POST 3: What You Should Not Do, If You Want To Come To Australia, For Studies or Job
Before we start familiarizing ourselves with specific topics of migration to Australia, listed in POST 2, we need to cast a glance at the various unhappy experiences of students who came to Australia and the reasons of their unhappy experiences. This will be a great learning experience for what to do, and what not to do.
Unscrupulous Migration Agents
About four years ago, many unscrupulous immigration agents, located in the sub-continent, found out that there was easy money to be made by luring students to go to Australia by painting a rosy picture of their future life. These agents found out that the two classifications which could give the necessary 100 points for a permanent residency in Australia were (1) Hair Cutting and (2) Cooking. These classifications are announced annually by the Australian Immigration Ministry, based on their estimation of the skill sets they think will be in demand.
About four years ago, many unscrupulous immigration agents, located in the sub-continent, found out that there was easy money to be made by luring students to go to Australia by painting a rosy picture of their future life. These agents found out that the two classifications which could give the necessary 100 points for a permanent residency in Australia were (1) Hair Cutting and (2) Cooking. These classifications are announced annually by the Australian Immigration Ministry, based on their estimation of the skill sets they think will be in demand.
Fly-By-Night Non-Standard Schools
These agents contacted fly-by-night schools in Australia, which had very little teaching and training facilities, and became their recruiting agents. They now promised the would-be students guaranteed admission and confirmed student visa. Most of the students who fell for this trap were from smaller cities, where they had little knowledge of the reality of Australian education system. The agents collected huge commission from both the students and the colleges. Most of these students had to pay full fees, air fare and money for living in Australia, by taking heavy personal loans. Many sold their parental properties. When the students arrived in Australia, they found that the training colleges were very poorly equipped. However, they had no option as they had huge loans in India to pay back.
Wrong Course Selection
In a period of less than three years, nearly 75,000 students came to Australia for learning cooking and hair cutting, expecting that they will get jobs for these skills in Australia. How can any country absorb 75,000 new cooks and hair stylists, even after assuming that these were well trained. Unhappily due to poor training facilities, the students were not up to the Australian standards.
In a period of less than three years, nearly 75,000 students came to Australia for learning cooking and hair cutting, expecting that they will get jobs for these skills in Australia. How can any country absorb 75,000 new cooks and hair stylists, even after assuming that these were well trained. Unhappily due to poor training facilities, the students were not up to the Australian standards.
Work Experience Problems
The Australian Government has requirement of practical work experience before grant of residency. It was impossible for 75,000 cooks and hair stylists to get work experience, with the existing restaurants and saloons in Australia. In view of their predicament, the restaurants and saloons, especially those run by people from the sub-continent, employed them at one-third of the legal hourly rates. Some students even had to pay the owners to get certificate of work experience. Soon the Australian Government realized what was happening. They removed Cooking and Hair Cutting from the 100 Point List.
The Australian Government has requirement of practical work experience before grant of residency. It was impossible for 75,000 cooks and hair stylists to get work experience, with the existing restaurants and saloons in Australia. In view of their predicament, the restaurants and saloons, especially those run by people from the sub-continent, employed them at one-third of the legal hourly rates. Some students even had to pay the owners to get certificate of work experience. Soon the Australian Government realized what was happening. They removed Cooking and Hair Cutting from the 100 Point List.
Shattered Dreams
I have personally talked to many such students, both girls and boys, who were frustrated as their residency was not being granted and they did not know how to go back to their parents, who had incurred huge debts for their studies in Australia. Some students started doing unauthorized work as taxi-drivers, cleaners, contract laborers etc. As this was illegal, they were always in fear of being caught and deported. The rosy dreams of a better life, of thousands from the cub continent, turned into nightmares. When news of this reached the sub-continent the business of the immigration agents suffered, but they had made a huge fortune already.
I have personally talked to many such students, both girls and boys, who were frustrated as their residency was not being granted and they did not know how to go back to their parents, who had incurred huge debts for their studies in Australia. Some students started doing unauthorized work as taxi-drivers, cleaners, contract laborers etc. As this was illegal, they were always in fear of being caught and deported. The rosy dreams of a better life, of thousands from the cub continent, turned into nightmares. When news of this reached the sub-continent the business of the immigration agents suffered, but they had made a huge fortune already.
Guidance To Legally Correct Procedures
We shall provide guidance of which colleges to go for and how you can apply for the Australian visas without going to any agent. The agents tell you that they have "connections" and can get the job done, for a "bribe". Please believe me that Australian officers are very fair and straight. If your application meets the requirements they will immediately grant you the visa, and if it does not meet them, they will reject it. Any one who tries to hide information or submit false information takes the risk of being arrested and deported even after coming to Australia and staying here.
We shall provide guidance of which colleges to go for and how you can apply for the Australian visas without going to any agent. The agents tell you that they have "connections" and can get the job done, for a "bribe". Please believe me that Australian officers are very fair and straight. If your application meets the requirements they will immediately grant you the visa, and if it does not meet them, they will reject it. Any one who tries to hide information or submit false information takes the risk of being arrested and deported even after coming to Australia and staying here.
