What is GTE?

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Don’t worry, the GTE is not another test you have to study for. You must have come across this word while looking for the visa application process for the student visa in Australia. According to the Department of Home Affairs in Australia, the GTE stands for Genuine Temporary Entrant. As the name suggests, it is an integrity assessment (which includes a questionnaire and an essay) to see the genuine intent of the student to pursue their studies in Australia under the student visa and with no hidden intention to maintain ongoing residency in Australia. It is sometimes required as soon as you apply to a university or you have to submit it along with your conditional offer when you are accepted. This document is extremely important for the admission and approval of your student visa Australia. Keep in mind that the GTE is not required for students who want to study part time and work after classes.

The basic purpose of the GTE Australia is to filter out people who do not intend to actually attend the classes and study but want to find employment using the student visa and earn the PR points through their employer.

How is a GTE different from an SOP?

Both GTE and SOP are statements that show how serious and honest a student is about getting his education in Australia. In some cases, you have to submit both and at other times, only one of these is required. Both are important for visa acceptance so you must make sure you have enough information about passing this crucial test to study in Australia.

Things to consider before writing the GTE

The following is a list of GTE requirements that your visa reviewer will look at to assess your intentions. Make sure you are able to prove these things and support it all with documented evidence.

The GTE is written in English (good chance to show your proficiency in English) and has to be written by the student. It can be written in the native language and then later translated.
Think about why you have chosen an Australian university over the university options available in your home country. You must be clear about your current family and financial situation in your country before writing it all down. Compare the tuition fee, average cost of living in the city with your monthly income in Australia.
Have a clear picture of what your life will be like when you reach Australia. This includes living arrangements, the lifestyle of Australia, understanding of the chosen degree (and link to future career) and of course, the fee structure of the course. All this represents how well you have thought about this plan to study in Australia.
Be very clear about the source of your income during the course of your study
Collect all the relevant documents- bank statements, academic transcripts, and reference letter from employer (if the student is working)

Important ingredients for a good GTE

Honesty: As this is a test of your intentions, write with integrity and don’t copy. Do not include anything that does not have documented evidence. Do not exclude any information that you think might compromise your chances of approval- any gaps in educations, failed courses, etc.- just be transparent.

Evidence that shows your commitment to return to your home country: This could include military service requirement or financial situation at home (show assets, liabilities, employment and overall income) that shows your family’s dependence on you.

Documents that show your past academic qualifications and future career plans: The purpose of providing these is to prove that you have thoroughly researched how this course is going to advance your career (research opportunities, practical learning, etc.) so provide previous academic qualifications, research that shows the job options that will open for you, expected salaries from the jobs you are aiming to apply in your home country, Australia or elsewhere, a business plan if you want to start a business after your education is complete. You can also show how you have found the course and campus to be ideal for you (even if it is through chats with a student who studies there).

Don’t hide the gaps: If you are applying for a visa to complete an unfinished degree in Australia, provide evidence of your claim for reasons of failing the courses. These may be medical certificates, if you were unwell.

Why Australia?: In some cases it’s family members settled in Australia and in some, it is the affordability factor that makes you choose the country. Provide evidence for both of these. If there is a prospect of salary increase after completing the degree, provide proof of your research for the expected salary. If you had previous employment in Australia, mention your job title, company details, provide salary slips and bank statements to show that.

Immigration history: This would include your passport copies and evidence of visas you have received.

How a good GTE increases chances of admission and visa acceptance

As a GTE is a litmus test to see if the student is serious, providing as much documentary evidence as possible makes your application more believable. If the committee finds anything suspicious in your employment history, immigration history, or study objective that shows your lack of commitment to the course, it might get rejected. Hence, a well written statement is very essential to get admission and visa from the Department of Home Affairs.

Conclusion

This whole process does seem like an investigation and can get tiring but our mentors are here to help you. Maintaining your composure during the Skype interview and collecting documents takes a lot of time so do not ignore this important step of your application.