STUDENT VISA REFUNDS

If overseas students come to Australian in the next two months they will get their visa charge refunded.

Australia has called for international students to “come on down” to help Australia with workforce shortages

Overseas students who arrive in Australia from 19 January will have their visa application fees refunded to encourage more to enter the country.

The move is to help the nation ease workforce shortages caused by the spread of the Covid Omicron variant.

Student Visa Refunds for 8 Weeks

International students will have their visa fee waived for eight weeks. We want them to join our workforce, the Prime Minister said.

The current Student Visa application charge is $630. So, for the next 8 weeks, students coming to Australia will be refunded their $630 after they arrive.

The Australian government hopes the refund scheme will make a big difference in help fo fill continuing workforce shortages.

The rapid rise of COVID-19 infections has resulted in thousands of people being forced off work due to the virus or being required to self-isolate as a close contact.

The government wants to attract scores of thousands of foreign students to come to the country

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said the government was putting out the “welcome mat”.

Students Get More Work Hours

The federal government last week announced a 40-hour per fortnight working cap would be removed for foreign students in sectors affected by workforce shortages.

There are currently around 325,000 foreign students in Australia – with an estimated 150,000 still offshore.

the Prime Minister said foreign students working and being trained in health and aged care would, in particular, be “incredibly helpful” as the nation continues to grapple with the pandemic.

The Australian Industry Group also recently backed changes allowing international students to work extra hours saying the visa holders would provide much-needed support to sectors such as transport and hospitality

Australia’s borders only reopened to international students and working holiday makers last December after being shut down in response to the pandemic in March 2020.

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