Chinese lead cancelled student visas

Nearly 18,000 student visas were cancelled last year, with Chinese nation­als accounting for 4686 of them.

Acting Immigration Minister Alan Tudge says international students should abide by the rules. Picture: Aaron Francis

Nearly 18,000 student visas were cancelled by the federal government last year, and Chinese nation­als accounted for 4686 of them.

Department of Home Affairs figures reveal the number of Chin­ese students losing their visas was at the highest level in five years. China has accounted for the highest numbers of cancellations since 2014-15, but has the most inter­national students in Australia.

Last financial year, 45,309 visas were granted to Chinese citizens.

South Koreans accounted for the second-largest number of stud­ent visa cancellations in 2018-19, with 1503.

Citizens of India (1157), Malaysia (1107) and Brazil (914) also accounte­d for high numbers of cancellations.

It’s understood that among the more common reasons for cancel­lations were failure to be enrolled in an appropriate course, providing incorrect information or bogus documents and being found to be a “non-genuine” student.

Other common reasons include material changes in circumstances and a request for a cancellation, usually by students who have returned home.

Acting Immigration Minister Alan Tudge said international students should abide by the rules. “Like all visa holders, international students must abide by the conditions of their visa,” Mr Tudge said. “These rules apply equally, ­irrespective of country of origin.

“Anyone who does not abide by their visa conditions risks having­ their visa cancelled.”

More than 4500 student visas were cancelled in the first three months of the current financial year. The number of cancellations has remained relatively steady over the past three years, following a spike seen during a crackdown on dodgy education providers and agents.

That spike in 2015-16 — when 19,685 visas were cancelled — came after just 10,821 were recorded the previous year.

 

International Education Asso­ciation of Australia chief executive Phil Honeywood said there had been a “lag” in identifying visa holders who had been constantly changing courses following a federal­ government crackdown on providers.

“There has been a systematic crackdown of both bad providers and education agents over the last several years,” Mr Honeywood said. “However, there has been a lag period in which a number of students who came under the original student visas, seven or eight years ago, have been jumping courses. There’s been a catch-up of many of these, who really have run out of time to keep extend­ing their visa.

“The cancellations, to continue at that rate, really reflects the catch-up of many students.”

Of the 17,819 cancellations last year, men aged 18-34 accounted for 8913 of them. Women in the same age group accounted for 6129 cancellations.

While the cancellations have been steady since then, the ­number of student visas being issued­ has been rising. Mr Tudge said the student visa program was “vital to the Australian economy­”.

“It supports our global competiti­veness and strengthens cultural, trade and commercial links with other countries,” he said.

“Last year, international stud­ents generated $37.6bn to the Australian economy and supported over 250,000 jobs.”

He said the government was “committed to maintaining Australia’s status as an attractive destinati­on for overseas students”.

“The government has announc­ed a range of measures to encourage students to live and study at regional universities,” Mr Tudge said.