hopped' in Australia ready to leave after immigration crackdown

Key Points:

• American international student Brianna Alvarado, who moved to Melbourne on a Working Holiday Visa, is reconsidering completing her beauty therapy diploma due to Australia's recent migration policy changes and high education costs.
• The new policies include a No Further Stay condition on visitor visas to prevent visa hopping, which Brianna says limits international students' ability to extend their stay unless pursuing higher qualifications, increasing financial burdens.
• Australia's government plans to reduce migration numbers from 292,100 to 245,000 by July 2027 and 225,000 annually thereafter, aiming to curb population growth and improve visa integrity.
• Additional changes include a ballot system for Working Holiday Maker visas, slower processing times for some applications, restrictions on secondary student visa applicants, and stricter measures against rogue migration agents.
• Brianna feels the tightening rules and high fees do not recognize immigrants' contributions, leaving her feeling unwelcome and prompting her to consider leaving Australia before her visa expires in 2027.