Weihong Liang, like many international students, feels exploited after the cost of his visa unexpectedly doubled to $4,600 overnight.

“It feels like a scam,” Liang expressed.

The visa in question permits international students who have completed their studies in Australia to remain in the country for an additional three years, allowing them to live, work, or continue with post-graduate studies.

On March 1, the Department of Home Affairs raised the application fee for this visa from $2,300 to $4,600.

This increase affects all international students, with the exception of those from the Pacific and Timor-Leste.

“This exception is in recognition of the importance of Australia’s special ties with the Pacific,” stated a spokesperson from the Department of Home Affairs.

“Excluding Pacific and Timor-Leste applicants from this VAC increase supports the Australian government’s commitment to deepening engagement with countries in the Pacific region by fostering global education, workforce development, and skills exchange.”

Australia’s fourth-largest export is education, behind coal, iron ore and natural gas. 

More than 843,500 international students study in Australia annually and contribute $53.6 billion to the economy.

Most of the international student intake comes from China, India, Nepal, Vietnam and Colombia.

Weihong, who is also the president of the International Students Representative Council of Australia, said international students are already taking out loans, asking their family for help and working more hours to make ends meet.

He said he’s been left feeling like a cash cow.

“The tuition fee and all costs of the application, including the visa fee, insurance fee and travel fee, is quite high,” he said.

“We are really unhappy that the government looks like they just want to get more money from us.”

Weihong said the temporary graduate visa price hike could also deter some students from studying in Australia. 

But the Home Affairs Department does not expect international students to avoid studying in Australia.

“Australia has a well-earned reputation for its world-class education offerings and the attractiveness of the Australian lifestyle,” a department spokesperson said.

“The VAC increase will unlikely be a barrier to those wishing to remain in Australia after graduation.”

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