The Sydney Opera House and city centre skyline are seen in Sydney, Australia, Feb 28, 2020.SYDNEY — Australia said on Wednesday it would raise the amount of savings international students will need to get a visa and warned several colleges of fraudulent student recruitment practises, as part of efforts to rein in record migration.
The moves follow a raft of actions in recent months to tighten the student visa rules as the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions in 2022 triggered a sudden influx of migrants, exacerbating pressure on an already tight rental market. Home Affairs Minister Clare O'Neil said warning letters had been sent to 34 education providers for "non-genuine or exploitative recruitment practises". They could be jailed for up to two years and banned from recruiting students if found guilty, she said.