Australia
- Australia has entered into 4 separate agreements for the supply of COVID-19 vaccines, if they are proved to be safe and effective.
- The Australian Government has invested $363 million to support research and development, to contribute to the global effort to find successful vaccines and treatments to stop the spread of COVID-19.
- The Australian Government has invested more than $3.3 billion through these 4 agreements, which will strengthen Australia’s position to access safe and effective vaccines when they become available.
- The University of Oxford vaccine is one of the most progressed vaccines in development globally for Coronavirus (COVID-19). If it is proven to be safe and effective and is approved for use, it will be available in Australia from early 2021, as part of the Australian Government’s COVID-19 Vaccine and Treatment Strategy.
- The government has provided a Visa Application Charges (VAC) free visa for those who already hold a student visa and could not complete their current study in time. A NIL VAC is available to students who held a student visa on or after 1 February 2020 but couldn’t complete their course within their original visa validity due to the impacts of COVID-19.*
- For studies to be counted towards Post Study Work visa eligibility, the Australian Study requirements (ASR) requires a student to study a CRICOS-registered course. International students must successfully complete all course requirements as a result of at least two academic years (92 weeks) study to be eligible for a visa.*
- The Government will recommence granting student visas in all locations lodged outside Australia. This means when borders re-open, students will already have visas and be able to make arrangements to travel. (As on July 23)
- International students will be able to lodge a further student visa application free of charge if they are unable to complete their studies within their original visa validity due to COVID-19. (As on July 23)
- Current student visa holders studying online outside Australia due to COVID-19 will be able to use that study to count towards the Australian study requirement for a post-study work visa.
- Graduates who held a student visa will be eligible to apply for a post-study work visa outside Australia if they are unable to return due to COVID-19. source: australia government.
Ireland
- The Government of Ireland is committed to protecting the health and safety of all people living, working and studying in Ireland during this time of unprecedented challenge. That protection extends to you, current and prospective international students.
- You will need to self-isolate for 14 days if you arrive in Ireland from any other country. Self-isolation means staying indoors and completely avoiding contact with other people. Before arrival, people are asked to complete the Public Health Passenger Locator Form.
- As per the Guidelines by Health Protection Surveillance Centre, Higher Education Institutes in Ireland will operate within the parameters of public health and safety advice at all times.
- All international students have free access to the Irish healthcare system for treatment related to Covid-19.
- All International students irrespective of planning for an online course or physical course will require a study visa.
- As per guidelines laid by the Irish Government, you will be required to complete a COVID-19 Passenger Locator Form before you arrive in Ireland and submit it at the airport. Source ireland education
https://www.educationinireland.com/en/Studying-and-COVID-19/
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (USA)
- As per the guidance of the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), students entering the U.S. in initial (new) status for the Spring 2021 semester will require an in-person course component. Graduate and professional students: Undergraduate students: You will be enrolled in a course with an in-person component by the University Registrar after the start of the term.
- International students would be quarantined once they reach the US. For the same, they should check with their respective universities as some of the universities have bought rooms in the nearby hotels so that students quarantine themselves.
- The US court struck down two Trump administration rules that were designed to significantly curtail the number of H-1B visas issued each year to skilled foreign workers.
- For all international students: The general late arrival deadline for the Spring 2021 semester is March 1, 2021.* For graduate students: if you believe that you have a valid reason to arrive after March 1, you will have to request an exception from your academic program/school. They will reach out to ISSS for special approval if the reason is warranted.
- 5.Prospective students and exchange visitors should schedule an appointment no more than three weeks prior to their class start date as these appointments will be refreshed on availability basis generally two weeks in advance. ( source: US Embassy and Consulates in India)
- Student visas will be given the utmost priority. However, due to our very limited appointment availability the embassy will not be able to accommodate all requests in time for the start of the fall semester (source: US Embassy and Consulates in India)
- In regard to the post-study work opportunities for students which is popularly known as OPT or STEM OPT in the US is not impacted as per the guidelines i.e., it’s duration will stay intact as 12 – 36 months based upon the course. (source: Ice.gov)
THE UNITED KINGDOM
1.UK medicines regulator authorises first COVID-19 vaccine. (source: UK Government)
2.Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine meets the regulator’s strict standards of safety, efficacy and quality. ( source: UK Government)
3.The vaccine to be made available across the UK to priority groups from next week. ( source: UK Government)
4.teaching has partially moved online for those currently studying at a UK university. Campuses are open, but a form of hybrid learning is currently taking place, with face-to-face tuition and digital lectures and seminars allowing social distancing guidelines to be followed.
5.New measures implemented by universities include buildings that have clearly marked entry and exit points; sanitiser stations, floor markings and social distancing measures.
6.UK universities are accepting applications as normal in preparation for the January 2021 and September 2021 intake.
NEW ZEALAND
- Student visa applicants who are outside New Zealand can study online without a visa. When New Zealand’s border restrictions are lifted, you can provide evidence of your online study to support your visa application.
- If you choose to study online in your home country first, you will still need to meet standard student visa requirements to be granted a student visa. These requirements include being a genuine student, having sufficient funds for maintenance, and being of good health and character.
- Education New Zealand and New Zealand’s eight universities have announced a new partnership with UK-based qualifications provider the University Consortium (NCUK) that will allow students from more than 30 countries to begin a New Zealand university qualification without leaving home. (As on Dec 14; source: ENZ Government)
- The pathways initiative enables international students to begin study in their home countries towards Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees at any of New Zealand’s eight universities. (source: ENZ Government)
- The Pathways partnership will help develop a pipeline of international students to study in New Zealand when the time is right. (source: ENZ Government)
- The Government announced that a new border exception category will allow 250 international PhD and postgraduate students to enter New Zealand and continue their studies. ( source: Education New Zealand)
CANADA
- 1.Visa applicants can start scheduling limited appointments for biometric enrollments at the Canadian Visa Applications Centres in six cities – Delhi, Jalandhar, Chandigarh, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, and Bengaluru. (As on November 20; source: VFS Global)
- Visa applicants who have submitted applications for study permits (SP) can begin scheduling limited appointments for biometric enrollments at Canada Visa Applications Centres at Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad and Pune. (As on November 20; source: VFS Global)
- Canada visa applicants who have submitted applications for the student (SP) category can enroll biometrics at Canada Visa Applications Centres in six cities – Delhi, Jalandhar, Chandigarh, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, and Bengaluru.(source: VFS Global)
- Canada, helps students with their quarantine plans and provides guidance or assistance in acquiring the necessities of life, such as food and medication, during their quarantine. Readiness plans also need to establish protocols for the health of students in the event there are suspected or confirmed COVID-19 cases at the school.
- Provincial and territorial partners indicated they would like to see a process that allows international students to begin travelling to Canada again, as long as it is done safely and respects health requirements.
- Like all travellers to Canada, international students and accompanying family members will be subject to all public health measures, including the mandatory 14-day quarantine period upon arrival in Canada.
