Increasing student visa rejection rate

The New South Wales (Australia) government on June 14 organized a New South Wales study abroad exhibition, attracting more than 1,000 parents and students in Ho Chi Minh City. Speaking at the event, Ms. Katherine Tranter, senior immigration officer at the Australian Department of Home Affairs, informed that the rate of granting student visa applications to Vietnam in the 2023-2024 fiscal year was 76%, down 15% compared to the previous year.

According to Ms Tranter, there are six common reasons why the review department refuses to grant a visa to an applicant, including incomplete documents, failure to respond to requests for further information, dishonest intentions to study abroad, fraudulent documents, insufficient English proficiency, and insufficient funds to cover study and living expenses. "The priority processing of student visas is still subject to Home Office Directive 107," Ms Tranter said.

"Most importantly, each student visa application is considered individually, based on all the information provided by the applicant, meaning each application is considered based on the characteristics and circumstances of each applicant. We can make a decision immediately and do not need to ask you to provide additional information, so make sure your application is complete from the beginning," the senior female officer commented.

Another piece of data Ms Tranter provided was that the average time to process an Australian student visa application globally at the moment is 50 days. In the higher education sector alone, the processing time for 90% of applications is calculated in months, with a maximum of 4 months. Processing time depends on many factors, such as the quality and completeness of the application, the response process from the applicant or the number of applications submitted at that time...

Ms Tranter also noted that the location where the visa application is processed does not affect the decision, as all applications within the same program, such as student visas, are assessed against the same criteria. This means that moving to a different city or country will not result in a faster processing time. "You can find out how to prepare a complete and accurate application on the Australian Department of Home Affairs' 'Check Twice, Submit Once' website," Ms Tranter said.

With a student visa, international students can study in Australia, enter and leave Australia and work up to 48 hours per fortnight while studying or undertaking an internship, as long as their course is in session. “If there are any changes while you are on a student visa, you need to let us know, such as changes to your contact details, passport, marital status, welfare arrangements or transferring to a different course,” Ms Tranter said.

What should Vietnamese international students pay attention to?

Talking to Thanh Nien , Dr. Nguyen Vinh Quang, who has many years of experience working in the international education sector in Australia and is currently the Director of Q Education (HCMC) Career and Skills Organization, advised Vietnamese students to prepare to submit their application and student visa 4-6 months before the intended date of enrollment. Because, in addition to the student visa, you also have to pay attention to other factors such as airfare, accommodation, etc.

According to Mr. Quang, preparing for a study abroad trip to Australia in the current context requires you to have a more thorough and careful plan than before, especially when the Australian government is increasingly strict in granting student visas. One of the things to keep in mind is choosing a school and major that suits your abilities and interests, because this can help increase your chances of being granted a student visa.

Financial proof is also an important step, and students need to ensure that they can afford their tuition fees and living expenses during their time studying in Australia. Students should also achieve high scores in international English exams such as IELTS to increase their chances of getting a student visa, and also help them enter a bachelor's program directly, without having to go through a pre-university academic English course.

"In addition, you also need to learn about the culture and life in Australia to easily integrate and enjoy your study time here, as well as find a part-time job soon. Finally, find a reputable consulting unit to get the most updated information when preparing your application and visa application. In addition, find out if they have any other support after you arrive in Australia, such as having staff or an office in Australia," Dr. Quang advised.

According to statistics from the Australian Department of Education, by May 2024, there were 704,931 international students studying courses in Australia. Of these, Vietnam had 33,765 people, ranking 5th. At leading universities, the number of Vietnamese students and researchers accounts for a significant proportion, about 600 people at the University of Melbourne, 400 people at the University of Adelaide, or in the top 10 in terms of the number of international students at the University of Queensland...