Australian universities are calling for wholesale reforms to the country’s immigration system including one proposal for a U.S.-style green card.
In a submission (pdf) to the federal government’s migration review, Universities Australia, which represents tertiary institutions across the country, said complicated visa structures were causing Australia to fall behind other advanced economies in attracting talented researchers and students.
The peak body said overseas research students needed to wait up to three years to have their visa application processed.
At the same time, less than a third of international graduates apply for work visas after completing their study programs in Australia….