<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Weihong Liang is one of many international students left feeling like a cash cow after the price of a visa he was on quietly doubled to $4600 overnight.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It feels like a scam," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Originally from </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/china" rel="" target="_blank" title="China"><span>China</span></a><span>, Liang moved to </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national" rel="" target="_blank" title="Australia "><span>Australia</span></a><span> to pursue a better </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/education" rel="" target="_blank" title="education "><span>education</span></a><span> in 2022.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/albanese-government-labelled-hypocritical-over-visa-change-that-could-block-7000-iranians-from-australia/16555cda-3dfd-4bdd-a20d-db0219845df6" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>'Hypocritical' visa change could block 7000 Iranians from Australia</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He successfully applied for the temporary graduate </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/visas" rel="" target="_blank" title="visa "><span>visa</span></a><span> (subclass 485) and studied politics and social science.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The visa allows international students who have gained qualifications in Australia to stay for another three years to live, work or pursue post-graduate study.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Home Affairs Department raised the visa application fee from $2300 to $4600 on March 1.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/temporary-graduate-visa-international-students-feeling-like-cash-cows-as-cost-quietly-surges-to-4600/1196d3aa-a854-4711-b0ea-a0edc2934643" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It applies to all international students, except for those from the Pacific and Timor-Leste.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"This exception is in recognition of the importance of Australia's special ties with the Pacific," a spokesperson from the Department of Home Affairs said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Excluding Pacific and Timor-Leste applicants from this VAC increase supports the Australian government's commitment to deepening engagement with countries in the Pacific region by fostering global education, workforce development, and skills exchange."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/us-israel-war-iran-urea-fertiliser-price-increase-australians-could-pay-more-for-groceries/16a4d95d-4778-4164-897d-45bedc6644b5" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Aussies face surging grocery prices as result of Iran war</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Australia's fourth-largest export is education, behind coal, iron ore and natural gas. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>More than 843,500 international students study in Australia annually and contribute $53.6 billion to the economy.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Most of the international student intake comes from China, India, Nepal, Vietnam and Colombia.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Weihong, who is also the president of the International Students Representative Council of Australia, said international students are already taking out loans, asking their family for help and working more hours to make ends meet.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He said he's been left feeling like a cash cow.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The tuition fee and all costs of the application, including the visa fee, insurance fee and travel fee, is quite high," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We are really unhappy that the government looks like they just want to get more money from us."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/atlassian-job-losses-aussie-software-company-blames-ai-cutting-1600-jobs/e45e3983-1e46-4430-b699-031a4b7c6c9f" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Aussie tech giant cuts 1600 jobs in AI push</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Weihong said the temporary graduate visa price hike could also deter some students from studying in Australia. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But the Home Affairs Department does not expect international students to avoid studying in Australia.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Australia has a well-earned reputation for its world-class education offerings and the attractiveness of the Australian lifestyle," a department spokesperson said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The VAC increase will unlikely be a barrier to those wishing to remain in Australia after graduation."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a 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