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COVID-19 AND  STUDENT VISAS

COVID-19  has enforced the Australian government and educational institutes to measures to help international students sail through this epidemic. Some of them are

Some student visa holders allowed to work more than 40 hours a fortnight

The Department of Home Affairs recently announced that Australia’s major supermarkets (Coles and Woolworths) will temporarily be able to offer more hours to international student employees due to increased demand for supermarket items. The provision is for existing employees. During this period, the Department of Home Affairs and will not cancel the visas of students who work in excess of 40 hours each fortnight. Students should only work more than 40 hours a fortnight once they receive written authorisation from DHA.

Moving to online learning

As an increasing number of Universities and educational institutions will move from face to face to online learning in the coming weeks the Australian government has made special provisions for international students. Student visa holders will not be in breach of their student visa conditions due to the move to online learning.

Allowing international student nurses to work

20,000 international student nurses who are already in Australia will be allowed to work. The decision was made yesterday to lift the restriction on work constraints to contain the spread of COVID-19 with their and support

Do student visa holders have to remain in Australia?

The question on many international student’s minds is whether they should remain in Australia or return to their home country during this period. While most universities and educational institutions will not require international students to be in Australia while online learning is permitted. No one can guarantee whether further travel bans may impact a student’s future study for the remainder of 2020. Student visa holders should carefully weigh the risks of traveling back to their home country as opposed to staying in Australia.

If students do not wish to continue their studies for this semester, depending on the educational institute they may be allowed to postpone their studies to the next semester. They can lodge a suspension request application and provide supporting documents. Supporting documents should include a statement about their individual situation and compassionate and compelling circumstances on why they cannot attend their course. Students should attach a VEVO check to their suspension application. Students may also be permitted to reduce their study load.

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