Given the extended delays Vietnamese students are experiencing with their visa applications in Australia, the Vietnamese Ambassador to Australia, Pham Hung Tam, recently urged the country to speed up processing times to address these issues.
According to Deputy Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Renee Deschamps, 90 percent of these students are experiencing a wait of three to five months, VisaGuide.World reports.
Normally, the processing time for a student visa in Australia will be from 35 days to four months (depending on the field of study). Therefore, after applying for a visa, please regularly log in to ImmiAccount to promptly update the approval status.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Australia Pham Hung Tam highlighted recent developments in bilateral cooperation during a meeting with Australian Assistant Minister for Immigration Matt Thistlethwaite.
He also noted that during Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s official visit to Australia in March, the two countries upgraded their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
Australia Experiences 50% Surge in Vietnamese Student Visa Applications
According to Deputy Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Renee Deschamps, there has been a 50 percent increase in study visa applications from Vietnamese students compared to the previous year. He advised prospective students to apply well in advance and seek guidance from those already studying in Australia.
However, the same authority data revealed that only 12,600 Vietnamese students received visas over the past ten months, resulting in an approval rate of 78.7 percent— the lowest in 18 years.
Currently, Vietnamese students make up five percent of the foreign student population in Australia, ranking fifth among countries with the highest number of students there.
At the same time, Australia remains a top destination for international education alongside the United States and Canada, with annual tuition fees ranging from AUD 24,000 to AUD 52,000 (approximately USD 15,845 to USD 34,331).
Australia’s New Student Visa Fee
Australia has just recently increased its visa fees for international students. The fee rose from €710 to €1,600.
With this decision in force, authorities raised concerns that it could potentially deter students from choosing Australia as their study destination.
An IDP survey of over 1,400 students revealed that more than one-third of respondents considered visa costs when selecting a study destination. This concern intensified when students were informed about the impending fee hike, with nearly three in five indicating that the increased cost would influence their decision.