Australia VFS Application Centres in India

VFS Global Services Pvt. Ltd. has an concord with the Commonwealth of Australia
to offer Australian visa application services in India from 1 October 2007.
Applicants can lodge their visa application with VFS in person at their nearest
of the 10 centers across India . You can also send your visa application
directly to VFS Application Centers New Delhi through courier. Please ensure
that all fields in your visa application form have been completed to avoid any
processing delays. Also, please refer to the High Commission’s website http://www.india.embassy.gov.au/ for the list of required documents.

Working Hours: Monday - Friday 08:00 hrs to 12:00 hrs and 13:00 hrs
to 16:00 hrs

Important Documents For Study In Australia

This document must be necessary for the study in Australia.

IMPORTANT PAPERS

1 Additional information sheet

2. Application form

3 Letter of offer from the institution (original and photocopy) stating the course, fee structure and the duration

4 Four passport photographs

5 Valid passports

6 A statement of purpose

7 Other forms supplementary Questionnaire, details of relatives

8 Academic Documents (original and photocopies)

9 Guardianship form (if applicable)

10 IELTS test result

11 Work experience documents (original and photocopy)

12 Financial documents (originals and photocopies)

How much does it cost an abroad student to live in Australia?

Worldwide students can live separately in Australia for as little as AUD $265 a week, but prices vary substantially depending on the suburb and type of accommodation you want. Like all cities, Australia boasts a wide range of accommodation options to suit all budgets and tastes.

Here is a guide to weekly living expenses in Australia:

(A)Accommodation: $90-$250

(B)Gas & electricity: $25

(C)Telephone/postage: $20-$30

(D)Groceries: $80

(E)Transport $15-$20

(F)Clothing, entertainment etc $35+

(G)Total weekly spend $265 - $440

What are my housing options?

All Australian education institutions have a legal duty to assist new international students with accommodation on their arrival in Australia, and many have additional support to help you settle in for the longer term.

(A) On-campus: On-campus accommodation, university residences and residential colleges: may be situated on-campus or within a short distance, generally includes a single furnished bedroom, access to computers and the internet and a shared laundry and kitchen facility. Most are supervised and provide meals on weekdays.

(B) Home stay: involves living with an Australian family and allows you to experience Australian family life. Home stay is the most common form of accommodation for high school students but is also taken up by some tertiary students.

(C) Private rental: affordable right in the city center and inner suburbs of Australia, many within easy walking distance to central universities and institutions. Prices vary greatly depending on geographical area, demand, the number of people sharing and facilities provided. For rooms, houses and apartments for rent, look in Australia’s daily newspaper, The Advertiser.

(D) International residences: aim to assist students with the transition from living at home to independent living, by providing a quiet, managed environment for students who may prefer hostel living to the dynamics of shared households.

Details about Australian Student’s Visa

Many people would welcome the chance to spend some time in Australia studying and they can, as long as sure conditions are met. Firstly they must be proficient in English language, must attend a course or part of a course full time, and that course must be offered by an education or training provider registered with the Australian Government as accepting overseas students. The Department of Education, Science and Training provides full details but such courses comprise both vocational and academic.

There are 7 different types of student visa which may have differing conditions attached and these are:

(1). Independent ELICOS - For those undertaking an English Language Intensive Course either not leading to an Australian award or to a variety of certificates.

(2). Schools - For those in primary or secondary education.

(3). Vocational Educational and Training - which covers a number of vocational certificates and diplomas.

(4). Higher Education - covering degrees and graduate qualifications.

(5). Postgraduate Research - for those undertaking Masters research or a Doctorate.

(6). Non-Award - which are foundation studies or other components of courses not leading to an Australian award?

(7). AusAID and Defence - these are full-time courses undertaken by an AusAID or Defence student sponsored by the Australian Government

Each applicant for a student visa is assessed depending on country from which a passport is under arrest and the type of visa required. The evaluation level is designed to indicate how likely a student is to comply with the conditions of their visa, based on their previous performance. The assessment levels range from 1 to 5 and the higher the level, the more evidence will be required to support the visa application in terms of the student’s aptitude to support themselves and their fluency in the English language.

There are a number of conditions connected with being granted a Student Visa, the most distinguished of which being that the student must maintain enough health insurance for the period of their stay, they may not labor unless the apply intended for a separate visa to do so and they must remain in full-time education. The situation are far-away more detailed than this but this gives an thought of what is required of someone wanting to apply for a Student Visa. The Australian Government Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs website will guide students through the steps required to apply for an Australian Visa.

