Fact sheet

Independent ELICOS Student visas in China

This fact sheet provides information for applicants from China seeking a subclass 570 – ELICOS visa. This visa is designed for students with a genuine intention to study only English in Australia. The Department will be monitoring applications and compliance for this visa type very closely.

The Department regularly reviews the immigration compliance of all international students. These Assessment Level reviews use objective data to determine the relative immigration risk of student cohorts by nationality and education sector. Where justified, changes are made to the Assessment Levels that apply to the different student cohorts. Assessment Levels determine the requirements for a student visa. The higher the Assessment Level on a scale of 1 to 5, the greater the immigration risk and therefore the greater the requirements for the grant of a visa.

As a result of the 2008 Assessment Level review, applicants for a subclass 570 – ELICOS visa from the PRC were moved from Assessment Level 4 to Assessment Level 3. This is the result of objective data which demonstrated that the visa compliance of Chinese students had improved. Any future movements in the Assessment Level are similarly dependent on the visa compliance performance.

The compliance rates of both students and agents will be tracked closely.

The Department expects that prospective students who genuinely wish to undertake only a stand-alone English course in Australia will apply for this visa. Careful assessment will be undertaken in regards to the claims of all applicants. Applicants are reminded to provide full and complete information, as detailed in the checklist which is available for eVisa agents on the DIAC website at (http://www.immi.gov.au).

Agents who lodge eVisa applications from non-genuine students may be the subject of sanctions as specified in the Facility Access Agreement. Sanctions include suspension from the eVisa trial or removal of an agency from the eVisa trial.

Frequently Asked Questions

These questions relate to Chinese applicants for subclass 570 – ELICOS visas.

Q: Should I lodge an eVisa or Paper application?
A: Applicants may lodge an online eVisa application through a participating agent (http://www.immi.gov.au/business-services/education-providers/_pdf/ed_agent_list.pdf) or can choose to lodge by paper. The Department’s preferred lodgement channel is eVisa which streamlines the application processes, offering clients a faster and more convenient lodgement method.
All applications from PRC nationals lodged in Mainland China or New Zealand are processed at the Adelaide Offshore Student Processing Centre, although only applicants resident in Mainland China can lodge their applications by eVisa.

Q: How is this different from the normal visa process?
A: DIAC will be carefully assessing all of these applications. Every applicant’s background and personal circumstances will be considered when determining if the applicant’s intention to study in Australia is genuine. Applicants are encouraged to provide full and complete information about their personal circumstances.

Q: How is this different to normal eVisa process?
A: Participating agents should note that additional documents must be attached to the browser in support of any subclass 570 -ELICOS visa applications. The China specific checklist has been updated to reflect these changes. The following documents must be scanned and attached to the eVisa browser at the time of application. Failure to do so may result in visa refusal or increased processing times for these applications.
• The applicant’s bank statements showing a consistent savings history (i.e. evidence of personal savings or income)
• The applicant’s property ownership certificates (all pages) or other evidence of funds or assets.
• For each person in the application who is in employment, a letter from their work unit authorising leave, indicating the length of employment, position held, salary and full contact details of the person who authorised the leave.

Q: What sort of information regarding personal circumstances should be included as part of the application?
A: Evidence of personal circumstances should include employment details which include salary level, evidence of approval of leave to study in Australia, as well as length of employment; evidence of funds and assets, including property ownership, holdings of shares; if an applicant is being supported by their parents evidence of the parents employment and assets should be included; evidence of any schooling or training which has been completed since school; any evidence of international travel.

Q: How far before a course should an application be lodged?
A: All applications for this subclass should be lodged at least 12 weeks prior to the course start date, but not more than 16 weeks.

Q: Will a “No Further Stay” (Condition 8534) be imposed on a granted 570 - ELICOS visa?
A: Condition 8534 prevents the visa holder from applying for another visa while in Australia.
Condition 8534 is a mandatory condition on all courses which are 10 months or less in length for Assessment Level 3 and 4.
Condition 8534 is also a discretionary condition for courses which are longer than 10 months for Assessment Level 3 and 4. Where the courses are longer than 10 months, the individual circumstances of the applicant will determine whether this condition is imposed.


