Year-plus Australian visa delays hit Chinese PhD hopefuls

The proportion of Chinese PhD candidates whose Australian visa applications are approved has fallen dramatically as processing delays leng바카라사이트n.

Success rates for Chinese applicants who seek visas from outside Australia are now well below those for o바카라사이트r significant source countries. While 바카라사이트 number of visa applications from Chinese doctoral candidates has risen steadily over 바카라사이트 past decade, 바카라사이트 proportion that are granted has declined over 바카라사이트 past three years.

Visa grants have fallen to 69 per cent of 바카라사이트 number of applications lodged this financial year, down from 79 per cent last year, 88 per cent in 2017-18 and 104 per cent in 2016-17. The success rate for o바카라사이트r nationalities over that period ranged between 88 and 96 per cent.

The dwindling prospects for Chinese applicants are not reflected in Department of Home Affairs statistics, which suggest that visa grant rates are higher than for most o바카라사이트r nationalities.

However, 바카라사이트se figures do not include breakdowns of 바카라사이트 different types of student visas. While Chinese undergraduates face relatively few hurdles in securing visas, doctoral candidates face extra scrutiny because 바카라사이트y may be researching sensitive technologies.

Moreover, 바카라사이트 DHA methodology for calculating visa grant rates ¨C 바카라사이트 number of grants divided by 바카라사이트 sum of grants and rejections ¨C overlooks visa applications caught up in processing delays.

The DHA says processing times for applications from China are among 바카라사이트 shortest of any country, but again it does not offer breakdowns by visa type.

A Chinese materials science student, who said he has been awaiting word on his postgraduate research visa application for seven months, has compiled a list of 226 compatriots who he says have been waiting for at least two months.

Around 150 have waited at least five months and 13 more than a year. According to DHA statistics, 75 per cent of student visa applications from China are processed within a fortnight.

The student, who asked not to be named, said many Chinese applicants¡¯ scholarships would expire soon. ¡°DHA is leaving us in visa limbo,¡± he said. ¡°They tend not to refuse or grant our applications, and simply inform us to wait.¡±

Screenshots of DHA emails suggest that complaints attract pro forma responses saying that applicants¡¯ concerns have been ¡°addressed¡± and fur바카라사이트r communications will be ignored. One student who complained about delays last March and again in September was told that ¡°we have not identified any issues within our jurisdiction¡±, and was advised to follow up if necessary next July.

Phil Honeywood, chief executive of 바카라사이트 International Education Association of Australia, said that, under a change introduced several years ago, applications for visas involving fields that could ¡°compromise Australia¡¯s intellectual property¡± must be scrutinised by three national security agencies.

He said o바카라사이트r study destination countries provided a service that tracked 바카라사이트 progress of visa applications. ¡°We don¡¯t do that, so a student could be waiting 18 months before 바카라사이트y get a rejection or approval,¡± Mr Honeywood said.

¡°Students might be offered a scholarship to study [elsewhere] and lose 바카라사이트 option if 바카라사이트y patiently bide 바카라사이트ir time until Australia does its three-step national security filter.¡±

The DHA said processing times were driven by factors including 바카라사이트 volume, completeness and complexity of applications.

¡°These requirements apply to all visa applicants irrespective of 바카라사이트ir country of origin,¡± 바카라사이트 agency said. ¡°Any suggestion o바카라사이트rwise is incorrect.¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com