10 Sep, 2019
VIHAAN SALARIA
Australia Education
The number of international students moving to study in Australia has grown over the past few years tremendously. As per the researchers at University College London’s Centre for Global Higher Education, the country has overtaken UK as the second-biggest destination for international students.
One of the main reasons behind the consistent increase in the number of overseas students of Australia is its quality education system and highest standard of living. The country is vibrant & economically prosperous and openly embraces cultural diversity.
If you are also the one who made a move to study in one of the top universities of Australia, chances are you might have bumped into a phrase called the “Genuine Temporary Entrant or GTE” and trying to figure out how to meet this requirement for the Australian student visa.
The good news is in this post you will go through some of the useful ways to write a correct, effective and comprehensive GTE and how to best fulfill all the criteria. But before we dig in, those who are clueless about what exactly GTE is, here is the brief overview.
What is GTE?
GTE is pre-requirement needs to be fulfilled by the applicants who are looking to apply for Australian student visa. It is a letter submitted to the Department of Home Affairs that proves the applicant genuinely wants to undertake studies in Australia and do not intend to seek work or live permanently in the country. Hence, how the statement for genuine temporary entrant is written and the availability of supporting evidence has a significant impact whether the student visa will be issued or not.
How GTE is assessed?
There are six factors dispersed under the section 499 of Ministerial Direction Number 69 for the Department of Home Affairs to assess a GTE. For an international student, it is important to include as much information and documentation as possible in the GTE letter against these factors and to back up their claims. Let’s understand each factor individually!
Applicant’s Circumstances in Home Country
Immigration officers leave no stone unturned to know, why being an applicant, you don’t want to undertake the chosen course of study in your home country. They may also look at the similar courses available and therefore you must be able to explain why it is that you’ve decided to study in Australia and not rather in your home country. The officers also make sure there is no military or civil unrest to support a temporary stay in Australia.
Potential Circumstances in Australia
This factor emphasize on the life of an applicant once the student visa is granted. You will be interviewed to determine if you are really aware of the chosen course of study and the potential situation in Australia. The questions in the interview comprises of the details about your course, the university you have decided to study in and the cost of living. Besides, the officers look at the family members with any unfavorable immigration histories that may result in you not returning to your home country after the completion of course.
How the course contributes to the career path
Here you must be able to elucidate how the proposed career will contribute in your chosen career. Prove the officers that the course relates to what you have previously studied and your career aspirations. In case, you chose to study in different field or at a lower level than your previous qualifications, you must go the extra mile explaining your motives for doing the course in order to make sure that the decision comes in your favour.
Immigration History
As the name implies, this factor considers the immigration history of the applicant. If you fall under any of the circumstances below, you will be disbarred from getting the approval of immigration department for your GTE letter.
- You were refused a visa in Australia and intent to extend your stay by getting into a relationship with a student visa holder
- You did not meet your previous visa conditions
- You are willing to undertake short or economical courses just for the sake of extending your stay in Australia
- You have been living in Australia for a long time without completing a qualification
- You failed to finish a course of study despite changing the education providers on several occasions
- You have lived in Australia on a range of short-term temporary visas
- You have a history of getting your visas refused or a non-compliance with the visa requirements in another country
Intentions of the Legal Guardian, Parent or Spouse
If the applicant is under 18 – If the child under the age of 18 is willing to apply for student visa, the parent, guardian or the spouse must be able to provide a statement explaining the motivation or intention for sending their child to study in Australia.
Other Relevant Matters
This factor is specifically designed to best convince the officers of the applicant’s genuineness to complete a desired course of study in Australia. Often, there are certain factors that lead the officer to review in your application, for instance, any discrepancies between the current application and the previous ones. Applicant can use this factor to clearly outline to prove relevancy for a particular matter.
Proven Tips to Meet the GTE Requirement
Be very specific
GTE is subjective and all it requires to be unique and highly personalized to be convincing. Make sure you avoid generic statements or claims that are not supported with any evidence.
Avoid Slangs or words from other languages
Slangs often flow naturally out of our mouths as a part of our personality and culture and sometimes reflects in our writing too. However, they are considered unprofessional, have multiple meaning and often result in causing confusion or offending readers. If you really want to get your student visa, make sure your officer don’t throw your application in disgust following the usage of your words.
Edit and Proof-read
You sure don’t want to despair with the unfavorable decision by the officer for your GTE letter despite giving the best efforts. So why not proofread your statement and make it free from any grammatical errors.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Not attaching the supporting documents
Immigration officers are not the one who will believe religiously to everything that you claim. When it comes to meeting the genuine temporary entrant requirement, you must not fail to attach your academic transcripts, qualification certificates, duration of the study and the offer letter, employment letters (if any), information about the property you own, dependants, etc.
Not proving the competence in English
A badly written GTE letter will only prove that you lack the English skills to complete your studies in Australia and ultimately leave you ineligible for the student visa.
Failing to mention the relevant information or lying
Honesty always goes a long way! If you’ve been denied or refused a visa in the past or have poor academic performance, be honest about it in your application. Lying about it will only guarantee that your application is rejected.
Closing Thoughts
With stringent rules being imposed by the Australian government now and then, it becomes essential to seek assistance from the professional. At XL Migration, we have the best of industry experts waiting to help you write the best statement for your genuine temporary entrant as well as prepare and lodge the student visa application on your behalf. Book a consultation today on 08 9325 9632 to come up with the best solutions and ensure a favourable outcome for your case.