Up-Front Immigration Authorities
I have first hand experience of people from the sub-continent, under different immigration classifications, having absolutely no problem with Australian authorities for grant of their residency, without using any immigration agent. The only job the immigration agent can do for you is to help you fill the visa application form. The Immigration Department of Australian Government issues licenses to immigration agents, and if they indulge in any malpractice, their license is cancelled. As long as you fill the application form truthfully and provide all required supporting documents, which are clearly specified on the Department's website, you do not need any agent.
I have first hand experience of people from the sub-continent, under different immigration classifications, having absolutely no problem with Australian authorities for grant of their residency, without using any immigration agent. The only job the immigration agent can do for you is to help you fill the visa application form. The Immigration Department of Australian Government issues licenses to immigration agents, and if they indulge in any malpractice, their license is cancelled. As long as you fill the application form truthfully and provide all required supporting documents, which are clearly specified on the Department's website, you do not need any agent.
Check Thoroughly Before You Take admission
Another very bad experience of Indian students was of a group which had came for Flying License to Australia. The agents got them admission in to a Flying School which had only 1-2 planes in flying condition. The poor students could not get enough flying hours as there were not enough trained pilots also. The school closed down and the students were left with huge debts and no place to stay. It was only after a few members of the Indian community took up their case with the top government political leaders, that the students could get their fees refunded. They had lost valuable time and all the money spent for boarding and lodging while they were in Australia. PLEASE DO NOT THINK YOU CAN HOODWINK THE AUSTRALIAN AUTHORITIES. YOU CANNOT. ANY ONE WHO TELLS YOU HE CAN HELP YOU DO SO, IS YOUR ENEMY NUMBER 1.
Another very bad experience of Indian students was of a group which had came for Flying License to Australia. The agents got them admission in to a Flying School which had only 1-2 planes in flying condition. The poor students could not get enough flying hours as there were not enough trained pilots also. The school closed down and the students were left with huge debts and no place to stay. It was only after a few members of the Indian community took up their case with the top government political leaders, that the students could get their fees refunded. They had lost valuable time and all the money spent for boarding and lodging while they were in Australia. PLEASE DO NOT THINK YOU CAN HOODWINK THE AUSTRALIAN AUTHORITIES. YOU CANNOT. ANY ONE WHO TELLS YOU HE CAN HELP YOU DO SO, IS YOUR ENEMY NUMBER 1.
Never Fall For Cheats
Another way of getting Australian residency visa is still more bizarre. You can get a Resident Visa if you can prove that you have married an Australian citizen. There are agents who can arrange girls who will "marry" you and provide all necessary proofs to satisfy the authorities for grant of a spouse visa. DO NOT FALL FOR THIS. These girls are nothing but prostitutes and you may land up in very hot waters.
Another way of getting Australian residency visa is still more bizarre. You can get a Resident Visa if you can prove that you have married an Australian citizen. There are agents who can arrange girls who will "marry" you and provide all necessary proofs to satisfy the authorities for grant of a spouse visa. DO NOT FALL FOR THIS. These girls are nothing but prostitutes and you may land up in very hot waters.
Select and Choose With Care and Have A Great Life
I am sure you must have realized by now that while Australia welcomes skilled and eligible immigrants, it is very strict with illegal and falsely entered migrants. Every year more than 70,000 citizens from all countries of the sub-continent come to Australia legally, for studies and jobs. They are respected for being skilled professionals and sincere and hard working. The unhappy cases of those who had to return back to their homes, have been wrongly represented in the Indian media as victims of Australian racism, by the rich agents, in league with powerful politicians. If anything, Australians are the most multi-cultural people in the world. There are very strict laws against racist behaviour, and unlike in the sub-continent, where caste has become a part of political plaything, people in Australia have lost their reputation and money for such behaviour.
I am sure you must have realized by now that while Australia welcomes skilled and eligible immigrants, it is very strict with illegal and falsely entered migrants. Every year more than 70,000 citizens from all countries of the sub-continent come to Australia legally, for studies and jobs. They are respected for being skilled professionals and sincere and hard working. The unhappy cases of those who had to return back to their homes, have been wrongly represented in the Indian media as victims of Australian racism, by the rich agents, in league with powerful politicians. If anything, Australians are the most multi-cultural people in the world. There are very strict laws against racist behaviour, and unlike in the sub-continent, where caste has become a part of political plaything, people in Australia have lost their reputation and money for such behaviour.
I suggest that if you are sincerely planning to come to Australia for studies and settling down, spend time in researching all aspects. This time will be well spent. In future posts we shall discuss how you can prepare yourself.
Sincere Regards,
Pravin Gupta
Very commendable effort, should go a long way to guide potential aspirants. Please put in a more public domain so that more people can take advantage.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the appreciation. I have long felt the need of a single window help and guidance. There is a long way to go but one step a time can cross miles. I would love to post on more public domains. I would love to have your suggestions.
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