Australian Student Visa

(i) Evidence of Enrolment

One of the important requirements for a student visa application is that you must be accepted for enrolment, to undertake a course, by a Government registered Australian education institution. This is verified by the advice of acceptance from the Australian institution (commonly known as Letter of Offer), which is issued to a student who has been offered enrolment in a full-time course. You should not pay any part of the course tuition fee prior to the outcome of the PVA.

(ii) Financial Ability

Sponsor/s will have to provide documentary evidence of having cash assets ( immediately encashable assets like savings and fixed deposits in banks) held for atleast 6 months prior to the pre-visa application date. For school applicants, funds need to be held for 3 months prior to the pre-visa application date.

Who an be a Sponsor?

Sponsor/s can be the applicant, parents, grandparents, or spouse only ( relatives like brother /sister /uncle /aunt /cousin / family friend are not acceptable). School applicants have no restriction on sponsor/s.

How much funds have to be shown?

For Masters and Doctorate Courses
Sponsors must provide evidence of cash assets for the first year tuition fee (as on the letter of offer) and living expenses (assumed at A$ 12000 p.a.) and access to additional funds (from acceptable sources) to meet the cost of the remainder of study and stay in Australia.

Commercial loans from Banks and government loans are acceptable.

In case the applicant holds a partial scholarship from an Australian institution or an institution in India ( eg. Educational Trusts), funds to cover the remaining costs must be provided as prescribed above.

Private corporate sponsorship is acceptable subject to certain conditions. However if the company is a family owned business and if one/both parents are directors/partners, it is treated as a parent sponsor.

Students with Dependants (Spouse/Children)
Costs could be expected to increase by atleast 35% if the student has a spouse, a further 20% (plus A$ 8000 p.a. for school fees if the child is 5 years or older) if the student has one child, a further 15% for each additional child plus school fees. The above amounts apply irrespective of whether they will accompany the applicant. Individual return travel costs need to be taken at A $ 1500 approx.

For Vocational Education and Training (VET), TAFE, Higher Education and School courses
Sponsors must provide evidence of cash assets covering tuition fee and living expenses of the entire duration of the proposed and pre-requisite course (including foundation/ELICOS/Bridging program that precedes the main course).

(iii) English Proficiency

All students have to demonstrate a minimum level of proficiency, measured by an IELTS overall band score of atleast 6.0, except those enrolling for a Diploma course (VET) in which case 5.5 is acceptable. Please note that TOEFL score is not acceptable and IELTS is compulsory even if the student has studied in English medium institutions throughout his/her academic career.

(iv) Potential to breach visa conditions

This is an assessment of an individual’s current circumstances done by the visa officer by reviewing for example, the situation in your home country - your personal and financial commitments that may prompt you to return to your home country.

(v) Other Relevant Matters

These include:

• Immigration links with Australia

• Usefulness of course for career development

• Satisfactory completion of year 12 / relevant undergraduate degree or equivalent.

• Strong links have to be established between past academic/work background and study goals.

• Guardianship arrangements (if applicant is under 18 at the time of PVA application)

4. Further Processing

If you are advised that you meet the PVA requirements, you will be asked to undergo further processing. This I ncludes payment of course tuition fee to the Australian educational institution and a medical examination. It is essential that the student and the accompanying dependent(s) meet the Australian Health requirements before a visa may be granted. This involves a medical check and an x-ray for applicants over 16. Applicants will need to present an original valid passport to identify themselves to the Doctor and Radiologist. In some cases medical results will be referred to Australia and as this process takes 3 - 4 weeks, applicants will need to allow additional time. Usually only medicals where the doctor or radiologist has detected an abnormality will be referred to Australia. Applicants need to take into account postage or courier times also.

5. Total processing time

As a general rule, applicants should allow a four (4) to six (6) week timeframe for processing of applications.

Factors that may delay this processing time include:

• Medical referral to Australia and the need for any subsequent medical tests;

• Document verification including educational documents, employment references and bank statements; and

• Applications which are incomplete and require the visa office to make contact with the applicant or the applicant’s agent.

6. Health Insurance

It is compulsory for all international students to have Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for themselves and their dependents, where applicable, for the duration of the visa. The. premium for. OSHC is only to be paid once the PVA requirements have been met. The current premiums for OSHC are AUD274 for a single person and AIJD54S for a whole family.

7. Re-entry into Australia

All Student Visas have a multiple entry facility for the full period of the visa. Students who plan to travel out of, and return to, Australia at any time during their course are advised to check that their visa is valid for return to Australia.