Today (20/7/2020), the Australian Government announced five changes of student visa which will help current and new international students studying in Australia.
The most significant one is for new international students. The Government will recommence granting students visas lodged outside Australia. This means that whenever the travel ban is lifted, students will already have visas and be able to come to Australia immediately.
The second one relates to visa processing fee. Students will be able to lodge a further student visa application free of charge if they are unable to complete their studies within their original via validity due to COVID-19.
The third is for students who already had student visas but have not been able to come to Australia due to the COVID-19 crisis. The studies they have been studying online outside Australia will be counted towards the Australian study requirement for a post-study work visa.
The fourth is for graduates who held a student visa but have not be able to return to Australia due to the COVID-19. They will be eligible to apply for a post-study work visa outside Australia.
And the fifth is for students who have been re-applying a new visa which requires English proficiency. Additional time will be given for them to provide English language results where COVID-19 has disrupted access to their English exams.
More information: https://ministers.dese.gov.au/tudge/supporting-international-students-support-australian-jobs