Vietnamese Ambassador Urges Faster Processing of Australia Student Visas as Costs Rise
The Vietnamese Ambassador to Australia, Pham Hung Tam, has heaped pressure on the Australian government to hasten student visa applications in the face of growing delays and costs of processing student visas. The system is under immense pressure as Vietnamese students continue to spend many more months waiting and more money for an education in Australia.
The delay in obtaining visas is affecting Vietnamese students.
Recent reports reveal that the majority of Vietnamese students seeking a visa to study in Australia are suffering from delays. According to Deputy Australian Ambassador to Vietnam, Renee Deschamps, the average delay for students at the moment is three to five months. Considering all this, Pham Hung Tam calls for a faster-paced system to remove all unnecessary stress and uncertainty from the prospective students’ shoulders.
The urgent matters on this issue were brought out at the meeting between Ambassador Pham Hung Tam and Australian Assistant Minister for Immigration Matt Thistlethwaite. Tam also underlined that the bilateral relationship between Vietnam and Australia was upgraded to a comprehensive strategic partnership during Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s official visit to Australia in March.
Vietnamese Students to Australia Increased Sharply
In the past, Australia has witnessed a 50 percent rise in student visa applications from Vietnamese students within the past year. This surge is driven by its country’s strong reputation as an international education destination. However, despite this surge in figures, only 12,600 Vietnamese students were granted visas in the past ten months, indicating an approval rate of just 78.7 percent—representing the lowest figure approved in 18 years.
This places Vietnamese students fifth among the largest groups of international students, with five percent of Australia’s foreign student population. The increase in applications underlines growing demand for education from Australia despite the obstacles that the students face.
Increased Costs and Their Impact
The challenges are further being supplemented by Australia’s recent increase in its visa fee for international students from €710 to €1,600. This spells out an increase that many fear will scare off potential students from studying in Australia. A survey of over 1,400 students conducted by IDP revealed that more than one-third of those responding claimed to have thought about the associated visa costs while deciding on their study destination. The prospect of increased fees only heightened these concerns, with nearly three in five students indicating that this increased cost would affect their decisions on whether to study in Australia.
Australia's Position in the International Education Landscape
It may be undergoing its own issues at the moment, but Australia is still one of the most favoured destinations of foreign students aside from the USA and Canada. Tuition rates are also ever-increasing from AUD 24,000 to AUD 52,000 per year, which is equivalent to about USD 15,845 to USD 34,331. The high costs are a testimonial to the quality of education in Australia.
Conclusion
The Vietnamese Ambassador’s call to expedite the processing of visas could not have come at a better time, as the visa wait times and related costs are now increasing for Vietnamese students. These are the issues that need to be addressed on an urgent basis to keep Australia in a good destination for study, so that students may be able to go for their educational goals without unnecessary delays and resultant financial burden.
As the situation is changing, intending students and their families must be kept updated with any further changes in regard to visa policies and fee structures. Managing these challenges on their part, students can continue to benefit from the rich educational opportunities Australia has to offer.
