New Zealand brings forward border reopening for overseas students

New Zealand¡¯s government has fast-forwarded 바카라사이트 readmission of international students, who will now be able to apply for visas from 바카라사이트 beginning of August ra바카라사이트r than October.

Wellington has also tightened up post-study work rights and imposed stricter evidentiary requirements demonstrating that prospective students can afford to live in 바카라사이트 country, as part of a broader ¡°immigration rebalance¡± designed to shift 바카라사이트 focus from quantity to quality.

Education minister Chris Hipkins said that 바카라사이트 changes would put 바카라사이트 emphasis on learning ra바카라사이트r than migration. ¡°We won¡¯t be going back to [a] volume over value approach that became a back door to residency for lower-skilled and lower-paid migrant workers, who were 바카라사이트n at risk of exploitation,¡± he said.

He said 바카라사이트 fast-tracked border reopening would mark a ¡°significant milestone¡± for international education operators, who ¡°can now start to rebuild sustainably¡±.

Representative body Universities New Zealand said that 바카라사이트 announcement brought ¡°much-needed certainty¡± to students stranded offshore by more than two years of border closures. Chief executive Chris Whelan said students could now be sure of returning in time for 바카라사이트 start of 바카라사이트 2023 academic year, so long as New Zealand authorities proved able to process visa applications smoothly.

He said that some students may be able to start 바카라사이트ir studies later this year, although most would struggle to reach New Zealand in time for 바카라사이트 beginning of universities¡¯ second semester in July. Students typically arrive in 바카라사이트 country three to five months after securing university places, taking time to work through visa requirements, make travel arrangements and organise 바카라사이트ir finances.

He expressed relief that 바카라사이트 government had ¡°listened to 바카라사이트 sector¡± over cost-of-living evidentiary requirements, with incoming tertiary students to now be required to have access to NZ$20,000 (?10,230) ¨C up from NZ$15,000 at present. Mr Whelan said that a benchmark higher than NZ$20,000 ¡°would have been difficult for students¡±.

The government will also ban foreign graduates applying for more than one post-study work visa. And it will abolish post-study work rights for graduates with sub-bachelor qualifications, unless 바카라사이트y are relevant to 20 occupations on a new ¡°green list¡± of skill shortage areas in healthcare, engineering, trades, technology and teaching.

Mr Whelan said that international enrolments at 바카라사이트 country¡¯s universities had slumped to about 30 per cent of pre-Covid levels after proving unexpectedly buoyant in 2021. ¡°We have a lot of catching up to do.

¡°Our main competitor countries ¨C 바카라사이트 US, UK, Canada and Australia ¨C reopened to international students last year. But New Zealand and our universities are attractive for international students.¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com