Melbourne: Australia's new government is set to change its strict visa laws to attract more students from "high risk" countries like India and China. According to the recommendations of the Review of the Student Visa Assessment Level Framework 2013 report which was released earlier this week, the Australian government is likely to streamline the student visa Assessment Level Framework (ALF). One of the recommendations is to relax the financial requirements for student visa applicants from the AL (assessment level) 4 countries like India, Nepal and Pakistan.

"Assessment levels under the ALF would be reduced from five levels to three, while financial evidence for AL3 students would reduce from 18 months to 12 months, provided funds were from a close relative of the student applicant. This would mean students from a number of key markets would be able to apply for a student visa with up to A$40, 000 (approximately Rs.2.3 million) less in the bank," Australia's Immigration and Border Protection Minister Scott Morrison said in a media release. The AL review report, which was released by the Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, Senator Michaelia Cash, has recommended that ALs 4 and 5 be scrapped.

The Australian education and training providers and other professionals engaged in the industry have, overall, welcomed the proposals to streamline the ALF. "This news comes as a great relief for students from AL4 countries," Moninder Singh, CEO of a Sydney college said. "For example, Indian students would be assessed at AL3 and funds required will be for 12 months only instead of 24 months." he explained. "But the changes would have a negative impact on the AL3 (higher education sector) applicants from India as the funds for AL3 applicants would be required to be provided by a close relative of the visa applicant."