STUDENT VISA DELAY
Student Stress over Major Visa Delays
Australia’s reputation is at stake. What was once a beloved destination for international students to study and work has now become a pillar of uncertainty. This is certainly the case for Tanushree Nath and Mohammadhossein Esmaeli, two international students who have been waiting for 18 months to see any sort of change in their student visa status.
Both Nath and Esmaeli are suffering from deteriorated mental health due to this situation. Nath has panic attacks about her career and future, while Esmaeli will often wake up at five o’clock in the morning to check his email. They both live on the premise of “maybe tomorrow,” in a constant state of anxiety and stress. Nath and Esmaeli stated that they check their email multiple times a day and have sent multiple reminders to the Department yet have heard nothing. Students like Nath and Esmaeli are waiting 18 months, and in some cases years, to get an answer out of the Department of Home Affairs.
Although delays may be because all non-citizens applying for Australian visas are assessed on an individual basis, it would be better to tell students they were denied instead of keeping applications suspended as they could make alternative arrangements to study in another country. As of June 30, up to 150,000 student visa applications are still waiting to be processed by the Department.
Students are not only frustrated themselves but are now telling their colleagues not to apply to Australia for postgraduate or graduate studies. International students are not only vital to a thriving economy in Australia, but also bring with them welcome diversity and culture. Australia must do everything it can to encourage students to come study here in comparison to other countries and maintain its reputation as an international student destination.
Disclaimer
This blog provides general information and is not intended as legal advice specific to your circumstances. Please feel free to seek our professional legal advice if you have any questions, concerns, and/or queries
Source: https://thepienews.com/news/australian-govt-moves-to-fix-visa-delays/
