FED: Govt cracks down on student visa rorts

AAP General News (Australia)
12-01-1998
FED: Govt cracks down on student visa rorts

CANBERRA, Dec 1 AAP - The federal government has moved to stop overseas students taking
advantage of their study visas by forcing them to wait until arrival to apply for a work visa.

Immigration Minister Philip Ruddock said the changes to the overseas students program,
which came into effect today, were designed to ensure that only genuine students benefited
from the scheme.

"Unfortunately it became apparent that a number of overseas students were abusing
Australias generosity by working in Australia without taking up their study course," Mr
Ruddock said in a statement.

"To remedy this, students will now only be granted permission to work after they arrive in
Australia and have commenced their educational course.

"They must make a separate application in Australia to work, produce evidence that they
have commenced studying and pay a $50 charge."

Mr Ruddock said the government was also making it easier for some people already in
Australia on temporary visas to change to a student visa.

"People from low risk countries who find a course of study they would like to attend will
be able to change to a student visa," he said.

"They will not need to prove there are exceptional circumstances to change visa status, as
they did in the past."

Low risk countries are classed as those whose citizens have a good history of complying
with visa conditions.

The new measures also require overseas students granted their first student visa to remain
with the original education provider for at least the first 12 months.

Mr Ruddock said the changes meant student visas would be cancelled if students did not
satisfy course requirements.

AAP daw/mfh/it

KEYWORD: STUDENTS

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