Latest blog posts
COVID Testing when travelling to Australia – international flight departure date and time
If you are planning to travel to Australia, you must meet the requirements listed below. It is important to know, that you must count the time of your COVID testing backwards from the departure date of the international flight to Australia. Example, if you booked multiple flights, only the last international flight to Australia is
Visa charges to be waived for international students and working holiday makers
International students and working holiday makers who arrive in Australia from today will have their visa application fees rebated to encourage more to enter the country. Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced the changes on Wednesday to help the nation ease workforce shortages caused by the spread of the Omicron variant. “What we’ll be doing is
Foreign students allowed extra hours to ease worker shortage
Up to 400,000 foreign students will be able to work extra hours under a temporary relaxation of visa rules to ease crippling labour shortages, amplified by the isolation of thousands of workers in response to COVID-19. As the omicron wave disrupts commerce, fuel stations warned motorists could suffer a repeat of UK petrol shortages, unless
Australian visa processing update
Due to Australian border reopening to eligible temporary visa holders from 1 December 2021, the Department of Home Affairs is expecting an increase in visa applications. We encourage your agents and students to provide the Department of Home Affairs with complete Student visa applications. To check the requirements, students can use the Document Checklist Tool. A complete application
Australia: An overview of international student return plans
Most Australian states and territories have now announced student return pilots or broader plans to welcome back international students Quarantine and testing requirements vary from state to state, as does the expected timing and pace of student returns The Australian government has expanded its list of approved COVID vaccines in recent months. As of 17 November,
Canadian immigration reports surge in study permit applications in 2021
IRCC reports more than 730,000 new student permit applications through August 2021, a roughly 27% increase over the same period from 2019. More than half of the total volume of applications year-to-date were filed between January and May this year. That surge in application volumes correlates to a significant deadline for IRCC processing. The immigration
US legislative amendments aim to clarify use of agents in international student recruitment
Efforts are underway to have the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) amend new legislation passed in June 2021 – the THRIVE Act – whose wording, in one section, appears to present a barrier for American higher education institutions in using education agents for international student recruitment. The potential implications of the THRIVE Act naturally
The Student management system (SMS) is an important tool today
A Student management software (SMS) tools online provide education providers with a better control over their everyday tasks. The positive outcomes are seen in more streamline process of an organization. An institution’s administration systems enhance the information capturing and documents processing. Other daily jobs such as student enquiries, students monitoring, follow-up, and communication with the parents also
Importance of Educational Software’s for Educational Institutions
The Internet has expanded opportunities for improvement like anything seen so far. The incredible growth of the world wide web together with its ease of use and affordability has created new opportunities for all sorts of software. Tools of a good student management made the job of executing academic projects and distributing education and learning as
Is working from home here to stay?
Is working from home the future? Remote work is a hot topic these days and by all accounts, it will keep increasing into the next decade. Below are some estimates and predictions from several sources that drive that point home. A survey conducted by Upwork of 1,500 hiring managers found that due to COVID-19, 61.9% of the
Ireland extends post-study work eligibility for students studying remotely due to COVID
Ireland has temporarily adjusted a key immigration policy affecting international students in light of COVID, in an effort both to protect students’ ability to stay in Ireland after their studies to work and to discourage students from travelling back to Ireland during COVID. For a short time, international students who are studying online and/or remotely
Breaking news! Australian Borders Reopening Soon to Migrants and International students
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has flagged the possible reopening of the international border by the end of this year. He said top priority would be given to Australian citizens and permanent residents keen to return home, followed by skilled migrants and international students. Stay tuned for detailed information.
UK will introduce new international travel rules beginning in October 2021
From 4 October, fully vaccinated “rest of the world” travellers will no longer be required to take pre-departure COVID tests nor Day 8 COVID tests. They will, however, still need to book and pay for a Day 2 COVID test as well as to fill out passenger locator forms at any point during the 48
Canada opens new immigration pathway for international graduates
The Canadian government has announced a new pathway to permanent residence for over 90,000 essential workers and international graduates already in the country. Eligible essential workers are those working in one of 40 healthcare occupations “as well as 95 other essential jobs across a range of fields, like caregiving and food production and distribution.” Many of these
Canada adds Latin American and Caribbean countries to expedited student visa programme
Canada announced a significant expansion of its Student Direct Stream (SDS) on 9 July 2021, with students from seven new countries throughout the Americas now eligible to participate in the expedited programme for Canadian study permits. Students from Antigua and Barbuda, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Peru, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago may now
No quarantine in Canada for vaccinated students
Canada’s quarantine rules now exempt fully-vaccinated international students if they test negative for COVID-19 upon arrival, according to the latest guidelines for the country’s phased reopening. Canada will relax its border measures beginning July 5, at which point fully-vaccinated travellers permitted to enter the country will no longer need to complete hotel quarantine. Here’s what
New Zealand new Resident Visa 2021
On 30 September 2021, the Government announced a new one-off residence visa pathway for some temporary work visa holders currently in New Zealand. Some critical purpose visa holders arriving in New Zealand between 30 September 2021 and 31 July 2022 on long-term visas may also be eligible for this new visa. Partners and dependents can
Canada is now the most attractive study destination
Canada wins the title of “most attractive study destination,” a recent survey has found. Its appeal continues to grow, boosted by strong government policy response to COVID-19. The survey provides compelling evidence that student interest in Canada as a study destination remains strong. Canada could absorb displaced students unable to fulfill their plans to study
Can Australia adopt a Canada model for international students?
In a recent agent survey, Canada was voted the most attractive study destination. Its appeal continues to grow, boosted by a strong government policy response to COVID-19. Despite the pandemic, international students can enter Canada, provided they meet certain criteria. The situation is vastly different in Australia, where students still cannot return, sparking frustration. The
US will allow entry for fully vaccinated travellers beginning in November
Fully vaccinated travellers should be able to enter the US from November. The Biden administration’s decision to relax travel restrictions was prompted by the success of vaccine rollouts in various parts of the world. It comes as welcome relief for those working in industries including airlines, hospitality, and international education, and it will especially appease