Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE)
The key integrity measure the Department of Home Affairs makes in granting a student visa is whether the applicant is a genuine temporary entrant. That is, are they coming to Australia for genuine study purposes and have a realistic prospect of returning home once their studies have finished. Direction 69 by the Immigration minister provide detailed information on the criteria of assessment. DHA takes a balanced approach and will weigh up all the factors before making a decision.
Some factors that the department considers as part of the GTE requirement include:
- the circumstances in the applicant’s home country
- the applicant’s potential circumstances in Australia
- the applicant’s immigration history
- the value of the course to the applicant’s future
- any other matter relevant to the applicant’s intention to stay temporarily
Student Visa Conditions
When a student is issued with a student visa, there are conditions attached to it. These visa conditions are often expressed as numbers. It is important for student to understand visa condition and obligations. If a student does not comply, their visa may be cancelled, and they may need to return home. There is also a three-year ban (exclusion period) on re-entry to Australia if a visa is cancelled for breaching visa conditions.
NOTE: Australian authorities do not require students to have a visa label in their passport. VEVO is a free online facility that allows Australian visa holders, employers, education providers, financial institutions and government agencies to check the visa details including conditions and entitlements of a visa holder. VEVO requires a registration and login. To check/verify the status of a student visa and its conditions, go to the VEVO website.)
