Student Visa English Language Requirements

Some Student visa applicants are required to provide the results of an English language test.

As of 20 May 2011, the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test is one English language test option accepted by the department for Student visa purposes. The department can also accept an English language test result from test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and the Occupational English Test (OET) in 14 countries where IELTS is not available.

However, the department will shortly be able to accept the following English language test options for Student visa application purposes:

• TOEFL in all countries
• Pearson Test of English Academic (Pearson) in all countries
• Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) from Cambridge ESOL (Cambridge) in all countries.

Equivalency scores for TOEFL, Pearson and Cambridge are being finalised and will be announced shortly. Test results from these alternative test providers (or in the case of TOEFL, from applicants in countries other than the 14 previously specified) will not be accepted for Student visa purposes until after this process has been completed. This is expected to be in place later this year.

The department will continue to accept a test result from IELTS. Current testing arrangements and equivalency scores for IELTS will not change.

The department will be closely monitoring the implementation of the new test providers and a review will be undertaken to determine whether these should be extended for the use with other visa programs.

Visa Assistance for Japanese Nationals

Visa Assistance for Japanese Nationals

The Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Chris Bowen, has issued a media release advising all Japanese nationals in Australia who are unable to fly home or are on temporary visas to contact the Department of Immigration and Citizenship as soon as possible. ‘DIAC will take the circumstances in Japan into account when dealing with requests for visa extensions and will consider, on a case by case basis, the options for Japanese in Australia whose visas to remain here are about to run out.' Australian citizens in Japan should contact DIAC immediately if they wish to travel to Australia with their children if those children are not Australian citizens. ‘Australian citizen parents located in Japan who have children born overseas who have not applied for, or been approved for, Australian citizenship by descent should contact DIAC to discuss the most appropriate way for their children to travel to Australia,' Mr Bowen said. DIAC will also look at extending the validity of time-limited requirements for visa applicants located in Japan if the assessment of an application has been delayed by events there. In view of the disaster in Japan, the Australian Embassy's immigration staff in Tokyo will work throughout the weekend to address urgent migration issues. PASSPORT ASSISTANCE FOR AUSTRALIANS AFFECTED BY JAPANESE TSUNAMIThe Foreign Minister, Kevin Rudd, has announced that Australians who have lost their passports during Japan’s natural disaster will not have to pay to replace them. The Australian Government will waive fees for replacing valid passports lost, damaged, destroyed or unavailable due to the earthquakes and tsunami in Japan.

New Change to Student Visa (onshore)

OVERSEAS STUDENT HEALTH COVER (OSHC): Since 1 January 2011 it has become mandatory that all international students take out OSHC to cover the entire duration of their proposed stay in Australia. This includes the period after the course has finished but before the visa expires (can vary from one month to four months depending on length of course and when the course finishes). Evidence of the OSHC must be provided regardless of Assessment Level (including AL1 countries who previously were granted based only on declaration). The only students exempt from taking out OSHC are those with specific overseas students reciprocal health care arrangements with Australia, namely Belgium and some students from Norway and Sweden.

important information people should know before applying for Australian visa

There are important things you should know before applying for, or being granted, an Australian visa.

This includes information about:

• applying for the right type of visa
• application requirements
• your obligations while in Australia
• the importance of complying with visa conditions.

The video 'Coming to Australia' will provide you with helpful information regarding your visit

please see YouTube VDO at  http://www.youtube.com/immitv#p/c/0/AVM0JriJ_p8