Immigration newsletter 17 February 2010

Students from North India, Bangladesh and Nepal wishing to study in a higher education course will from 1 March 2010 again be able to apply for an UK student visa.  This will help thousands of students who have been unable to apply for a student visa since the 1 February 2010 suspension. 

Pat McFadden, the Minister for Business, Innovation and Skills, had the following to say, “The suspension was taken in response to a huge surge in applications over a very short period of time.”

“I am delighted to be able to announce today that, from 1 March, this suspension will be lifted for all students wanting to study higher education courses, whether foundation degrees, undergraduate or postgraduate.”

Unfortunately the ban will continue for the time being for student applicants who wish to enter the UK to study at a level lower than undergraduate level.

There have been a number of major changes to Australia’s skilled migration program recently. Australian immigration believes that these changes are more likely to result in Australia bringing in the type of immigrants needed by the Australian economy. Immigration Minister Chris Evans stressed recently that students with an occupation on the new Skilled Occupation List (SOL) may still be able to apply for permanent residence.

Skills Australia will be responsible for the new SOL. This will be focused on high value skills that it is believed will be needed by Australia now and in the future.  The areas covered include healthcare, engineering and mining.  The SOL will become available in April and will be reviewed annually. 

A recent online survey of 1600 international students in more than 10 Australian Universities shows that 24 percent are interested in studying overseas to gain permanent residence.  This is up five percent compared to a similar survey in 2005. The recent changes to the Australian immigration system which will make it more difficult for many students to gain a permanent residence visa may put off many prospective students interested in Australia.

The new Australian immigration system gives priority to skilled migrants with a job offer.   Also, the new Skilled Occupations List will in future, most likely, only include more highly skilled occupations.  It is felt that the latest Australian immigration changes will cause serious problems for private colleges; This has been the faster growing sector of Australia’s $17 billion-a-year international education industry. 

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