government is struggling to manage the international student visa program, failing to keep track of hundreds of thousands of potential visa breaches.

The Australian National Audit Office has found the Department of Immigration's key administrative structures and processes "were not sufficiently robust" to ensure the "integrity" of the program, while student numbers have soared.

Problems identified included the assessment of visa applicants, with the audit finding the department was "struggling to cope" with the scale and complexity of the program while its assessment methodology was not up to date and did not include current risks.

Auditor-General Ian McPhee also discovered there was a backlog of 350,000 non-compliance notices issued by schools and universities -- when students fail to attend classes, start a course or pass subjects -- that had not been checked by March last year.

"The rapid growth of the (students visa australia) program, with over 400,000 overseas students living in Australia in 2009-10, places significant pressure on DIAC's compliance functions," Mr McPhee concluded.

"DIAC's integrity and compliance units were hampered in managing this pressure by the department's failure to update its national compliance activities and by the backlog of non-compliance notices."

He found the department knew there was a backlog problem in 2006, but it grew to 350,000 last year before action was taken. By March this year, 145,000 of the notices had been "finalised" by department staff.

"While the large number of the NCNs (non-compliance notices) in the backlog are trivial and carry no compliance implications, there are potentially serious cases of student non-compliance 'hidden' within the backlog, particularly in the category of 'non-commencement of course'," he wrote.

"The backlog has prevented these cases from being identified and dealt with."

Mr McPhee also found it was "not feasible" for the department actively to monitor if all 400,000 students had breached their visas -- including whether they had worked more than 20 hours a week.

The audit comes before the release of the government's own review into visas for the $18.6 billion international education industry, which is due mid-year.

Opposition immigration spokesman Scott Morrison said the department was gridlocked by the Gillard government's border protection policy failures. "What the audit has essentially found is a department unable to tell the government how many students are in breach of their visas; how many are working more than 20 hours a week or how many are not actually enrolled in courses," Mr Morrison said.

A spokesman for Immigration Minister Chris Bowen said the "unprecedented growth" of the student visa program had "presented significant challenges".

Source   http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/student-visa-breaches-mounting/story-fn59nlz9-1226066773354

Australia Approves TOEFL Test for Student Visas

Students from around the world who wish to study in Australia can now use their TOEFL test scores as part of their visa application as announced by Australia's Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC).

"I am very pleased the TOEFL test has been chosen as one of the new English test providers and I am confident they will provide a valuable service to student visa applicants," said the Hon. Chris Bowen MP, Minister for Immigration and Citizenship. Mr Bowen said he expected two other tests, the Pearson Test of English Academic and the Cambridge English: Advanced tests, would get official recognition for students visa australia later this year. "These additional English language test options will help to create competition in the English language testing market, while creating more test places for student visa applicants. They will also provide candidates with greater choice and enable them to more quickly obtain test results needed for visa applications,'' he said.

The announcement is significant for large numbers of international students from Assessment Level 3 and 4 countries who are interested in studying in Australia. They now have the opportunity to use the TOEFL test to demonstrate their English language proficiency, satisfying the required language component of the visa application process. The students from China, India, Vietnam, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Turkey and the Philippines, who are interested in studying in Australia will benefit from this new change. International students until now had IELTS (International English Language Testing System) only to demonstrate their English language proficiency for Australia student visas. In Australia, the International English Language Testing System is operated by education giant IDP. Globally, IELTS is owned by Cambridge University, IDP and the British Council.

This is a big breakthrough for ETS, the company that owns TOEFL test. The TOEFL test widely accepted in more than 8000 colleges and universities worldwide.

Rajni Bhatla, Director of Kampus Landing says, “The acceptance of TOEFL test for Australian student visas ends the monopoly of IELTS. Now, students once rejected from the USA will be able to apply for Australia immediately.” Further, Rajni is optimistic that this step will provide a major boost to Australian colleges and universities.

Rajni Bhatla said, “The TOEFL test is widely accepted recognized by over 8,000 institutions in more than 130 countries. Globally, the TOEFL test is available at more than 4,500 testing sites. To date, more than 25 million students around the world have taken the TOEFL test.”

The Kampus Landing team expects to send good number of students to Australia this year. Rajni is hopeful that TOEFL in near future will also be accepted in other Australian visa categories.

About TOEFL

For more than 45 years, the TOEFL test has been the most widely accepted English language assessment in the world, recognised by more than 8,000 colleges, universities and agencies including the most prestigious institutions in the U.K., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the U.S. And with more than 4,500 test sites around the world, the TOEFL test is more convenient than ever for students wishing to apply for study in Australia.

Source   http://www.theopenpress.com/index.php?a=press&id=106018

Aus govt nod to Pearson for student visa forms

Pearson, the world’s leading education company, announced today that the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) has formally approved Pearson Test for English (PTE) Academic as fully satisfying the government’s requirements for testing the English language proficiency of student visa applicants. The decision means that for the first time in ten years, Australian institutions and their potential students will have a choice of government-approved English language testing options.

