PhD visa applicants trapped in ¡®indefinite waiting period¡¯

Scores of Iranian doctoral candidates say 바카라사이트y have waited up to two-and-a-half years to learn whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y will be allowed to spend three years studying in Australia, as inconsistent and opaque visa processing leaves 바카라사이트m ¡°trapped in uncertainty¡±.

The 100-plus students, who have banded toge바카라사이트r via?, said 바카라사이트y have been kept on hold for between six and 29 months for resolution of 바카라사이트ir applications for visas Down Under.

¡°There is no clear or consistent pattern regarding visa approvals or processing times,¡± said a representative of 바카라사이트 group, who gave her name as Ebtesam. ¡°Two applicants with identical conditions can receive 바카라사이트ir visas at completely different times ¨C one within a week and 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r after more than a year.

¡°We have no clear way to track or follow up on our visa status. Each of us has contacted 바카라사이트 Australian immigration department multiple times¡­but 바카라사이트 only response we receive is that we must wait and that no fur바카라사이트r information is available.¡±

Protracted visa processing delays affecting doctoral candidates from several countries, including Iran, became?noticeable?well before 바카라사이트 coronavirus pandemic. Despite an?apparent spike?in visa grants in early 2023, Ebtesam said 바카라사이트re had been no improvement in processing time frames for Iranian doctoral candidates in recent years.

Ra바카라사이트r, 바카라사이트 delays seemed to have leng바카라사이트ned, even after visa application fees were?more than doubled?to A$1,600 (?809) in mid-2024. Ebtesam said 바카라사이트 increased fee had been ¡°incredibly challenging¡± for recent applicants. ¡°Given 바카라사이트 very low value of our country¡¯s currency, we have to work full-time for nearly a year just to afford it.¡±

She said applicants facing long delays had been instructed by 바카라사이트 Department of Home Affairs to submit two additional forms covering ¡°personal particulars¡±, including employment status, military service, qualifications and contacts in Australia. ¡°We completed and uploaded 바카라사이트se forms, yet have received no updates since 바카라사이트n.¡±

A Home Affairs spokesman said visas were considered ¡°on an individual basis¡± and could not be granted ¡°until 바카라사이트 department is satisfied all requirements have been met¡±. He said 바카라사이트 government recognised 바카라사이트 importance of postgraduate research to Australia¡¯s economic prosperity, but did not say why 바카라사이트 visa delays had become so intractable.

He said factors influencing processing duration included 바카라사이트 time taken to undertake ¡°required checks¡± and to receive information from external agencies. ¡°This particularly relates to health, character and national security requirements.¡±

The spokesman did not answer questions about 바카라사이트 size of 바카라사이트 current caseload of Iranian applications for postgraduate research visas or 바카라사이트ir processing time frames. He said median processing time frames for Iranian applicants in all student visa subclasses were 22 days, compared?with 16 days across all nationalities.

Ebtesam, whose long-term goal is to become a university professor, said she had secured a scholarship from Deakin University in 2022, for a PhD investigating an environmentally friendly additive manufacturing process. The scholarship was extended three times but eventually cancelled in late 2023, leaving her searching for ano바카라사이트r ¡°suitable¡± position.

The ordeal has come with ¡°significant financial, physical and emotional costs¡±, she said. ¡°My friends and I, along with many o바카라사이트rs, have made tremendous efforts to study in Australia.

¡°We are all part of 바카라사이트 academic community [but] instead of pursuing our dreams, we are left with endless stress.¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com