Joined: Thu Feb 11 2010, 02:54AM Location: UK Posts: 2
Background - came to Australia on a 572 International Student Visa in 2007 - studied at TAFe for 2 years. Applied for 886 visa, and until being looked at we are on a Bridging Visa A (since March 2009).
Now, on the Student Visa we had to pay school fees (QLD, c.$8,000 per year). Went down to Adelaide SA in Nov 2008 and same applied (though far less cost, roughly half of QLD). When changed to Bridging Visa A was told by Adelaide Intl Education that as I was on a Bridging Visa A that the prior visa applied when it came to deciding what we should pay - basically full fees.
Moved back to QLD in Dec 2009, and QLD Education have said exactly the same thing.
Only thing is, my brother is a permanent resident, and his wifes sister is in EXACTLY the same circumstances as me (572, now Bridging Visa A) - and she is NOT paying fees to QLD education - her daughter too has started Year 8, only 10 kms away.
I've tried to find info on QLD Education website - but its a minefield. Went onto SA Education site and found something - some kind of coding to enter into their systems in a word document dependent on Visa reference. And it would appear from this that I should not be paying fees that I have been paying since Mar 2009 (when Bridging Visa A came into force). Can anybody shed any light onto this? Thanks in advance.
Subclasses 572 and 573 visas Fee waivers may be considered for dependant students of subclasses 572 and 573 main visa holders.
A fee waiver will only be considered by the department for a dependant student if that dependant student is currently enrolled in a Queensland Government school.
Subclass 571 Visa Fee waivers are not available for holders of student visa subclass 571. The student visa holder must pay the tuition fees in accordance with the proof of declaration provided to DIAC, which informed DIAC's decision to grant the student visa, including costs of the tuition for the duration of the student's stay in Australia
Joined: Thu Feb 11 2010, 02:54AM Location: UK Posts: 2
Thanks. The link above confrims this re Bridging Visas:-
"Bridging and Tourist Visas For dependants of temporary visa holders seeking permanent residency in Australia, school tuition fees are charged based on the conditions of the previous visa issued by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) prior to granting of the bridging category. In these instances, a payment plan, which provides a term-by-term payment rather than a lump sum, is normally presented to the applicant at time of enrolment. Once permanent residency is granted by DIAC, the following provisions under section 50(1)(a)(b) of the EGPA apply.
Section 50 - State education to be free
Subsection (2) applies to a person enrolled at a State school who is - an Australian citizen or permanent resident or a child of an Australian citizen or permanent resident. The cost of providing instruction, administration and facilities for the education of the person at the school must be met by the State.
Fees are refunded from the date of approval of permanent residency (as indicated in the letter of notification from DIAC).
Fee waivers are generally not considered for tourist visa holders, as school attendance is not compulsory on this visa type. However, fee waivers may be considered under particular circumstances, as determined by the Director-General of Education and Training."
I contacted EQI last Friday regarding these fees, especially since we are on a Bridign Visa which could last a few years!!! Will let you know the outcome.
