Melbourne based immigration agent Chaman Preet was left amazed while applying for someone's visa on Wednesday morning.
“Till yesterday when we lodged student visas for applicants from India or Pakistan studying at level 1 or 2 institutes, there was no need to demonstrate financial capacity or provide English scores. This morning after we lodged a visa for an applicant to study at a level 2 institute, the system asked for funds and English scores. We then checked a few other level-2 institutes and had the same result,” says Chaman Preet.
How will it impact onshore students? Listen to this conversation with Migration Expert Suman Dua:
LISTEN TO
How downgrading the assessment level will impact onshore applicants?
SBS Hindi
08:18
The Department of Home Affairs has downgraded India’s assessment level to level 3. It used to be level 2, which meant India was a lower risk country.
This might interest you:
New research recommends international students be allowed to extend post-study work visa
Brisbane based migration agent Suman Dua says it will affect students directly.
Ms Dua says, “The applicants who wish to apply for a student visa will now have to provide financial evidence and English test if they plan to study with an Education provider whose rating is either two or 3.”
This might interest you:
Regional Queensland opens its door to skilled migrants in 70 occupations
“The education provider also has a rating from one to three. Previously applicants did not have to provide evidence of funds or English test as long as they were studying with a provider whose rating was either one or two.”
India's assessment level was changed to 2 from 3 in 2017.
Chaman Preet says this change has huge implications for students from these countries.
