Immigration crackdown sees thousands of students booted from Australia

A government crackdown on immigration fraud has seen thousands of international students booted from Australia and thousands more blocked from entering the country.

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More than 3000 international students were booted from Australia and a further 13,000 blocked from entering the country amid a government crackdown on immigration fraud.

The Home Affairs Department is reviewing on a weekly basis lists of international students to make sure the system is not being rorted by foreigners wanting work rights in Australia.

It checks up on students who are not longer enrolled in a course, where their last recorded study was more than two months ago but there was still more than six months until their visa expired.

International students who were found to be working in breach of their student visa have had their stay cancelled.

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It comes as the government is preparing to overhaul the visa system as part of its new population policy which was expected to be announced next month.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has singled out temporary visas, including student visas, for new restrictions that would force foreigners out into regional areas and small cities.

Immigration Minister David Coleman said the student visa program must work Australia’s national interest.

“The government will not tolerate fraud and misconduct by those seeking to study in Australia,” he said.

“International students seeking to study in Australia should be motivated by Australia’s world class education system.

The government is preparing an overhaul of the visa system with temporary visas, including student visas to be singled out.

“While international students are granted restricted work rights while in Australia, students found to be working in breach of these work rights are liable to have their visa cancelled.”

Latest Home Affairs figures show 3182 students who were in Australia at the time had their visa cancelled while a further 13,398 student visas were cancelled while people were outside of Australia at the time.

Among the visas cancelled 19 were on character grounds which includes perpetrators of assault and drug crime.

Mr Coleman said the government was undertaking a holistic review of all visa programs.

“The student visa program is very positive for the Australian economy and any potential changes will be taken in consultation with the education sector, and with a view to ensuring that the program continues to work in the interest of all Australians,” he said.

Student visas can be for up to five years but the government must be notified of any changes to course enrolments.

Universities and other education providers were also required to report to the government when foreign students were regularly truant, were not passing classes and did not pay fees.

Mr Morrison has confirmed that the government was considering force universities in Sydney to reduce their foreign enrolments in favour of regional campuses such as those in Tamworth of Armidale.

Home Affairs figures show that at the end of June there were almost 487,000 student visa holders in Australia. Of those, 23 per cent were from China and 14 per cent came from India.