Q: Can school age students apply for a subclass 570 - ELICOS visa?
A: Students of school age are required by Australian law to be attending school. Any applicant for this subclass is also required to provide the additional evidence described above. If an applicant is under 18 years of age and applies for an ELICOS course (visa subclass 570) they are likely to be refused. Short term study of up to three months for school groups can be undertaken on a visitor visa.

Q: Can an applicant apply for a 570 – ELICOS visa and change subclasses in Australia?
A: In most cases, subclass 570 – ELICOS visas are subject to a ‘no further stay’ condition which prevents visa holders from changing subclasses in Australia.
Students who wish to study ELICOS and then go on to further courses in other education sectors, such as a Schools, VET or university course, should apply for a student visa to cover both courses at the time of their initial visa application.
The 570 ELICOS visa is designed for applicants who wish to undertake standalone ELICOS courses only.

Q: What is the maximum length of ELICOS which can be undertaken on a 570 – ELICOS visa?
A: 50 weeks.

Q: Who can provide financial support? Are loans or money deposits acceptable?
A: Any individual can provide financial support for an assessment level 3 applicant. A loan from an acceptable financial institution can be used. Money deposits must have been held for 3 months prior to the lodgement of the application, in an acceptable financial institution.
The additional requirements mentioned above must also be supplied in addition to the Schedule 5A financial documentation.

Q: Can dependants go to Australia with a subclass 570 - ELICOS visa holder?
A: Subclass 570 - ELICOS visa holders are not eligible to bring dependants to Australia.

简报

中国独立海外学生英语强化课程（ELICOS）学生签证

 


本简报提供的信息是针对申请570 类别ELICOS签证的中国申请人。这类签证是为有真实意愿在澳大利亚仅学习英语的学生而设计的。澳大利亚移民和公民事务部将密切监控该类别签证申请及申请人遵守签证条款的情况。

澳大利亚移民和公民事务部对所有国际留学生是否遵守移民规定做经常性的评估。对签证审理级别的评估是通过客观数据，按国家和教育机构划分，决定学生申请群体的相对移民风险。当依据成立时，审理级别就会有变化。变化后的审理级别适用于不同的学生申请群体。审理级别决定学生签证的申请要求。从1-5级，审理级别越高，移民风险就越大，因此获得签证的要求就越高。

根据2008年审理级别的评估结果，中国的570类别ELICOS签证申请人的评估级别从四级变为三级。这是客观数据显示的结果，表明中国学生遵守签证规定的情况有所提高。将来任何有关审理级别的变动都会类似地根据遵守签证条款的情况而定。

澳大利亚移民和公民事务部会密切跟踪学生和代理遵守签证规定的比例。

澳大利亚移民和公民事务部希望那些真正愿意在澳大利亚仅进行独立的英语课程学习的学生申请这种签证。所有申请人在申请中声称的内容将会被仔细地评审。我们提醒申请人要提供全面和完整的信息，详细内容请见本简报结尾附件A里所列的文件清单。

代理为不具备真实学习目的的申请人递交电子签证申请，可能会受到处罚。这一点在“设备使用协议”中有明确规定。处罚包括暂停使用电子签证试行资格或从电子签证试行中取消代理资格。

常见问题

 

这些问题与中国申请人申请570类别ELICOS签证有关。

问：我应该递交电子签证申请还是普通签证申请？

答：申请人可以通过参与电子签证试行的代理在线递交电子签证申请（http://www.immi.gov.au/business-services/education-providers/_pdf/ed_agent_list.pdf）或选择递交普通签证申请。澳大利亚移民和公民事务部倾向申请通过电子签证途径递交，该方式提高了签证评审效率，为客户提供了更快速和更便捷的递交方式。

