Assessment Level (AL)1 Streamline visa Application

The Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Chris Bowen MP, today announced key changes to the student visa program recommended by the Knight Review will commence from 24 March, as part of the government's commitment to position Australia as a preferred study destination for international students.

'International education plays a vital role in a growing economy, educational outcomes and Australia's diplomatic engagement with other countries, so it's important that we give it the best possible support,' Mr Bowen said.

'From 24 March, we are implementing streamlined visa processing arrangements for prospective students enrolled in Bachelor, Masters or Doctoral degrees at participating universities, making the application process simpler and faster.'

In recognition of these institutions' track record, university students — regardless of their country of origin — will be treated as though they are lower risk and will need to submit less evidence in support of their visa application, similar to the current assessment level (AL) 1.

'Universities in Australia have embraced the opportunity to sign up to the arrangements, which are expected to help boost international enrolments for semester two 2012 and beyond,' Mr Bowen said.

From 26 March, the government will provide more flexible work conditions for all student visa holders, which will also provide more flexibility for their employers.

In recognition of the importance of the higher degree by research sector, the government will also allow postgraduate research (subclass 574) visa holders to work an unlimited amount of hours per week once their course has commenced, which will mean they can engage in employment related to their research.

Other Knight Review changes to be implemented from 24 March include:

• Improved access to English language study for schools sector visa applicants and for student guardian visa holders
• Removal of the requirement for higher risk schools sector visa applicants to provide evidence of an English language proficiency test.

In line with the Knight Review recommendations, the minister today introduced legislation to Parliament to abolish the automatic visa cancellation process for international students.

The Student Legislation Amendment (Student Visas) Bill will reduce complexity and uncertainty for students and provide for fairer, more efficient monitoring and compliance processes.

Brightspark Education Consultants (Front)

UKBA take a interview from Pakistani Students (David Cameron)

New versions of application forms if you apply on or after 6 April 2012 (UK)

On 5 April 2012 we will publish new versions of some application forms. You should use the new forms if you apply on or after 6 April.

The forms are:

• Tier 1 (Graduate entrepreneur);
• Tier 1 (General);
• Tier 1 (Investor;
• Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) ;
• Tier 1 (Post study work) - form removed because this category has closed to new applicants;
• Tier 2;
• Tier 4 (General);
• Tier 4 (Child);
• Tier 5 (Temporary worker);
• PBS Dependant;
• FLR(O) (to extend your stay);
• FLR(BUS) (to extend your stay in specific categories); and
• TOC (to transfer a visa to a new passport).

The new forms will be published on 5 April because 6 April is a public holiday in the UK. We published amended Immigration Rules on 15 March 2012, along with some policy guidance documents to explain the changes and help you use the new forms.

You should use the new forms from 6 April 2012. But if you apply on the previous version of a form, we will accept it up to and including 27 April 2012.

If you submit an application on or after 6 April 2012, we will consider it under the revised Immigration Rules which take effect on 6 April, regardless of which version of a form you use.

Changes to Tier 1 application requirements (13 February 2012)

From today we have revised the guidance notes for all Tier 1 categories, and made changes to the Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) application form for use by applicants who are already in the UK.

We have revised policy guidance in all Tier 1 categories to include a paragraph about the circumstances when we will contact applicants about missing or incorrect documents.

The Tier 1 (General) policy guidance also includes a change to the list of governing bodies for accountants.

The Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) application form and policy guidance have been revised to allow applicants to use money invested in a UK business while they were here in a different immigration category.

Applicants should use the new form with immediate effect, but we will continue to accept applications made on the previous version of the form up to and including 5 March 2012.

Full details of all the changes can be found in the change tables on the right side of this page.

New student rules to welcome the brightest and best while tackling abuse (13 February 2012)

New rules will come into force within weeks to cut abuse of the student visa route and ensure that only the brightest and the best students can stay and work in the UK, Immigration Minister Damian Green announced today.

Students can currently work in the UK for 2 years after their studies have finished, under the Tier 1 (Post-study work) route. But from 6 April, a more selective system will come into effect so only the most talented international graduates can apply to stay in the UK for work purposes.

Only those who graduate from a university, and have an offer of a skilled job at a salary of at least £20,000 (or more in some cases) from a reputable employer accredited by the UK Border Agency, will be able to continue living and working in the UK in order to benefit the British economy.

The rules are part of a radical overhaul of the student visa system, which will:

• encourage growth - a new Graduate Entrepreneur route will open, with up to 1,000 places for students working on world-class innovative ideas who want to stay and develop them but do not meet the requirements of the Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) route;
• boost the economy - young entrepreneurs or small company directors will get the chance to stay on in the UK after their studies if they have £50,000 to invest in their business;
• ensure that students can support themselves - for the first time since 2008, there will be an increase in the amount of money that students and working migrants (and their dependants) must prove they have to support themselves financially during their time in the UK; and
• tackle abuse - restricting work placements to one-third of the course for international students who are studying below degree level will ensure that those coming to the UK are here to study, not to work (as was often the case in the past). Additionally, the time that can be spent studying at degree level will be restricted to a general limit of 5 years.

Damian Green said:

'It is vital that we continue to attract the brightest and the best international students, but we have to be more selective about who can come here and how long they can stay.

'In the past, too many students have come to the UK to work rather than study, and this abuse must end. With the introduction of the Graduate Entrepreneur route and the restrictions on student work, we are reforming the system to deliver immigration to benefit Britain.'

For full details of the changes that are coming into effect, you can download a statement of intent from the Home Office website.

Appealing immigration and asylum decisions from (19 December 2011)

From today, the UK government's Ministry of Justice is introducing new fees for some asylum and immigration appeals, and changing the way customers can submit their appeals.

This new policy reflects the government's view that users of the appeals system, who can afford to pay, should contribute to the system's cost. Fees of £80 for a paper consideration and £140 for an oral hearing will be applied to appeals against decisions taken on or after 19 December 2011.

These are low-level fees that should be affordable for people who are required to pay. The proposed fees are not set at full cost recovery, but only recover around 25 per cent of the full cost of administering the appeal system. The government considers that it is an appropriate balance between low, affordable fees which enable access to justice, and a meaningful contribution towards the costs of the Tribunal.

Applicants who appeal decisions dated 19 December 2011 or later from outside the UK will be required to submit their appeals directly to the First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) in Leicester and will no longer be able to send them to the visa application centre overseas that made the initial decision. For more information about this process please see the Ministry of Justice website.

Applicants who want to appeal a decision dated before 19 December 2011 from outside the UK are still able to send their appeal to the visa section that made the initial decision. For further information about this process please see the Appeals section on our website.

A new online payment facility will be available shortly. This will allow applicants to make an appeal and payment online for decisions dated from 19 December 2011. Appellants must be able to pay using a MasterCard or a Visa credit or debit card or be submitting an appeal which does not require a fee to be paid. Appellants can ask another person to pay the fee on their behalf using their payment card details, with their permission. For more information about submitting appeals online please see the Ministry of Justice website.