DIAC update

Michael Willard

DirectorStudent Policy Section

•Statistical update

•Assessment Level outcomes

•ESOS impact on student visa programme

Offshore student visa grants2001 to 2006-07 (Jul- Mar)

86,299 97

,650 109,6

10

115,248

116,716 129,1

75

169,280

0

20,000

40,000

60,000

80,000

100,000

120,000

140,000

160,000

180,000

2000-01 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07( Jul-Mar)

Offshore Grants - Global

Offshore student visa grants (contd..)

97,183

124,085

0

20,000

40,000

60,000

80,000

100,000

120,000

140,000

2005-06 (Jul-Mar) 2006-07 (Jul-Mar)

Offshore Grants

Offshore student visa grants – top 10 Source countries

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

China India Korea USA Malaysia Japan Thailand Indonesia Hong Kong Brazil

Offshore Grants by Citizenship 2004-05 to 2006-07 (Jul-Mar)

2004-05

2005-06

2006-07 (Jul-Mar)

Sectoral offshore student visa grants

0

10,000

20,000

30,000

40,000

50,000

60,000

Offshore Grants by Sector

2004-05 2,421 499 18,032 47,921 8,096 16,615 8,386 2,113 12,632

2005-06 3,052 796 22,094 57,332 2,865 16,518 8,702 2,191 15,625

2006-07 (Jul-Mar)

2,409 686 19,422 58,462 2,568 10,924 9,306 1,205 19,103

AusAID Defence ELICOS Higher Education

Postgrad. Res. Non-Award Schools Secondary

Ex VET

AL 1 offshore eVisa take-up rate

57

73.4

87.289.8 89.2

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 (Jul-Mar)

eVisa take-up Rates

AL 2-4 Offshore eVisa take-up rates

0.00

10.00

20.00

30.00

40.00

50.00

60.00

70.00

80.00

90.00

100.00

Al2-4 eVisa Trial Take-up Rates

2004-05 18.02 10.07 5.20 0.00

2005-06 43.29 51.16 40.47 4.56

2005-06 (Jul-Mar) 40.44 44.12 35.80 3.88

2006-07 (Jul-Mar) 54.66 60.02 55.37 11.61

China India Thailand Indonesia

Assessment Levels

• The Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) reviews annually the Assessment Levels for each country for student visa purposes with changes made, where necessary, around April each year.

• Assistant Minister Theresa Gambaro announced the changes on 3 May 2007

Assessment Level outcomes

• Several countries will move to a lower risk rating• One country will increase in assessment, including for

ELICOS• A small number of countries on notice

Countries ‘on notice’

• What can the Australian Government do?

• What can education providers do?

ESOS changes - impact on the student visa programme

• Standard 5 - Younger students

• Standard 7 - Transfer between registered providers

• Standard 9 - Completion within the expected period of study

• Standard 10 - Monitoring course progress

• Standard 11 - Monitoring attendance

• Standard 13 - Deferring, suspending or cancelling student’s enrolment

Welfare arrangements under 18s

The National Code 2007:Standard 5 – younger students• Education Providers can nominate the period for which

they will approve welfare arrangements

• Education Providers must notify DIAC if an under 18 student has changed living arrangements or the provider no longer approves of the welfare arrangements

• Education Provider must continue to check the suitability of welfare arrangements until– student is accepted by a new education provider;– student leaves Australia;– other suitable welfare arrangements are put in place; or– registered provider reports they no longer approve of arrangements

Welfare arrangements for under 18s

• What are adequate welfare arrangements?

– Student living with parent or nominated suitable relative who is over the age of 21 and of good character

– Students welfare approved by education provider

Welfare arrangements under 18s

Processing requirements - Schedule 1

Onshore under 18 students must show evidence of adequate welfare arrangements at time of application

Evisa – only students applying for a further student visa in Australia and whose education provider is approving their welfare will be able to online

Full-time study/course duration

The National Code 2007: Standard 9 – Completion within the expected duration of study

- Education Providers monitor a students course progress to ensure they complete the course within the expected duration

- Education Providers can only issue a CoE to extend study beyond expected duration in limited circumstances

- Students may enrol in distance/online units for up to 25% of the total course, but must not enrol exclusively in in distance/online units in any compulsory study period.

Welfare arrangements under 18s

Visa End Date PolicyStudents whose provider is approving their welfare: Visa end date = end of welfare arrangements date

Students whose provider is approving their welfare until they turn 18:Visa end date in line with standard policy

Students who will be residing with parent or suitable relative: Visa end date in line with standard policy

Standard Visa end date policy:= one month for courses less than 10 months= two months for courses ending during the year= 15 March of following year for courses ending Nov/Dec

Change of provider

The National Code 2007:Standard 7 – transfer between registered providers• DIAC will no longer be responsible for monitoring or

approving Change of Provider applications

• Education providers will now be responsible for decisions on whether to release students who wish to change within the first 6 months of their principal course

• Providers should ensure that welfare continues to be in place for students under 18 years of age

Full-time study/Course duration

The National Code 2007: Standard 9 – Completion within the expected duration of

study

- Education Providers monitor a students course progress to ensure they complete the course within the expected duration

- Education Providers can only issue a CoE to extend study beyond expected duration in limited circumstances

- Students may enrol in distance/online units for up to 25% of the total course, but must not enrol exclusively in in distance/online units in any compulsory study period.

Course progress and attendance

Standards 10 and 11: Appeals processes• Where a provider has assessed the student as not meeting

attendance and/or course progress requirements they issue the student with a letter of intention to report

• Student has 20 days to access provider’s internal appeals process

• Student may access an external appeals process if the internal appeal is unsuccessful

• Provider reports the student:– After 20 days if the student has chosen not to access appeals,– withdraws from appeal or – decision of appeal supports the education provider.

Course progress and attendance

The National Code 2007: Standard 11 – Monitoring attendance- Providers must monitor attendance

(exception: Higher Education courses and VET sector courses where provider implements DEST/DIAC Course Progress Policy)

- Providers counsel students who are at risk of failing to meet attendance requirements

- Providers report students who have breached attendance requirements

Course progress and attendance

Standards 10 and 11: Appeals processes• Where a provider has assessed the student as not meeting

attendance and/or course progress requirements they issue the student with a letter of intention to report

• Student has 20 days to access provider’s internal appeals process

• Student may access an external appeals process if the internal appeal is unsuccessful

• Provider reports the student:– After 20 days if the student has chosen not to access appeals,– withdraws from appeal or – decision of appeal supports the education provider.

Transition issues

Welfare Arrangements• Visas granted prior to 1 July – providers responsible for

period of stay

• Visas granted post 1 July – providers responsible for nominated period

(In both cases length of visa)

• Interim CAAW letter – grant the visa end date to match the date nominated by the provider

Working Holiday visas

• Work and Holiday (subclass 462)

• Working Holiday Maker (subclass 417)

• Both allow visa holders to study for up to 4 months

Working Holiday visas