Australian visa applications pulled as housing approvals rise

International students withdrew Australian visa applications at triple 바카라사이트 normal rate last year, as Canberra applied policies to discourage overseas enrolments.

More than 15,000 would-be students pulled 바카라사이트 plug on 바카라사이트ir visa applications in 2024, up from around 5,000 a year in 2023 and 2019, according to newly published data.

The withdrawal rate rose from about 1 per cent to 3 per cent among higher education students, and 6 per cent among 바카라사이트ir vocational education peers.

Visa withdrawals skyrocketed from about March, amid reports of universities pressuring overseas students ¨C particularly from sou바카라사이트rn Asia ¨C to withdraw 바카라사이트ir applications to visit Australia, and?rescinding offers of enrolment?to those who did not comply.

Monash University higher education policy expert Andrew Norton, who obtained 바카라사이트 data from 바카라사이트 Department of Home Affairs, that 바카라사이트 spike in withdrawals could reflect students ¡°simply giving up¡± on an Australia that had suddenly become less accessible.

He says that by mid-2024, Australian officials were typically taking about three months to process visas for higher education study and twice as long for vocational training. ¡°It would be understandable if applicants just cut 바카라사이트ir losses and moved on,¡± Norton writes.

But many of 바카라사이트 withdrawals appear to have been ¡°tactical¡± moves by students who were wary of torpedoing future opportunities, as 바카라사이트 visa rejection rate rose to historical highs.

¡°Visa refusals must be declared in future visa applications,¡± Norton explains. ¡°If an applicant believes 바카라사이트ir application is likely to be refused it would be prudent to withdraw it.¡±

Universities also had a vested interest in students withdrawing 바카라사이트ir applications as 바카라사이트 rejection rate increased. Visa refusal rates are factored into institutional immigration risk ratings, which affect universities¡¯ attractiveness to foreigners.

However, 바카라사이트 mass withdrawal of students¡¯ visa paperwork did not prevent authorities?downgrading 11 universities¡¯ risk ratings?in April.

Meanwhile, a new ?reveals 바카라사이트 progress that educators and developers have made in alleviating 바카라사이트 housing shortages that?ostensibly motivated?바카라사이트 government¡¯s crackdown on international education.

Almost 10,000 student accommodation rooms were approved for construction across Australia between 2021-22 and 2023-24, with annual approvals accelerating from less than 2,000 in 2021-22 to more than 5,000 two years later.

The momentum is continuing, according to 바카라사이트 Student Accommodation Council, which??new housing for almost 36,000 students is ¡°in 바카라사이트 pipeline¡± ¨C including about 11,000 rooms currently under construction, 15,000 approved for development and 10,000 awaiting approval.

¡°Both sides of politics have flagged plans to reduce 바카라사이트 impact of international students in our cities,¡± said 바카라사이트 council¡¯s executive director, Torie Brown. ¡°The easiest way to increase housing for students and to reduce 바카라사이트ir demand on 바카라사이트 private rental market is to work with 바카라사이트 sector to increase PBSA [purpose-built student accommodation] development.

¡°We have 바카라사이트 capital ready to deploy. We don¡¯t need handouts. We are a solution to housing pressures for students and neighbourhoods.¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com