Aussie migration plan for overseas students
	Sarawak Tribune, Wednesday, 2 April 2003

MELBOURNE - Overseas students who study in low-growth cities or regional areas in Australia have a better chance of gaining permanent residency in Australia under new migration laws.

Immigration Minister Philip Ruddock announced changes to the migration programme to benefit overseas students and target skilled workers. 

Ruddock said students who had studied for a minimum two years at an Australian university, TAFE or private education provider in regional Australia or low population growth urban centres such as Adelaide would have a greater chance of being accepted as a permanent resident.

He said Newcastle, Wollongong and the Gold Coast were not included in the eligible regional areas.

"If you are an overseas student and you study in Adelaide or Hobart, in Darwin or in any of the regional locations, it will be easier to migrate," Ruddock said.

"The reason for that measure is in our judgment people are more likely to stay in those areas where they have a connection." 

People who complete an Australian university honours or masters qualification and those who complete an Australian doctorate with a minimum two consecutive years full-time study in Australia will also have a greater chance of being accepted as a permanent resident.

The new regulations start on July l.

Ruddock updated the number of available parent visas next financial year and confirmed there would be 12,000 new places for Australia's humanitarian programme intake in the 2003-04 year, as well as 1,500 unused places rolled over from this year.

He said there would be 7,000 parent visa categories available in 2003-04 after 2,500 were rolled over from this year.

A total of 1,500 places were in the existing parent category and 5,500 in the contributory parent category where children pay about A$36,000 to bring a parent to Australia.

Ruddock warned people in West Asia applying for a humanitarian visa may have their applications delayed because of the war in Iraq and the need to move Australian processors from the region.

He said within the 12,000 humanitarian places available next financial year, 4,000 places were for overseas refugees. - Bernama