International students that have recently completed their studies are facing difficult decisions about their future as their student visas come close to expiration. They will need to decide whether to apply for another visa and stay in Australia, or return to their home country.
The natural progression for most international students is to apply for the Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa. This visa is useful for students that wish to possess full work rights for between 18 months and 4 years. It is also an easy way for students to gain relevant work experience, so that they can increase their points score and improve their chances of obtaining permanent residency in the long run.
Although, this may be the best option for international students, it is often hard for students to apply for, due to the complex and multifaceted nature of the visa application process. There are six common pitfalls that students make when applying for the Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa. Listed below are the six most common mistakes and how to avoid them:
- Missing the application lodgement deadline
You must lodge your 485 visa application within 6 months of the completion date of your course. A common mistake made by students is to confuse the date of graduation, with the course completion date.
The date of graduation often occurs months after the course completion date, so if you get the dates wrong you may end up lodging your application well after the deadline, which would result in visa refusal.
- Selecting the wrong stream
The Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa possesses two streams, including (1) Graduate Work and (2) Post Study Work.
You must apply for the correct stream, at the time of lodgement, as the decision cannot be changed afterward and your 485 visa application may be refused. Take the time to research each of the two streams and understand which one is right for you.
- Failure to submit all required documents
All supporting documents that are required by the Department, must be submitted at the time of lodgement of your 485 visa application.
If the documents are missing, or if they are incorrectly submitted, the Department are not required to contact you to provide them. It is up to you to double and triple check that you have all the correct supporting documents and that they are formatted according to the Department’s standards.
- Not meeting study requirements
The main Australian Study Requirements that students must meet include;
- Registration under the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Course for Overseas Students (CRICOS);
- Completion of at least 16 calendar months of study, while physically present in Australia; and
- Completion of a minimum period of 2 academic years of study
Failing to meet these study requirements will result in a visa refusal.
The requirement many students fail to meet, is the completion of at least 16 calendar months of study, while physically in Australia.
If you have spent time outside of Australia, say to return home to visit family, or to go on a holiday, you may be at risk of not meeting this requirement. It is also important to note that even if you have completed 16 calendar months of study, while physically in Australia, you must record the dates of travel correctly, as making a mistake could lead to visa refusal.
- Not being in the right place at the right time
Often students will leave Australia once they have completed their studies, to either to return home and see their families, or to go on holidays to celebrate.
It is very important students are aware that their university/education provider are not required to inform the Department of Home Affairs when student has completed their course.
If the Department of Home Affairs finds out that the student has left Australia at the end of their course, they may cancel the student visa without notice. Unfortunately, this means that the student will have no right to re-enter Australia and will have to obtain a different visa in order to return.
It is recommended that you lodge your 485 visa application before you leave Australia, so that it is shows that you intend on returning.
Getting your 485 visa application right the first time will save you time and money. If you have any questions, or concerns regarding your 485 visa application, the experienced team at Results Migration are here to offer you advice and assistance. At Results Migration we are the best in the field, with a team of immigration lawyers and registered migration agents available to guide you through this complex area of law. Give Results Migration a call on 1800 808 717 or email us on [email protected] and book your free consultation today!
