I can't think of any reason to increase this other than the Department of Home Affairs just wanting to raise the bar to make it a little bit harder for us."Gemma said while the fee increase doesn't impact her perception of Australia's position on immigration, it's "not a great signal" to those wanting to come to Australia and those seeking permanent residency.It's also made her "reconsider" her future."It means that I have to pay more to be a permanent resident instead of becoming a citizen," she said."The Department of Home Affairs might change the visa fee next year .. Wei Hong, president of the International Student Representative Council of Australia and a Sydney University PhD student, said Home Affairs was sending an unwelcoming message."It is not a welcome environment for international students and immigration," he said."If you really want healthy development and sustainability for the international industry, targeting the visa fee is not a proper approach