Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 08:36am on 12 Jan 2026,Monday India Global
Australia has moved India to its highest risk group for student visas and will apply stricter checks from January 8, 2026. India was shifted from Evidence Level 2 to Evidence Level 3 under the Simplified Student Visa Framework. Officials said the change is to manage “emerging integrity issues” and protect genuine students. Indian applicants will now face deeper review of bank records, extra proof of English skills, and more background checks. Visa officers may contact colleges and referees. Processing time may rise from about three weeks to as much as eight weeks. Nearly 140,000 Indian students study in Australia. (PC: Economic Times)
