Labor targets ‘visa hopping’ international students in crackdown on ‘permanently temporary’ migration
Migration agents and lawyers ‘selling false hope’ to people seeking to stay in Australia also in government’s sights as it seeks to reduce overseas arrivals “Visa hopping” international students, migration agents and lawyers trying to “game” the migration system will be targeted by the government, as Labor unveils a further crackdown. The changes announced on Friday mean international students…
Labor is targeting "visa hopping" international students and migration agents who attempt to game the system in a broader crackdown on what the government describes as "permanently temporary" migration. The changes announced by the assistant minister for international education, Julian Hill, on Friday will require international students to apply for a separate visa to transfer courses, in addition to the new rules preventing transfers to lower grade courses.
Hill stated that these measures will curb the rise of "permanently temporary" migration, emphasizing that Australians should not expect the same rights when visiting another country as those being visited. The Home Affairs Minister, Tony Burke, added that the changes aim to restore confidence in Australia's migration system. The reforms are part of a larger package aimed at reducing net overseas migration, which currently stands at nearly 300,000 a year, and the government hopes to bring this figure down to 225,000 by 2028.
Bridging visas, temporary visas issued when a visa expires and the individual awaits a decision on subsequent applications or asylum claims, will also be targeted. From July 1, 2027, a student's visa will not be extended even if they transfer to a different course. The government is also targeting migration agents and lawyers who sell "false hope" by encouraging individuals to pursue baseless visa claims.
The department of home affairs plans to consult on how to hold migration lawyers accountable for providing misleading advice or assistance to those seeking asylum or non-citizen status.
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