Banking News – The Australian government has implemented new rules, further tightening the international student visa system. The new arrangement has been implemented from October 2 with the objective of controlling immigration numbers and preventing misuse of student visas.

According to the new rules, most temporary visa holders and students currently in Australia will no longer be able to easily apply for another student visa from within the country. They have been required to apply for a new student visa from their home country or from outside Australia.

The government has stated that the rules were tightened to curb the trend of changing visas, switching courses, or repeatedly choosing small courses at the same level to stay in Australia for a long time. Now, students must continue the course they started, and a provision has been made that they cannot change courses repeatedly for ordinary reasons.

However, a provision has been maintained that students currently studying who successfully complete their course and wish to move forward for higher-level studies can apply for another student visa from within Australia. Additionally, some exemptions have been given to students who have 12 months or less remaining to complete their current course and need to extend their visa.

The new rules have also tightened dependent visas. Now, the process of including a spouse or dependent children in a student visa application has been limited. Especially for students studying in general courses other than PhD or certain government-sponsored study programs, it will be difficult to take family members along or add them after the visa is approved.

According to experts in the education and immigration sector, the new arrangement will have a direct impact on Nepali students preparing to study in Australia and those currently studying there. A situation has been created where students must now make decisions more cautiously regarding course selection, visa planning, and their study journey.