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From today Department of Immigration and Border protection has made a massive change on student visa. The changes are summarized as below.

The seven subclasses, from 570 to 576 do not exist as of today. New visa subclass 500 and 590 will replace previous 570 and 576 subclass under new Simplified Student Visa Framework (SSVF).

The major changes on this new subclass are:

Online lodgment

Apart from some exception all student visa from now on will be lodged online. This will replace paper applications that used to be lodged offshore high commissions. Further the application lodged offshore in a particular country need not necessary be dealt by the same country case officer. For example, an application that is lodged in Nepal used to be assessed by Indian High Commission. As of today, it may be allocated to case officer of any country; not necessarily in India.

Simplification of English Language requirement:

Unless you are considered as a low risk applicant you do not need to show the evidence of English language test score. The following are some exemptions.

1. Hold a passport from the UK, USA, Canada, NZ or Ireland
2. Enrolled in an ELICOS course, school or post-graduate research course
3. Foreign affairs, defence or secondary exchange students
4. Completed Senior Secondary Certificate of Education in Australia
5. Substantially completed a Cert IV or higher in Australia
6. Completed 5 years of study in English medium in Australia, Canada, NZ, South Africa, Ireland, UK or USA

Simplification of Financial requirement

 If you are considered as a “high risk” you will need to meet financial requirement. You will need to show the capacity of your living expenses for first 12 months of tuition fee and travel expenses or annual income from your parents or spouse.

The new living expenses index has increased to $19,830 for main applicant, $6940 for partner or spouse and $2970 for any dependent child.

The evidence of financial capacity can be shown either by

• Education loan from financial institution
• Bank deposit. Unlike before you do not need to show 3 months of continuous saving, however you will need to show the evidence that the fund is readily available for student when required while studying in Australia.
• Income – This is a completely different to the previous student visa framework. Your parents or spouse can show the income of $60,000 per year for a single applicant or $70,000 for couple. The amount should be equivalent to Australian Dollar. The evidence needs to be on a government official document.

Maintain Enrolment

The visa condition 8202 will only allow student to go upward unlike previous requirement. Previously, Students were allowed to change to any other course as long as the visa subclass remained the same.