Oz to strengthen visa application checks to prevent fraud

Natasha Chaku

Melbourne, Aug 20 (PTI) In yet another step to cleanse
its overseas education sector hit by scams and the Indian
student crisis, Australia on Thursday said it will now
strengthen checks on visa applications to stamp out fraud and
ensure that only "genuine students" enrol for studies here.

Minister for Immigration and Citizenship Chris Evans
said Australia will not tolerate fraud in the student visa
programme which has to support the entry of only genuine
international students.

"Australia's student visa programme supports the entry
of genuine international students. For those students, the
department provides a convenient, efficient service," he said.

"The message is clear: genuine international students
remain welcome in Australia, but we will not tolerate fraud in
the student visa programmes," he said.

Evans said applications for student visas has grown by
20 per cent to 362,193 in 2008-09, with almost 28,000 student
visas refused, an increase of 68 per cent on the number of
refusals in 2007-08, an official statement said on Thursday.

"While overall student visa compliance rates remain
high, there are elements of concern within this large
caseload," the minister said.

The targeted measures will address the potential for
document fraud and issues around financial capacity of pupils
to live and study in Australia, besides identification and
bonafides.

The measures implemented with immediate effect includes
upgrading the interview programme to build a strong evidence
base around fraud, removing or restricting eVisa access for
some agents where there is evidence of fraud or inactivity,
and restricting access to eVisa for some segments if analysis
demonstrates restricted access would allow for better control.

The measures will target parts of the student visa
caseload in India, Mauritius, Nepal, Brazil, Zimbabwe and
Pakistan.

"These measures are consistent with those used by other
countries that receive large numbers of student visa
applications, such as the United States," Evans said.

The measures are part of the government's ongoing
response to any changes in risk in visa programmes and will
build on work already conducted across the student visa
programme to combat fraud.

Similar arrangements are already in place for students
from other countries, such as Sri Lanka and Vietnam.

"Student visa requirements are aligned to the
immigration risk presented by an applicant. The greater the
risk identified, the more evidence required to be granted a
student visa. Risk is determined by an objective analysis of
visa compliance," Evans said.

The next formal review of student visa risk framework is
scheduled for 2010. The data obtained from the enhanced
checking of student visa applications will help inform future
reviews. PTI NC
SDE
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