A few days ago, media reports said that since May last year, Chinese doctoral students and visiting scholars who have received admission notices from a number of Australian schools and national public or full scholarships have encountered difficulties in applying for Australian visas. Some students have not received visas so far.
On March 9, the Ministry of Education's official website of the National Fund for studying abroad, which is responsible for overseas students sent by the Chinese public, posted a notice on visa applications for overseas students in Australia.
The announcement said: because of the adjustment of Australian visa policy, some students who went to Australia in the past two years encountered difficulties in applying for visas to Australia, and the review took a long time, and Australia has never been able to explain and explain the visa process. In response to this situation, since 2016, the State Fund for studying abroad has been in contact with Australian embassies in China, university alliances, scientific research institutions and major universities to continuously negotiate visas for those sent by the state to study in Australia. In many efforts, some of the overseas students have been granted visas to go to Australia, but some of them are still unable to send out as originally planned because of visa reasons.
In this regard, the Australian Embassy in China said in response to a question from the paper.cn on March 12 that the Australian Government attaches great importance to the cooperative relationship with the Management Council of the Chinese National Fund for studying abroad. And has been working closely with the State Fund for studying abroad. It is important to note that currently affected researchers are applying for scholarships that allow them to participate in Australian studies (408 category), not student visas.
According to information from the Australian Embassy in China, temporary activity visas (category 408) allow visa applicants to stay temporarily in Australia, including for recreational performances, and are invited by Australian institutions to participate in the activities. Participate in or observe Australian research projects, etc.
"We have been identifying and tracking visas for short-term temporary activities. Because such visas require applicants to pass health, conduct and national security checks, we have encountered a small number of scholars who have been delayed and have been in contact with the National Fund for studying abroad. " A spokesman for the Australian Embassy in China told the press.
According to the spokesman, as of March 12, 2018, 40 such visa applicants were affected by the delay. For student visas, the signing rate is about 97% and is completed within the average acceptance time.
On January 24, the China overseas Studies Fund Management Committee wrote to the Australian Embassy in China, sending to the Embassy a list of those who were partially funded by the China study abroad Fund and who had been waiting for months to fail to study in Australia after submitting their visa applications. And expressed the hope that the visa results can be informed within a month.
According to previous media reports, visa-strapped students and scholars are engaged in research in science and engineering, including electronics engineering, materials, microbiology, chemistry, physics and so on. These Chinese students and scholars have been waiting for the longest 10 months. The reasons for Australia's official response are "the same", saying that third parties are reviewing their visa materials, so the time will be longer. However, in 90% of cases, the audit process will not exceed 74 days, according to the Australian government website. In response, some Chinese students who have been delayed believe that their visas have been delayed for no reason or related to the "anti-China rhetoric" that began to emerge in Australia around 2016.
However, the spokesman told the press that the Australian government attaches great importance to long-term scientific relations with China. Australia ranks third in academic publications co-authored with China and vice versa. This reflects the depth of cooperation between the two countries. The Australian Embassy will continue to work with the National Fund for studying abroad to support Chinese scholars.
Australia is one of the main destinations for Chinese students. But in recent months, some Australian officials and media hype about China's attempts to influence it has also raised concerns in Australia's higher education industry, with some schools and experts making disagreements. According to the Australian newspaper on February 28, after a number of Sino-Australian educational activities have been cancelled or delayed, the Australian University Alliance will organize a mission to China in April to repair relations with China. Australian Education Minister Simon Birmingham (Simon Birmingham) is also expected to visit China this year.
And James Lauren (James Laurenceson), vice president of the Australian-China Relations Society at Sydney University of Science and Technology, also wrote in the Australian Financial Review on Feb. 27, warning that international scientific and technological development was inseparable from China. Allegations of so-called Chinese influence in Australia could harm the country's own research and isolate Australia.
