The Australian government’s attempts to curb migration through a visa crackdown are being undermined by a record influx of temporary migrants, particularly international students. The number of student visa holders has surged to an all-time high, complicating the government’s plans to reduce migration levels, while rejected visa applicants are exploiting the appeals process to extend their stay.
Record Spike in Temporary Visas
A recent report by The Australian Financial Review (AFR) highlighted a dramatic increase in the number of temporary migrants in Australia, which has risen by around 100,000 in the past year. By the end of August, the number of international students holding temporary visas had soared to 679,293, marking a historic high. This comes despite the Albanese government’s efforts to slash migration numbers to 260,000 for the current financial year.
Similarly, the number of temporary graduate visa holders — those who have completed their studies and are staying in Australia to work — has surged from 193,277 a year ago to 223,960. These figures reveal that Australia’s student visa policies are not just failing to reduce migration but are instead fueling its growth.
Economic analyst Justin Fabo from Antipodean Macro illustrated this trend with data showing the unprecedented rise in temporary visa holders. Although the number of temporary student visas has plateaued in raw numbers and dropped slightly in seasonally adjusted terms, the situation remains a challenge for the government.
Bridging Visas Complicating Migration Control
One of the major issues exacerbating the migration surge is the sharp rise in bridging visas. These are temporary visas that allow individuals to remain in Australia while their visa applications or appeals are processed. According to AFR journalist Julie Hare, there has been a significant increase in student visa holders transitioning to bridging visas, further complicating the government’s ability to meet its migration targets.
“Bridging visa numbers spiked to 323,583 from 191,235 a year ago, as former students appealed against the cancellation of their visas or the denial of new applications,” Hare reported. The rising number of bridging visa holders is making it increasingly difficult for the government to achieve its goal of reducing net migration to 260,000 this financial year.
Former Deputy Secretary of the Immigration Department, Abul Rizvi, has warned that current trends could result in the net overseas migration figure ballooning to between 325,000 and 350,000 this financial year — far exceeding the government’s target.
Dodgy Providers Taking Advantage of Loopholes
Experts in the migration field have raised concerns that unscrupulous education providers are exploiting loopholes to recruit as many international students as possible before new regulations take effect in January. Helen Duncan, from the Migration Institute of Australia, said that efforts to prevent “visa hopping” — where students switch between different visa categories to extend their stay — appear to have failed.
“A lot of dodgy providers are doing what they can to recruit as many students as they can before the caps come in on 1 January,” Duncan warned, indicating that the system is being gamed by institutions more interested in profits than the quality of education.
Phil Honeywood, Chief Executive of the International Education Association of Australia, echoed these concerns, noting that there is a “mad panic” among some providers to stack their student numbers before the new visa caps take effect. He expressed worry that the rush to exploit the system is contributing to the overcrowding of the visa appeals process.
Bridging Visas as a Temporary Solution
The surge in rejected visa applicants turning to bridging visas to extend their stay is a key issue undermining the government’s crackdown. With former students appealing their visa rejections, the backlog in the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) has become clogged, allowing individuals to remain in the country longer than intended.
Bridging visas, originally designed as a stopgap while applications were processed, are now being used by rejected student visa holders to buy time, frustrating the government’s efforts to clean up the system. This growing reliance on bridging visas is contributing to a rise in temporary migrants and undercutting the federal government’s war on fraudulent student visa applications.
Proposed Reforms to the Student Visa System
To address the flaws in the current student visa system, experts are calling for stricter reforms that would make entry into Australia more difficult for prospective international students. These proposed changes include:
Stricter Language Requirements: Introducing tougher English-language proficiency standards and requiring prospective students to pass entrance exams before being accepted to study in Australia. This would ensure that students coming to Australia are equipped to succeed academically and not simply using the visa as a means of gaining entry for work purposes.
Increased Financial Requirements: Raising the financial requirements for student visa applicants, including the introduction of an escrow account where funds must be deposited before arrival. This measure would ensure that students have adequate financial resources to support themselves during their studies, reducing the incentive to overstay or work illegally.
Decoupling Study and Work from Permanent Residency: One of the key attractions of studying in Australia is the potential pathway to permanent residency. Reform advocates suggest severing the direct link between student visas, work rights, and permanent residency to discourage individuals from using education as a backdoor route to staying in the country long-term.
These reforms would not only reduce the number of incoming international students but also enhance the quality of graduates and improve the overall integrity of the education system. By prioritizing genuine students with the financial capacity and language skills to succeed, Australia could transform international education into a high-value export industry.
Tightening the Appeals Process
In addition to making entry requirements more stringent, reforming the visa appeals process is essential. The federal government needs to tighten the operations of the AAT to prevent rejected visa holders from exploiting the system by transitioning onto bridging visas. Without timely reform, bridging visas will continue to inflate temporary migration numbers and complicate the government’s ability to manage the inflow of foreign nationals.
Temporary visas should be exactly that — temporary. Visa holders must be required to return to their home countries once their visas expire or their applications are denied, ensuring that the system remains fair and transparent.
Conclusion: A Need for Urgent Reform
Australia’s student visa system is facing a crisis as the number of international students and temporary visa holders continues to rise, putting pressure on the government’s migration targets. Bridging visas, once a temporary solution, are now being widely used by rejected applicants to extend their stay, clogging up the appeals process and frustrating the government’s attempts to regain control of the system.
To restore integrity to the student visa program and curb the surge in migration, the government must implement stricter entry requirements, increase financial accountability for students, and overhaul the appeals process. Without these changes, Australia risks becoming a destination for visa hopping and dodgy education providers, rather than a global leader in quality education.
The time for action is now if the Albanese government is to meet its migration goals and restore public confidence in Australia’s immigration system.
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