With all the changes being done in the Australian immigration procedures lately, a lot of people are getting worried that their chances of getting a visa is becoming slimmer and slimmer. And it seems that there will be tons more for them to worry about, as the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) recently said that there are still a lot of changes lined up for the visa programs.
One of the biggest of these changes so far was the move by the DIAC to put more emphasis on English language proficiency as a requirement for the issuance of a visa. It should be noted that this is not really that new, as English proficiency has long been a key requirement in getting a visa. However, in previous years, along with a more relaxed immigration policy, English proficiency was counted only up to basic communications skills.
With the new thrust of the government to get more highly skilled professionals into the country to meet worker demand, the department determined that there is also a need to revamp the English language assessment scheme to suit this purpose. The DIAC noted that, due to the above mentioned earlier set up, many of those who have been granted working visa have English communication skills that are below the requirements for the job that they have gotten into. This, according to immigration officials, greatly hampers their ability to perform the tasks that are related to their work.
In order to remedy this one, the department has sought to put more emphasis on better English language skills for those getting a visa. To do this, immigration officials have decided to allocate more points to English proficiency in the Skills assessment being given to visa applicants.
The DIAC have also gone further with this one by revamping the exams that are to be used for determining English proficiency. This was done to ensure that those applicants who have greater command of the language would be the ones to get through. Emphasis was also given on the proper use of professional English in work related areas.
In order to better implement these new measures, the immigration department is now also thinking of changing to current tests. As of current, the exams are provided under the IELTS system. Immigration Minister Chris Evans sad that his department is now seriously considering shifting to TOEFL to meet their needs.
However, visa applicants need not to worry about these new moves. According to immigration officials, visa applicants who don't pass the test are still welcomed to get English courses in the country to better their chances the next time they apply.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Vocational Students Find It Harder To Get Into Australia
For those studying in Australia, migration is often the next thing that comes into their minds. And this one is not surprising, what with all the opportunities that await them in the country. Thus, a lot of people would want to be given the chance to enroll in the schools here.
However, many of those aspiring students might soon find that chance as being harder and harder to get. As it is, the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) have begun to institute changes in the student migration program. And according to department officials, there are still a lot more changes that are planned for the program.
One of the biggest that the DIAC made has been the exclusion of more than a hundred vocational level courses, such as hairdressing and cooking, from the student migration program. This is in accordance with the release of the new Skilled Occupation List for the general skilled migration program last July 1, which had also removed these positions.
It should be noted that, under the old system, these vocational courses have allowed foreign students to easily gain permanent residency status after the completion of their studies. However, immigration official noted that this soon became a common backdoor used by a lot of foreign students to live in the country despite lacking proper work qualifications.
And with the former Rudd government's thrust of getting more highly skilled professionals into the country, the DIAC took attention of the matter and instituted the changes that are currently in the student immigration program. Along with the above mentioned removal of low level positions, the department also drafted higher requirements for student migration applicants, including greater English proficiency. The latter was done to ensure that all incoming workers will have sufficient communication skills for the workplace.
However, while these have been removed from the skilled migration list, department officials said that vocational students wishing to move into the country may still be able to do so. This is provided that there is a demand for their work and that they will be able to find a company that will sponsor their immigration. They have also added that those permanent residency application lodged up until April last year will be exempted and will be processed according to the old regulations.
On the other hand, DIAC officials also clarified the misconception that these changes cover all foreign vocational students. They explained that the rules apply only to students seeking permanent residency after graduation. Foreigners who are on the country only for study purposes are likewise exempted from these changes.
However, many of those aspiring students might soon find that chance as being harder and harder to get. As it is, the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) have begun to institute changes in the student migration program. And according to department officials, there are still a lot more changes that are planned for the program.
One of the biggest that the DIAC made has been the exclusion of more than a hundred vocational level courses, such as hairdressing and cooking, from the student migration program. This is in accordance with the release of the new Skilled Occupation List for the general skilled migration program last July 1, which had also removed these positions.
It should be noted that, under the old system, these vocational courses have allowed foreign students to easily gain permanent residency status after the completion of their studies. However, immigration official noted that this soon became a common backdoor used by a lot of foreign students to live in the country despite lacking proper work qualifications.
And with the former Rudd government's thrust of getting more highly skilled professionals into the country, the DIAC took attention of the matter and instituted the changes that are currently in the student immigration program. Along with the above mentioned removal of low level positions, the department also drafted higher requirements for student migration applicants, including greater English proficiency. The latter was done to ensure that all incoming workers will have sufficient communication skills for the workplace.