Chris Bowen, Australian minister for immigration and citizenship, commented: “I am very pleased Pearson has been chosen as one of the new English test providers and I am confident they will provide a valuable service to student visa applicants.”

Fraser Cargill, vice president, Government Relations for Pearson Asia Pacific, explains: “Pearson is proud to achieve DIAC recognition. Australian institutions are facing a challenging time in the increasingly competitive international student recruitment market and it is important that they have the best possible tools available to recruit students. PTE Academic offers a secure, reliable and quick way for Australian institutions to confidently ensure that they are recruiting students who have the right level of English for their courses.”

The computer-based test, already approved by the UK Border Agency, uses cutting edge technology to ensure ID integrity and to minimise cheating. It also offers the fastest score reporting in the market, with test takers receiving their results within five business days.

Source http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/aus-govt-nod-to-pearson-for-student-visa-forms/436834/

International students bringing in $100m for UOW

The University of Wollongong is reeling in close to $100 million a year from international student fees, the latest Auditor-General report reveals.

Overseas student numbers at UOW increased by roughly 4.5 per cent to 7414 in 2010, or almost 40 per cent of the university's overall population.

Last year, international student fee revenue increased to $97.4 million.

In his annual report to Parliament on the state's 10 public universities, Auditor-General Peter Achterstraat noted that Wollongong's large increase in fees and charges revenue in recent years was largely due to a spike in international student numbers.

Around the state, revenue from overseas students has increased 75 per cent in the past five years, contributing nearly 20 per cent, or $1.25 billion, of total revenue.

But in the wake of Australia's soaring dollar, recent changes to visa requirements and increased foreign competition, the university is likely to experience a decline in international numbers in the next two years, according to the report.

UOW Vice-Chancellor Professor Gerard Sutton insisted Wollongong's budget took into account variations in international numbers and would not expose the university to financial risk.

"The Auditor-General's report includes students studying at the University of Wollongong in Dubai, which operates independently and at a profit, as well as students enrolled in offshore courses in Singapore," he said.

"Nevertheless, we do have a strong student international presence of around 25 per cent ... We always budget conservatively on our international student numbers to allow for variations from year to year.

"Having said that, UOW is working hard to minimise the impact of factors outside of our control on overseas student numbers, such as the current strength of the Australian dollar."

In his report, the Auditor-General was critical of Wollongong's handling of leave owed to employees, after the university recorded an 18 per cent increase in the number of staff entitled to at least 40 days off.

That trend, combined with UOW's ageing workforce, produced a $39.7 million liability in long-service leave in 2010, at a rate more than double the sector average over the past five years.

More than 25 per cent of staff are now aged over 55.

UOW was heavily targeted in the Auditor-General's recommendations to reduce the amount of leave accrued.

"The university has not changed its annual leave policies and continues to experience an unfavourable upward trend in these balances," the report said.

"Excess leave balances result in additional expense to the university as the financial liability grows over time due to salary increases."

Prof Sutton said recent changes to leave accrual would help reduce the number of days owed to staff.

"Last year we negotiated with our 1000 non-academic staff a reduction in that accrual from 50 days to 40 days," he said.

"That negotiated reduction will be reflected in future years but does not show in these figures."

Source http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/news/local/news/general/international-students-bringing-in-100m-for-uow/2175099.aspx

Australia to increase skilled migrant visas

Australian government plans to increase visas in skilled migrant category that was targeted by cookery and hairdressing students by almost 30 per cent under its 2011-12 migration programme.

According to a report in 'The Australian' newspaper, the program projected over 29.6 per cent increase in independent skilled migrants, lifting the number of places to 44,350.

The government had been scrutinising this category after visa grants scam to low-skilled overseas students came into light, the report said.

The report quoted Monash University researcher Bob Birrell as saying that the extra spots were good news for former overseas students waiting for a decision on migration applications.

The government said the queue had shortened from 150,000-plus in May last year to just below 132,000 in April this year.

A tougher points test emphasising advanced skills and superior English starts on July 1.

Immigration Minister Chris Bowen spokesperson said it would take time for applicants under the new points test to make their presence felt in the system.

"While it is not possible to predict accurately, it is likely that initially a large proportion of skilled independent visas will be granted to people who are assessed under the old points test," she said.

Source http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/services/travel/visa-power/australia-to-increase-skilled-migrant-visas/articleshow/8568663.cms

Australia Approves TOEFL® Test Scores for Student Visas

Students from around the world who wish to study in Australia can now use their TOEFL^® test scores as part of their visa application as announced by Australia's Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC).

"I am very pleased the TOEFL test has been chosen as one of the new English test providers and I am confident they will provide a valuable service to student visa applicants," said the Hon. Chris Bowen MP, Minister for Immigration and Citizenship.

This announcement has significant meaning for large numbers of international students from Assessment Level 3 and 4 countries, including China, India, Vietnam, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Turkey and the Philippines, who are interested in studying in Australia. International students now have the opportunity to use the TOEFL test to demonstrate their English language proficiency, satisfying the required language component of the visa application process. 

