Australian Student visa changes - 1 July 2016

From 1 July 2016 iAustralian Immigration will ntroduce a simplified international student visa framework.

The new framework will:

• only consist of two student visa subclasses: Subclass 500 (Student) and Subclass 590 (Student Guardian)
• streamline application and processing requirements for student visa applicants, with common criteria and genuineness of application for entry and stay as a student
• simplify range of requirements including enrolment, financial and other requirements relating to visas previously held if the application is made in Australia
• the current regulatory assessment level framework and streamlined processing provisions will be repealed and new requirements introduced to strengthen the integrity of the programme, by providing a larger range of factors for decision makers to assess genuineness and the need for individuals to provide evidence of financial and English proficiency
• clarify for student visa holders the conditions on the courses they are permitted to undertake and when a change of course would require them to apply for a new student visa
• make other amendments to repeal duplicate and redundant provisions and clarify the operation of the relevant provisions.