However, while these have been removed from the skilled migration list, department officials said that vocational students wishing to move into the country may still be able to do so. This is provided that there is a demand for their work and that they will be able to find a company that will sponsor their immigration. They have also added that those permanent residency application lodged up until April last year will be exempted and will be processed according to the old regulations.
On the other hand, DIAC officials also clarified the misconception that these changes cover all foreign vocational students. They explained that the rules apply only to students seeking permanent residency after graduation. Foreigners who are on the country only for study purposes are likewise exempted from these changes.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Government Action Asked For Foreign Student Issues
For people getting an education in Australia, the country has long been considered as a haven for academic undertakings. Indeed, the country's standing as having one of the best educational systems in the world today has been one of the biggest factors that draw thousands of foreign students here yearly. But as it turns out, this one is actually far from an ideal picture.
As it is, there is actually a lot of pertinent issues that many foreign students have to deal with when studying in the country. And a lot of them believe that, unless these are resolved soon, they will greatly affect not only the students themselves, but also the institutions that they are currently enrolled in. Thus, they are clamoring for the government to quickly find a solution for these problems.
One of the biggest issues of concern for many foreign students here is with regards to immigration. As can be recalled, the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) has begun revamping the student migration program in response to the Rudd government's thrust of getting more higher skilled workers into the country. Here, one of the biggest changes the that DIAC has implemented was the removal of more than a hundred vocational and other lower level positions in the Skilled Occupation List.
As it turns out, a lot of foreign students are actually taking these courses, mainly due to the fact the these are the easiest ones to go with when getting permanent residency. However, since these courses have since been removed from the list, the move has put many of these students' fate in limbo. In most cases, the students' visa application were automatically revoked upon the removal of their courses from the list.
The changes have also put a lot of colleges offering these courses into a rather peculiar position. As many of them are catering to mostly foreign students, the withdrawal of enrollments due to the above cancellation of visa applications have forced several to close down, while the others that where not able to meet the more stringent school qualifications set by the new foreign student program also ended with the same fate.
However, foreign students have found allies in many Australians themselves concerning the matter. A lot of experts have said that the new student migration rules will greatly affect the number of students in the country. They also aired concerns about how these will affect the foreign student industry, which is a big one in Australia. The government has responded by saying that it will ensured that legitimate students will not be severely affect by the new measures.
The government has also begun considering setting aside a specific secretarial post to deal with foreign student matters. This one, according to proponents, will help greatly in resolving the issues concerning a lot of foreign students, as it would be a more focused position, as compared to the current ones holding student matters.
As it is, there is actually a lot of pertinent issues that many foreign students have to deal with when studying in the country. And a lot of them believe that, unless these are resolved soon, they will greatly affect not only the students themselves, but also the institutions that they are currently enrolled in. Thus, they are clamoring for the government to quickly find a solution for these problems.
One of the biggest issues of concern for many foreign students here is with regards to immigration. As can be recalled, the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) has begun revamping the student migration program in response to the Rudd government's thrust of getting more higher skilled workers into the country. Here, one of the biggest changes the that DIAC has implemented was the removal of more than a hundred vocational and other lower level positions in the Skilled Occupation List.
As it turns out, a lot of foreign students are actually taking these courses, mainly due to the fact the these are the easiest ones to go with when getting permanent residency. However, since these courses have since been removed from the list, the move has put many of these students' fate in limbo. In most cases, the students' visa application were automatically revoked upon the removal of their courses from the list.
The changes have also put a lot of colleges offering these courses into a rather peculiar position. As many of them are catering to mostly foreign students, the withdrawal of enrollments due to the above cancellation of visa applications have forced several to close down, while the others that where not able to meet the more stringent school qualifications set by the new foreign student program also ended with the same fate.
However, foreign students have found allies in many Australians themselves concerning the matter. A lot of experts have said that the new student migration rules will greatly affect the number of students in the country. They also aired concerns about how these will affect the foreign student industry, which is a big one in Australia. The government has responded by saying that it will ensured that legitimate students will not be severely affect by the new measures.
The government has also begun considering setting aside a specific secretarial post to deal with foreign student matters. This one, according to proponents, will help greatly in resolving the issues concerning a lot of foreign students, as it would be a more focused position, as compared to the current ones holding student matters.
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