尽管只有居住在中国大陆的申请人才能够递交电子签证申请，所有中国籍申请人在中国大陆或新西兰递交的申请，都将由阿德莱德海外学生评审中心进行评审。


问：570类别签证与正常的签证评审过程有何不同？

答：澳大利亚移民和公民事务部将会仔细地评审所有这些570类签证申请。在判定申请人在澳大利亚学习意愿是否真实时，澳大利亚移民和公民事务部会考虑每一位申请人的背景和个人情况。澳大利亚移民和公民事务部鼓励申请人提供全面和完整的个人情况的相关信息。

问：570类签证与正常的电子签证评审过程有何不同？

答：参与代理应该注意，为支持每一个570 类别ELICOS签证申请，必须在浏览器上附上一些额外文件。澳大利亚移民和公民事务部已经更新了中国具体文件清单，更新后的文件清单反映了这些变化。下述文件必须在签证递交时扫描并附加在电子签证浏览器上。若不提供这些材料，可能会导致该申请被拒签或增加评审时间。

• 申请人的银行存款证明书，能表明有一致的存款历史（即：个人存款或收入的证明）。
• 申请人的房产所有权证明（所有页），或其它资金或资产证明。
• 对于申请中每一位在职人员，需提供其工作单位出具的准假信，注明其工作年限、职位、工资以及出具准假信人完整的详细联系方式。


问：什么样的个人情况信息应包括在申请中，做为申请的一部分？

答：有关个人情况的证明应包括工作细节，这包括工资水平、准许离开去澳大利亚学习的证明、以及工作年限；资金和资产证明，这包括房产所有权、股票持有量；如果申请人由其父母提供资金支持，应包括父母的工作和资产证明；还应包括申请人学校教育结束后所有的学习和培训证明；以及所有出国旅行证明。

问：签证申请应在课程开始前多长时间递交？

答：所有该类别签证申请应至少在课程开始前12周递交，但不应早于16周。

问：“不能进一步逗留”（8534条款）是否会强加在批准的570类别ELICOS签证上？

答：8534条款防止签证持有人在澳大利亚期间申请其它签证。

对于审理级别为三级和四级所有10个月或少于10个月的课程，8534条款是一强制性条款。

而对于审理级别为三级和四级所有长于10个月的课程，8534条款又是一个可随意使用的条款。当课程长于10个月时，是否加8534条款将由申请人的个人情况而定。

问：处在义务教育年龄的学生是否能够申请570 类别ELICOS签证？

答：澳大利亚法律要求处在义务教育年龄的学生应该接受中小学教育。任何570 类别ELICOS签证的申请人都要求提供前面提到的额外文件。如果申请人不满18岁，但申请读ELICOS课程（570 类别签证），这样的申请可能会被拒签。中小学生团体可以持访客签证进行不超过三个月的短期学习。

问：申请人可否申请570 类别ELICOS签证，并在澳大利亚变更签证类别？

答：在大多数情况下，570 类别ELICOS签证要受“不能进一步逗留”条款的制约，阻止签证持有者在澳大利亚变更签证类别。

学生若希望先学习ELICOS课程，然后在其它教育机构进行进一步课程学习，如中小学校课程、职业教育和培训课程、或大学课程，学生应该在其最初签证申请时就申请能够包括两种课程的学生签证。

570 类别ELICOS签证是为那些希望只读独立的ELICOS课程的申请人设计的。

问：持570 类别ELICOS签证读ELICOS课程的最长时间是多少？

答：50周。

问：谁能够提供资金支持？贷款或存款是否接受？

答：任何个人都可以为审理级别为三级的申请人提供资金支持。可以使用被认可的金融机构发放的贷款。存款必须在申请递交前在被认可的金融机构中有三个月存期。

除了附件5A要求的资金文件，前面提到的额外要求的文件也必须提供。

问：家属是否能够与570 类别ELICOS签证持有人一同前往澳大利亚？

答：570 类别ELICOS签证持有人不能携家属前往澳大利亚。