International students in Australia say new visa rules that took effect this month have left them unsure whether they can finish their courses, The Guardian Australia reports.
The Albanese government's changes, aimed at cutting net migration, target so-called visa hopping and transfers between courses. Most temporary visa holders must now leave the country to apply for a new visa, and partners and children are restricted on most student visas, with exemptions for PhD students and applicants from Pacific and Asean countries.
One Bangladeshi student in Adelaide told the paper her visa will expire four months before her course ends, so she will have to apply from overseas. A Melbourne migration agent warned that students could be left waiting abroad. The assistant minister, Julian Hill, said the government would consider visitor visas to keep families already in Australia together.
Source: The Guardian Australia