"Nearly every university and college in Australia already accepts TOEFL scores for admission purposes. Today's announcement means that students globally can now use their TOEFL scores for both visa and academic admission purposes," explains David Hunt, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of ETS's Global Division.

For more than 45 years, the TOEFL test has been the most widely recognized English language assessment in the world, used by more than 8,000 colleges, universities and agencies, including the most prestigious institutions in the U.K., Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the U.S. And with more than 4,500 test sites globally, the TOEFL test is more convenient than ever for students wishing to apply for study in Australia. 

"The TOEFL test is the most widely accepted English language assessment worldwide. It is popular with prospective students and agents in all of Australia's major source markets. I'm sure that all of Australia's universities, VET and English language providers join me in welcoming the re-introduction of the TOEFL test for student visa purposes," commented Jeffrey Smart, Pro Vice- Chancellor (International and Recruitment) at Melbourne's Swinburne University of Technology. "For many years, students have been able to gain academic admission into Australia's universities on the basis of their TOEFL score: now applicants will be able to satisfy visa requirements with this test as well. With students in 165 countries taking the TOEFL test, the Department's decision provides a boost to Australia's international student recruitment efforts offering a larger and more diverse applicant pool."

More information about the TOEFL test, including registration dates and free sample test questions, is available at www.TOEFLGoAnywhere.org.

Source  http://pr-usa.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=742963&Itemid=29

Student churn muddies picture of real state of visa applications

AN optimistic analysis of student visa applications from the Department of Immigration and Citizenship has been dismissed by industry experts, who say the outlook is bleak and will continue so for some time to come.

Stephen Connelly, president of the International Education Association of Australia, said second semester commencement figures would be the true indicator of any upturn but there was no sign of that yet.

"Overall, my impression is semester two is still flat; we have not yet seen a kick from the improvement in visa assessment levels for India and China, so the situation is still bleak," Mr Connelly said.

In its quarterly report analysing visa applications and acceptances to the end of March, DIAC said 36,523 applications was the second highest March number in the past four years and that numbers were up 6.5 per cent from March 2010.

"March application data is nothing to celebrate when overall the figures look like they have gone backwards three or four years," Mr Connelly said.

But the report stated "student visa applications may be stabilising from the decrease experienced in 2009 and 2010".

The March increase was driven entirely by a seasonal rise in onshore applications, obscuring the ongoing heavy falls in offshore applications.

English Australia executive director Sue Blundell warned offshore numbers were the key measure of new students and that the falls were "alarming".

Offshore applications in March were down 20 per cent from a year ago at just 7571.

IEAA executive director Dennis Murray said the increase in onshore applications reflected a churn of existing students.

"With offshore applications well down, we are cannibalising onshore numbers, which all adds up to an unsustainable situation over the longer term," he said. "I can't see any improvement in sight, onshore or offshore, for some time ahead . . . especially given continuing ambiguous messages from the federal government about whether international students are valued and welcome in Australia," Mr Murray said.

Total student visas granted for the nine months to March were down 11 per cent from a year ago, with the granting of offshore visas plummeting 24 per cent.

The forward picture is similarly down with total visa applications for the nine months to March down almost 8 per cent, but with offshore applications down 25 per cent. The vocational sector has been hit hardest with nine month 2010-11 offshore visa applications tumbling 52 per cent to 15,575.

Offshore applications for the English-language sector were down 15 per cent to the end of March, while offshore applications were down by 22 per cent.

Source http://www.theaustralian.com.au/higher-education/student-churn-muddies-picture-of-real-state-of-visa-applications/story-e6frgcjx-1226062241189

Alternative English language tests added for Australian student visa applicants

Student visa applicants will now be able to use the TOEFL test to provide evidence of their English language ability.

Student visa applicants will be able to use the 'Test of English as a Foreign Language' (TOEFL) US-based testing for English language competency, Australian Immigration minister Chris Bowen announced today.

The move by the Australian government to allow student visa applicants to use the 'Test of English as a Foreign Language' (TOEFL) test when demonstrating English language ability is one that will be of interest to anyone looking to apply for skilled Australia immigration. 

One of the changes to the skilled immigration application process that is set to be implemented on 1 July with the new Australian points test is that all skilled migrants will be required to take an English language test. Under existing rules, only test results from the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) are permitted and applicants are only required to take it if they need to demonstrate competency in English or are using the test to obtain further points. 

Students have also had to use the IELTS testing system but along with the introduction of TOEFL, Mr. Bowen has said he expects the Pearson Test of English Academic and the Cambridge English: Advanced Tests schemes to receive official recognition for student visas later this year. 

"These additional English language test options will help to create competition in the English language testing market, while creating more test places for student visa applicants. They will also provide candidates with greater choice and enable them to more quickly obtain test results needed for visa applications'' he said. 

Mr Bowen went to suggest that other visa categories could eventually open up to competition between English language tests, although he would look closely at how the new tests perform with student visas first. 

Source   http://www.visabureau.com/australia/news/20-05-2011/alternative-english-language-tests-added-for-australian-student-visa-applicants.aspx