Good News. ..Good News..Good News.. On 29 October 2013 the Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection released the findings of the Review of the Student Visa Assessment Level report and announced the governments proposal to simplify the student visa Assessment Level (AL) Framework. Subject to the legislative change process, the department proposes to simplify the AL Framework by removing AL4 and AL5. As a result the AL Framework would comprise three assessment levels (AL1 to AL3) with current AL4 countries/sectors reduced to AL3. The department also proposes to reduce the financial requirement for AL3 student visa applicants from 18 months to 12 months. However, as a result of this change, funds for AL3 applicants would be required to be provided by a close relative of the visa applicant. What will be the effect of the proposed removal of AL4 and AL5? Currently no countries are assigned as AL5. The proposed removal of AL4 would result in all students who are currently subject to AL4 instead being assessed as AL3. Current AL4 visa applicants would benefit from this change as there would be a reduction in the level of evidence of English language proficiency, financial capacity and previous study that they would need to provide to the department for the grant of their visa. For example, international students seeking a Schools sector (subclass 571) visa from countries that were previously AL4 would, under the proposed changes, be able to enrol in Australian schools from Year 7 instead of from Year 10. This would provide a substantial benefit for both students and schools. What are the proposed financial reductions for AL3 student visa applicants? Currently an AL3 student visa applicant must provide evidence of funds from an acceptable source to pay for their expenses for the first 18 months of their stay in Australia. Subject to the legislative change process, the department proposes to reduce the evidence of finances required for AL3 students from 18 months to 12 months. However, as a result of this change, funds for AL3 applicants would need to be provided by a close relative of the student visa applicant. For further details visit immi.gov.au/students/student-visa-assessment-simplified.htm This news comes as a great relief for students from AL4 (like India, Nepal, Pakistan). For Example for students from India, they will be assessed at AL3 and funds required will be 12 months only instead of 24 months. Same is true for all other AL3 countries like Philippines who will have to show funds for 12 months only instead of 18 months. Please come and speak to our Nepcoms Services team for further details...
Posted on: Wed, 30 Oct 2013 07:02:39 +0000
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