The delays have caused uncertainty for many students who have already made travel arrangements and are anxious about meeting enrollment deadlines.

Recently, many Vietnamese students aspiring to study in Australia have expressed concerns about being "stuck" due to pending visa approvals, despite contacting the relevant authorities. There is widespread confusion about the reasons behind these delays.

"I am really worried because I don't understand why this visa approval process is taking so long. I don't know how long this will last," one student shared.

Some students are increasingly anxious as they have already booked flights and worry about not receiving their visas in time for the start of the academic term.

Addressing these concerns, Australian Ambassador Andrew Goledzinowski emphasized that education is a foundational pillar of the bilateral relationship between Australia and Vietnam. Over the past 50 years of diplomatic relations, many Vietnamese have studied in Australia, with approximately 100,000 alumni, including around 7,000 recipients of Australia Awards scholarships.

Ambassador Goledzinowski noted that since 2001, more than 3.5 million international students have lived and studied in Australia.

"They are an important part of the Australian community, bringing new ideas and skills that enrich our society and contribute diverse perspectives and experiences to our classrooms and communities. However, some individuals from around the world have used the student visa program to move to Australia for work rather than study," he explained.

The ambassador stated that, like many countries, Australia faces significant challenges following the Covid-19 pandemic, including rising living costs-housing, consumer goods, fuel, and essential services. Therefore, Australia needs to review its visa management system.

"We are focusing on the integrity of the visa system, including making changes to the student visa program to ensure genuine students continue to have access to Australia's world-class educational institutions. As a result, the student visa processing time is longer. Applications from students attending low-risk educational institutions (including Australia's top universities) will be processed the fastest, but even then, it will take longer than before. Our visa decision-makers may require more time as they closely monitor this process," Ambassador Goledzinowski stated.

According to the Australian Ambassador, as always, visa processing times depend on the quality and completeness of the visa application and the applicant's ability to respond to requests for additional information. "We also require documents to be translated into English before submission with the application. Therefore, submitting a complete application is crucial for faster results. We advise all applicants to check carefully and submit only once," Ambassador Goledzinowski said.

The Australian Ambassador informed that global visa processing times are available at: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-processing-times/global-visa-processing-times.

"We understand that choosing a place to study abroad is one of the biggest decisions in a young person's life, and for the families supporting them. Currently, processing times may be longer than usual. I hope this is just 'a small price to pay' to ensure a high-integrity system that benefits Vietnamese students for many years to come," Ambassador Goledzinowski stated.

Thanh Hung