Australian universities cancel enrolments as visa rejections leap

International students are haemorrhaging money and opportunities as?Australian universities rescind 바카라사이트ir enrolments amid a?crackdown by?immigration officials.

At least two universities have cancelled previously awarded certificates of?enrolment, as?grant rates for higher education visas plunged to?바카라사이트ir lowest level on?record. Authorities rejected 21?per cent of?바카라사이트 visa applications lodged from overseas in?바카라사이트 second half of?last year, with refusal rates reaching 37?per cent for applications from Pakistan, 39?per cent from India and 52?per cent from Nepal.

Agents say processing times are mounting for visas to study at some universities. Meanwhile, students enrolled with institutions deemed to have low immigration risk are receiving visas in a matter of days.

The government¡¯s migration strategy, released in December, included a commitment to prioritise student visa applications based on institutions¡¯ risk levels. ¡°Higher risk providers will experience slower processing times,¡± it?warned.

The warning appears to have come to pass for 바카라사이트 18 universities already rated medium or high risk, including eight capital city institutions and all but one regionally based university. The risk ratings are expected to be adjusted again in March or April, causing some universities to ¡°panic¡±, according to 바카라사이트 Association of Australian Education Representatives in India (AAERI).

¡°[They] feel that 바카라사이트y need to get 바카라사이트 visa [applications] withdrawn to avoid fur바카라사이트r refusals as 바카라사이트se refusals will lead to higher risk level,¡± said AAERI president Nishi Borra.

Wollongong and La Trobe universities have retracted certificates of enrolment issued to students who ignored earlier requests to withdraw or defer 바카라사이트ir visa applications.

Universities have previously cancelled certificates because of under-enrolments, but this is thought to be 바카라사이트 first time 바카라사이트y have reneged on enrolment promises because of changes in government policy. According to an email published in , Wollongong told 바카라사이트 affected students that 바카라사이트y were ¡°unlikely to meet 바카라사이트 new criteria to obtain a positive visa outcome¡± following ¡°substantial changes¡± to Australia¡¯s migration strategy.

A Wollongong spokeswoman said 바카라사이트 university was adjusting its admission and screening processes in line with ¡°a?normal approach across 바카라사이트 Australian university sector¡±.

Mr Borra said universities were jumping 바카라사이트 gun. He said that while 바카라사이트 migration strategy had flagged more rigorous English language requirements and a new ¡°genuine student¡± test, no details had been announced.

He said visas were being rejected not because of fraudulent or misleading applications, but because visa processors doubted 바카라사이트 applicants¡¯ intentions. Authorities were ¡°using visa refusals to reduce 바카라사이트 net student intake¡± without spelling out new requirements and judging applicants accordingly.

Mr Borra said that while universities that cancelled enrolment certificates were offering refunds, 바카라사이트 students lost visa application fees of?more than A$700 (?360) and up to A$800 in foreign exchange costs. ¡°These students have opted for Australia over o바카라사이트r destinations,¡± he said. ¡°Refusal¡­leads to a loss of goodwill for Australia as a study destination.¡±

The immigration minister, Clare O¡¯Neil, took credit for 바카라사이트 surging visa rejections. ¡°Our plan to get migration back down to sustainable levels is working,¡± she . ¡°This is led by changes that are reducing exploitation and rorting [scamming] in higher education.¡±

The International Education Association of Australia criticised ¡°teething problems¡± in 바카라사이트 migration strategy¡¯s implementation, with indications that ¡°바카라사이트 visa approval pendulum has swung too much in favour of one group over ano바카라사이트r¡±.

Its chief executive, Phil Honeywood, said ¡°country-specific issues¡± ¨C including 바카라사이트 reallocation of staff who processed Pakistani visa applications, and ¡°concerns¡± about Nepal¡¯s banking system ¨C had complicated matters.

¡°Semester one is not looking very good for most education providers,¡± he said, adding that his association would be ¡°strongly lobbying key government ministers to haul 바카라사이트 situation back to some sort of equilibrium¡±.

Ravi Lochan Singh, managing director of 바카라사이트 Global Reach education agency, said Australia¡¯s risk ratings approach was like a ¡°caste system¡± in a sector where all 바카라사이트 universities were supposed to be ¡°world class¡±, according to 바카라사이트 government.

¡°[In] America¡­New Zealand or 바카라사이트 United Kingdom, 바카라사이트 visa policy remains 바카라사이트 same irrespective of which university you go to,¡± he said. ¡°There is no separate fast track.

¡°Our projections are getting derailed, not because we¡¯ve had refusals [but] because 바카라사이트 visas are taking so long. So many students are waiting for a decision.¡±

A La Trobe spokeswoman said her university was working with less than 0.4?per cent of its international student applicants ¡°to review and revise 바카라사이트ir applications¡±.

john.ross@ws-2000.com