• The Hon Prime Minister of Australia, Australian Department of Home Affairs, Relevant Australian Authorities 

There are 8 to 9 thousand prospective and existing Australian student visa subclass-500 applicants from Pakistan. This petition has been started by visa applicants to bring matters in question into your consideration.

The subject matter is stated as follows:

1.  Pakistan holds more than 5000 current student visa applicants for Australia and the numbers are growing yet majority of the visa applicants are awaiting there visa responses for 3 to 9 months, whereas, assessment level 3 countries same as Pakistan, including India, Nepal, and Bangladesh are receiving their visa responses within 7 days to 3 months.

▪ Visa processing time for applications from Pakistan should be maintained as for other countries.

2.  Post-pandemic, Higher Education Sector (HES) visa processing time for Pakistan has increased and visa ratio has declined simultaneously for some unknown reasons. Processing time for Vocational Education & Training Sector (VET) is up to 7 months and more than a year for Research Sector visa applications which is also greater as for no other country.

▪ Visa ratio for Pakistan in HES and all other sectors should be maintained equitable, unbiased, and prejudiced as before.

3.  Students who studied one or two semesters in Australia before pandemic and were stuck in Pakistan in or after March, 2020 due to travel restrictions are also struggling for their visas.

▪ Students who are suffering due to natural disaster should be given priority rights and privileges to complete their studies.

4.  The behavior of Australian High Commission staff with student applicants is immensely discourteous, which is creating uncertainties, chaos, and controversies among student visa applicants.

▪ The reasons behind visa delays and declining visa ratio specifically for Pakistan should be communicated through official channels.

ISCP E-mail: iscpcommunity@gmail.com

ISCP Twitter Handle: https://twitter.com/ISCPhandle/status/1530884325012643841?t=L-dPMmMjhcP4Bh_jdxHFrQ&s=19

Considering the dire situation of visa applicants from Pakistan, Australian authorities are requested to address these issues as quickly as possible to save the future of thousands students awaiting their visas. Thank you!

International Students Community of Pakistan