STUDENT VISA - SUBCLASS 500 - AUSTRALIA

Australian Lawyers and Migration Agents - Student Visa Advice

Our Australian Immigration Lawyers and Registered Migration Agents are experienced and ethical. We can assist clients in our offices in Melbourne or Brisbane, Australia and in Hong Kong. In addition, our Australian qualified Lawyers can advise clients worldwide, with a fast and efficient Consultation by telephone or skype where they advise you about:

Visa eligibility assessment
Information about the visa process
Assistance with Student course enrolment at an Australian Educational Institution
Advice regarding how to accept a Letter of Offer and obtaina COnfirmation of Enrolment
Advice regarding payment of the Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) fee
Advice regarding supporting documents including: Qualification certificates, CV, Work references and Identification
Advice regarding Financial requirement, and evidence of funds
Assistance with Genuine Temporary Entrant Statement
Advice regarding how to sit an English language test and required score
Advice regarding how to apply for Police Clearance certificates
Preparation of Medical examination and Chest x ray referral letter and advice where to undergo health checks
Visa Processing time guidance
Information about the Government Visa Application fee and Migration Agent / Lawyers fees for complete visa application assistance

Contact VisaConnect's Australian Immigration Lawyers and Migration Agents in 2021 for advice and assistance with your Student visa, Subclass 500 application!

Student Enrolment Assistance

VisaConnect's Advisers are qualified Education Agents (Counsellors), who can assist you with your study options in Australia. We help you to select a course based on your preferences for location, such as Sydney or Brisbane, Type of course e.g. Engineering at Bachelors level, English language ability, Educational background and Financial capacity.
We assist you with the Student course enrolment application forms and find you accommodation in student housing, homestay or private apartments.
For more information and assistance with your Student course enrolment, read about our Education Agent service: Education Agent Assistance

Student 500 Visa

The Student visa allows students to travel to Australia and study full time at recognised Educational Institutions, in Australia, and work part time.

Genuine Temporary Entrant

The Australian Educational Institution and the Department of Home Affairs must be satisfied that the student is a Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE). Factors considered to determine if the student is a GTE are:

1. Circumstances in home country (or country of residence) - Reasons why the student has decided not to study in their home country if a similar course is available there. Details of ties to their home country that indicate an intention to return at the end of their studies, economic circumstances, military service commitments, and political and civil unrest in home country.

2. Potential circumstances in Australia - Ties and links to Australia which would indicate a strong incentive to stay in Australia after completion of the course, knowledge of proposed course of study and education provider, previous study and qualifications, planned accommodation and financial capacity.

3. Value of the course to the applicant's future - Question is whether the course is consistent with the applicant's current level of education, relevance to past or proposed future employment in home country or elsewhere, and expected remuneration in home country or elsewhere, which could be gained from undertaking the course of study, in Australia.

4. The applicant's immigration history - History of previous visa applications to Australia and other countries including visa refusals and cancellations.

5. If the applicant is a minor - Intentions of the parents, legal guardian or spouse of the applicant.

Visa Eligibility

As well as providing evidence that the applicant is a Genuine Temporary Entrant, the applicant must also meet the eligibility criteria below:

Enrolment - You must be enrolled in a recognised course and include your Confirmation of Enrolment (COE) from the Australian Educational Institution, for each intended course.
English Language ability - You must provide evidence of English language ability, such as an IELTS test results.
English Exemption - No evidence of English ability is needed if they have enrolled in a standalone English Language Intensive Course for Overseas Students (ELICOS) or have completed at least five years study in one or more of the following countries: Australia, UK, USA, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, or the Republic of Ireland, or is a citizen of UK, USA, Canada, NZ or Ireland, or have completed a Secondary School certificate or Certificate IV in Australia.
Financial requirements - the student applicant needs to show evidence that they have enough funds available to pay for their course fees, travel and living costs and support any accompanying family.
Health and Character - You must meet health and character requirements and maintain Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) Insurance.

Student Visa Conditions

Mandatory Conditions - These conditions are attached to all student visas. For example, you must not work, you must have a satisfactory academic result, attend contact hours and maintain health insurance.

Discretionary Conditions - These conditions may be attached to a student visa depending on the circumstances. For example, if you are granted permission to work - then the condition will state, 'you must not work more than 20 hours a week during your course session'.

Student Guardian 590 Visa

The Student Guardian visa allows a guardian, such as a parent of an international student, to stay in Australia while the student is studying a course in Australia.

Student Guardian means a relative of the Applicant who is traveling to Australia to provide care and support for a student visa holder under 18 years.
Student Guardian must be over 21 years of age and of good character.
Student Guardian must meet health and financial requirements.
Student Guardian accompanies a student under 18 years of age.
Guardian must live with the student and the Guardian cannot work.
Guardian must meet the financial requirement, and provide evidence of funds to support yourself, and the student.

Temporary Graduate - 485 Visa

The Temporary Graduate visa is intended for recent graduates from an Australian educational institution. The visa has 2 streams - Graduate Work and Post-study work.

Graduate Work stream

1. Nominate an Occupation - nominate a skilled occupation from the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL).

2. Skills Assessment - you have applied for a skills assessment in your nominated occupation, and your skills have been assessed as 'suitable'.

3. Australian Study requirement - you have met the Australian study requirement in the past 6 months. This visa is granted for 18 months.

4. Australian Qualification - your degree, diploma or trade qualification is closely related to your nominated occupation.

5. Visa duration - visa is valid for 18 months from date it is granted.

Post-Study Work stream

This stream is for international students who graduate with a higher education degree from an Australian education provider, regardless of their field of study. The visa can be granted for up to 4 years.

485 Visa - Online Study Outside of Australia during Covid-19

See the new requirements for Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa holders, who have been impacted by COVID 19:

Online study undertaken outside Australia as a result of COVID 19 travel restrictions will count towards the Australian Study Requirement for existing and new student visa holders. Note that Online study outside Australia is counted from the time of Student visa grant.
Graduates affected by COVID 19 travel restrictions will be able to apply for and be granted a Temporary Graduate visa outside Australia (where they have met all the requirements).

If you are applying from outside Australia you must hold or have held a Student visa in the past 12 months to apply.

Biosecurity - Power to cancel Student Visas, in 2021

Powers to cancel visas on biosecurity-related grounds have been expanded from 1 January 2021, to student and temporary work visa holders.

Any decision to cancel a temporary visa on biosecurity grounds will only be made after consideration of factors, such as the seriousness of the breach, the potential impact on Australian business and agriculture, and the individual circumstances of the traveller.

International students will no longer face a cap on working hours for Hospitality and Tourism jobs - effective May 2021

A cap imposed on Internationals Student working hours will be lifted, in the Federal Budget on 11 May 2021, if they are employed in hospitality and tourism, marking a significant change for many who rely on these jobs.

There are around 300,000 students in Australia who face the 40-hour fortnightly limit on their working hours while they are studying, according to government estimates.

However, in a bid to boost the tourism and hospitality sectors, the government is now removing the existing cap for student visa holders employed in these industries following strong industry feedback.

Hospitality and tourism will now also be classified as critical industries alongside other sectors such as agriculture, food processing, health care, disability care and childcare with similar concessions.

Temporary visa holders working in or intending to work in tourism and hospitality will also be able to apply for the 408 COVID-19 Visa up to 90 days before their existing visa expires. This will enable them to remain in Australia for up to 12 additional months.