It’s been widely noted that in the last few weeks, visa assessment times have blown out from multiple markets, including China and India, from 29 days of 90 per event being assessed to 57 days.
Furthermore, The Koala has also heard increasing anecdotal evidence of visa rejections for seemingly no reason. Yup, it appears it is starting again.
So what’s going on?
“We’ve noted a precipitous drop in the approval rate from a number of key markets in recent weeks, with clearly qualified applicants refused on very dubious grounds. In the last few days, we saw two Colombian sisters in their mid-20s with almost identical profiles, where one was approved, and the other refused due to ‘family ties’ reasons! It’s hard to believe that there is not some informal policy at play here, as the application of the GTE seems to be even more random than we’ve come to expect. There is simply no way for a school to predict which applications will be accepted and which refused” said one provider who wishes not to be named.
“Feedback from markets such as Turkey and Colombia is that criteria for approval well beyond that which is actually required are being informally applied. For example, the word from Colombian agents is that even though students are being sent to an AL1 institution, AL2 approval criteria are being applied across the board, and otherwise fully qualified students are rejected on that basis. In some cases, agents have thrown their hands in the air and chosen to delay visa applications until the new year, in the hope that there will be another more positive ‘policy’ shift from visa authorities. We anticipate a rush of applications from affected markets in January as agents try their luck once again” the provider went on to say.
CEO of the International Education Association of Australia Phil Honeywood says “I am aware that a number of providers have concerns about a slowdown in visa approvals, particularly in South Asia”. Mr Honeywood assures the Koala he has raised the issue with the highest levels of government, and he was assured there has been no intentional slowdown of visa issuance out of the New Delhi High Commission or onshore. The only rationale given for any delays was an increase in integrity issues.
Perhaps not so in other parts of the world, another provider stated, “We have had a 75% increase in refusals from Thailand in 2023 as compared with 2022, and almost every application came with an excellent GTE statement, which was checked by our marketing director. It’s effectively wiped out our market there for this year.”
Vague Visa Rejections
On the visa rejection side of things, the Koala has seen evidence of rejections that baffle.
“I have considered the applicant’s likely earning capacity in Australia (median employee earnings were around AUD$1,400 per week as at 31 May 2023) and in XXXX. Based on the information before me, I am not satisfied the financial incentives to return home outweigh the financial incentives to remain in Australia. I therefore place little weight on the applicant’s implied intention.”
Now, the Koala is no visa expert. It understands and acknowledges that certain integrity is required when issuing visas. But have we, as a country, really come to the point that we’re rejecting visas because our dollar and wage conditions may be better than other countries? If so, we may as well give it away now. Half the world won’t be coming to Australia any longer.
Another provider was happy to share the following example.
The applicant provided various supporting documents in support of their application. However, the applicant did not provide independently verifiable evidence, such as taxation or pension records, to support employment claims, or bank statements demonstrating salary payments.
Rejected: Student Hopes, Aspiration and Future Contempt Towards Australia
If a student’s visa is rejected, there is no exclusion period allocated unless the visa refusal has PIC 4020 – this is only included if the student has had fraud in the visa application. The rejection isn’t a concern when applying for another country either. That’s the good news.
Ravi Lochan Singh, Managing Director of Global Reach education agency, shares what a student can expect to lose out on, and it isn’t insignificant. “When we think about the time invested – in total, it is approximately 6-12 months. There are English Test costs and a loan process to work through (if required), and since a semester’s fees are paid one needs a refund and that comes at a potential lower forex rate and loss of money there, a risk.” He says.
Let’s talk financial loss. Singh says “The education visa cost is currently running at $710.00, and if using a migration agent, you could likely throw another $500 on top.” He says.
All gone.
He states, “If the student applies elsewhere in the world, then potentially one year of a student’s life is wasted.”
We know for sure that alumni of Australian education back home are a positive exercise in soft power. As an aside, The Koala hates this phrase. They’re friends who know us well.
The opposite can be said of those who have had their visas rejected. Left with a bad taste in their mouth by a country which they once aspired to travel to and study for what is increasingly a non-descript reason within a genuine temporary entrant test haze.
Singh says, “Some universities see it and allow re-application for a visa which in several instances is approved. But the majority of refusals are not reapplied as universities don’t want to risk their risk levels.”
Remember how Universities are told to fish in the right ponds? Visa rejections (should) count against them in their standing in the Streamlined Visa Process.
Provider Administrative burden
Sometimes glossed over or not spoken about, an increase in visa rejections means providers must provide a refund, expectedly so.
When rejections occur in an inconsistent manner or when they increase without a change of policy or other, it causes an administrative burden and backlog. One provider said “Looking at our outgoings, we seem to be refunding about $10-12k per day at the moment for refusals. Not a staggering amount in itself, but more alarming if it continues. We would normally – perhaps – expect that sum in a week.”
Update on Caps (TKN 28/11/23)
In the Koala’s discussion with Phil Honeywood of the IEAA he assured the Koala that caps were not part of the government’s plan.
