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High rejection for student visas from India in New Zealand, Cause Concern
The recent increase in student visa rejections for Indian applicants by New Zealand immigration has raised major concerns. With more Indian students facing visa denials, many are struggling to achieve their dreams of studying in New Zealand. This sudden rise in rejections has disrupted the plans of many young minds and their families. As New Zealand is known for its high-quality education, the growing number of visa rejections is worrying students, parents, and educators. In this blog post, we will explore the reasons behind these high rejection rates and what it means for Indian students who want to study in New Zealand.
THE NUMBER SPEAKS
According to Immigration New Zealand, 28% of all study visa applications from India to New Zealand were rejected in 2022; by 2023, this percentage had increased to 40%.
The issue was brought to light by Universities New Zealand CEO Chris Whelan, who stated that approximately 10% of visas had not yet been assigned for processing at the beginning of semester one, and that 2% of them were still pending.
“At the start of semester one this year, nearly 10% of visas to study at a New Zealand university were not yet allocated to an Immigration New Zealand official for processing, and another 2% were still being processed,” Whelan said, reported Radio New Zealand (RNZ).
In addition, he stated that delays and uncertainty were experienced by students because, generally, 18% of visas were not confirmed at the beginning of the term.
“This meant uncertainty for students, and far too many had their studies impacted by late starts and, once they were able to start, having to deal with the double pressure of familiarizing themselves with a new country while catching up on missed studies,” Whelan explained.
He highlighted that these delays are harmful for New Zealand’s reputation as a top study destination and unfair to the students.
“We need to do better for these students if we want this country to enjoy the benefits of international education,” he added, reported RNZ.
HIGH REJECTION RATE FOR INDIAN STUDENT VISA APPLICATIONS
An RNZ article states that Immigration New Zealand processed 5,018 applications for study visas from Indian students between January and April 2024, with 2,010 of the applications being denied.
On the other hand, out of 8,012 Chinese students’ study visa applications that the agency handled, just 206 were rejected, yielding a mere 2% rejection rate.
In 2023, a total of 8,810 visa applications were submitted by Indian students, with 5,074 approved and 3,523 declined, resulting in a rejection rate of 40%.
However, the number of student visas disapproval rate in 2022 was significantly lower. Only 700 Indian student visa applications were declined, which is 12% less than the number of declines in 2023, according to Immigration New Zealand.
REASONS FOR THE REJECTION
Celia Coombes, director of Student Visa at Immigration New Zealand, mentioned that rejections often occur due to insufficient proof of funds or genuine study intentions.
“We have recently implemented initiatives to help facilitate student visas as quickly as possible, while protecting the integrity of the immigration system,” Coombes said, reported by RNZ.
She noted that 90 full-time workers were processing student visa applications, with average processing times of 31 working days, or approximately six weeks.
- New Zealand’s immigration laws have tightened in an attempt to reduce fake applications and guarantee real students. The goal of this action is to preserve the integrity of the student visa program, but it has also increased the number of applicants from several nations—India among them—who are rejected.
- The current political and social environment and the worldwide economic recession have made visa officials more careful. Rejections are increasing as a result of worries about students’ ability to maintain themselves financially and adapt into New Zealand society.
- One of the most frequent reasons for visa rejections is incomplete or inaccurate documents. A thorough examination of academic records, financial statements, and other supporting documentation is required in order to get a student visa. Any differences may result in an instant rejection.
- Indian students’ application numbers to New Zealand are on the rise. Visa officers are under pressure to process more applications, which may lead to more rejections as they follow the rules to the letter.
IMPACTS ON STUDENTS AND INSTITUTES
- Student Aspirations: Studying in New Zealand offers many Indian students the chance to pursue better professional possibilities and a top-notch education. Applications that are turned down might crush these hopes, leaving students disappointed and under financial stress.
- Educational Institutions: International students bring considerable benefits to New Zealand’s universities and institutions. The financial stability of these universities may be impacted by a decline in the number of Indian students enrolled, which could result in program and service cuts.
New Zealand landscape is a popular study abroad location for Indian students because of its cost of living. Indians can study in New Zealand at a reasonable price because the New Zealand dollar is less expensive than other currencies like the US dollar, pound sterling, and euro.
These universities offer hundreds of courses in a wide range of subjects, such as business administration, computer science, and medicine. Among the popular degrees taken by Indian students in New Zealand include engineering, hotel management, MBA, and artificial intelligence.
Notably, Eduwings Global helps students with a wide range of services. Working with Eduwings Global will be revolutionary for recruiters looking to take advantage of this growing market. We are the perfect partner for optimizing success in obtaining admissions and visas for New Zealand’s world-class universities because of our broad network, in-depth industry experience, and customized approach.
