Australia Announces New Visa Rules, Closes Option Used by Nigerians to Enter Country Since 2020
Nigerians and others would be affected by a new policy introduced by Australia to tighten its immigration regulations
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- From February 2024, the country said the Pandemic Event Visa would no longer be valid for international students
- Through the 408 visa, more than 20,000 foreign students have found employment in Australia.
Australia's Minister for Immigration, Andrew Giles, has announced that the Pandemic Event Visa, a renewable 12-month certificate that permits students to work in any industry would be phased out by February 2024.
The visa, commonly referred to as the 408, was created to allow international students stuck in Australia because of COVID-19 travel limitations to work legally.
It enabled them to sustain themselves by finding paid employment.
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Recall that the Australian government recently announced plans to close the loopholes exploited by international students, including Nigerians, for cheaper studies.
Over 20,000 foreign students will be affected
More than 20,000 foreign students have been employed in Australia using the 408 visa. The majority of them did so when it was reopened at the end of 2021.
Barely 3,000 students had the 408 visas in 2021 when borders were blocked according to a report.
However, more than 17,000 students received a 408 visa in 2022 when borders were open and students could leave Australia without restriction.
It also allowed international students to apply for occupations they were previously ineligible for. This, it was gathered, was to address the workforce shortages in vital areas of the Australian economy.
Condition driving visa operation no longer needed
According to a joint media release with the Hon Andrew Giles MP, the visa will be closed to all applicants beginning in February 2024.
Now that the conditions that drove the operation of the visa are no longer present,
Giles said the move would provide integrity to its visa system considering the fact that the circumstances that prompted the 408 visa were no longer applicable.
With the directive, only current holders of Pandemic Event visas would be permitted to apply for the visa from September 2, 2023 till the deadline. Other visa holders are considered ineligible.
The Pandemic Event visa, according to the minister, was a crucial component of Australia's visa policy during the pandemic. He pointed out that many foreigners on transitory visas supported Australia at the time.
The minister said the nation would give those who have a Pandemic Event visa the chance to look into other visa options or make travel arrangements outside Australia.
He claimed that the migration system was ineffective under the Liberals and that there was no strategy in place to deal with how the borders were reopened.
He said:
We’ve brought wait times down, and we’re working to make sure our migration system is working again for all Australians after a decade of mess and mismanagement under the Liberals.
Less work, more study
As part of the new policy, the Australian government eliminated the 408 visa and raised the required amount of fees for overseas students to qualify for a visa by 17%.
Students now need to show that they have $24,505 in savings. The government claimed the hike was to ensure students have enough money to support their education without having to work excessive hours or for unethical firms.
The number of hours international students can work while studying is now also limited to 48 per week.
Although it was an increase from the pre-pandemic quota of 40 hours, some students feared the restriction would put international students in a terrible financial situation.
Source: Legit.ng
