International students could be left marooned by 457 visa abolition
Students who entered Australia before November 2011 left with limited post-study work options given they are not eligible for 485 temporary graduate visas either
The abolition of 457 skilled work visas could unfairly affect international students who have spent years studying with the intent to work in Australia, say advocates and students.
Students who entered the country before November 2011 could be left marooned by the sudden changes without a valid avenue to work in Australia.
Most international students rely on 485 temporary graduate visas to commence work in Australia after their degrees, but applicants under the visa’s unskilled post-study work stream are ineligible for 485 visas if they entered the country before November 2011.
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Dhaval Shukla, a spokesperson for international postgraduate students at the University of Sydney, said 457 was the lifeline for students who did not fall into other common visa categories such as the temporary graduate visa (485) or skilled visas (189 or 190)..
“As soon as the announcement was made, I started getting emails from students who either entered the country before November 2011 or whose degree wasn’t listed.
“It’s not fair on them – for six years they’ve been paying the fees applicable for international students. They’ve dedicated their lives to studying in Australia and all of a sudden they’re expected to leave the country and go off.”
Fiona, who spoke on the condition of a pseudonym, is an American student who came to Australia in 2010 for a masters degree in media and film studies. After moving on to a PhD, she found herself caught out by the 457 and citizenship changes.
“I’ve been here for seven years,” she said. “I love Australia so much I want to join the military and contribute in that capacity. But for some of us, 457 was our only pathway to stay.
“We’re the ones who have spent the most money in this country. We’ve contributed. I volunteered for Legacy, which raises money for veterans. I volunteered during elections.
There’s an ever-decreasing number of pathways,” she said. “The increasing work experience requirements will disadvantage students, as well as the decreased number of occupations. It’s already been the case for some time that it is very hard to move from a student visa directly on to permanent residence.
“There were roughly 6,000 applicants for the 457 visa from holders of student visas in the last financial year, which is under 10% of 457 grants. From what I understand, the changes mean doctoral students will be hit hardest as there isn’t another student visa for them to move on to and they won’t have the work experience for other visas.”
The post-study work stream of the 485 visa lets students live and work in Australia for two years after completing a bachelors degree, three after a masters and four after a doctorate.
Shukla said the changes added to the stress international students suffer in Australia.
“Lets not forget, right from day one when international students apply for student visas, we face huge issues. We pay higher costs than domestic students – at least $60,000 for two years if you’re being modest. In states like New South Wales we have no travel subsidies and a higher cost of living. The problems are many and the 457 changes just added to it.”
source: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/may/03/international-students-could-be-left-marooned-by-457-visa-abolition
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