All About Applications for Australian Student Visas

As with any other country, institution and courses, Australia too, requires that prospective student apply for the course at the institution of their choice and fill out the necessary applications. Each institution has its own qualifying requirements and their own rules and regulations regarding the course available and the application procedures.

There is help available for filling in enrolment applications as well as the required student visas. If you log on the internet, look for the AA Education Network. This will give you all the information required for applications and admissions. There are counselors online who will guide you through the entire process. The application is best begun about a year prior to when you wish to enroll. You may have appeared for other exams in the mean time and keeping this in mind, a large number of institutions grant provisional admission which includes exams results for English Language proficiency.

When you make out your application to any institution, ensure that you provide:

• Education background up to date of application with supporting documents
• Proof of English Language Proficiency, IELT score or other exam results as required by the institution in question
• Financial documents that indicate you are able to pay for your education and stay

Once all your documents are in place forward to the AA education Network which will then start the processing. Confirmation of enrolment is issued once the application is accepted; a part of the tuition fees and health insurance is paid as required by the course you have selected.

Remember your Confirmation of Enrolment is the only evidence that will be accepted when you apply for your student visa.

Visas

Application for student visas require that…

• You have been admitted in a registered CRICOS course
• You meet medical requirements pertaining to overall health condition
• Have your Overseas Student Health Cover in place
• Budget for minimum AUD $ 12,000 per annum to cover all costs
• Clear English Language Proficiency exams
• Minors must have suitable accommodation arrangements
• Clear character checks

On your student visa, you are eligible to apply for packaged programs. If you are a citizen of assessment level 1 & 2 countries, you are allowed to convert a business or tourist visa in to a student visa. But citizens from country levels 3 & 4 can do so only under special circumstances.

In case there is need for a change of address then a notification has to be made with DIMA or the Dept. of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs two days prior to actual shift for visa labels 8506 and the university need seven days prior notice for visa labels 8533.

In case of a change in program, if the new course selected is longer in duration than the old then a new student visa will be required. The change requires the approval of the School Head or nominee. Switching institutions within the first year of your selected program is dependent on the stipulations in your visa and transfers are generally approved by DIMA in special cases.

Extension of student visa is possible only if your current visa does not show “further stay” conditions. If you complete your course sooner than expected you are not allowed to stay longer even if your visa has the required time on it. If you plan to travel around the country once your course is over, check with the immigration department for conversion of student visa to tourist visa.

Local administration is always helpful so any problems you face regarding applications and student visas can be dealt with easily and effectively.

Brought to you by the Australian Immigration Experts at Synch1

How Overseas Students Become Permanent Australian Residents

It is indeed the dream of many ambitious students to pursue his/her further studies in a place like Australia.

If one is successful in entering one of the prestigious Australian Universities, it is but natural that you start considering the possibility of residing in Australia permanently. People from every nook and corner of the globe are constantly trying to migrate into Australia. The country with its lavish dose of scenic beauty and a rapidly growing strong economy can undoubtedly be one of your best choices for permanent residency.

However, there are certain factors that you need to consider in order to gauge your eligibility levels. This will make the entire process hassle-free and help you further in leading this dream of permanent residency in Australia in the right direction.

The Commonwealth Government of Australia has laid certain pre-requisites that need to be fulfilled by international students before they can be granted permanent residency. No doubt the opportunities for overseas students to apply for permanent residence have been expanded to a great extent. To put these conditions in a nutshell, I have listed these conditions below:

1. It is mandatory that you complete a minimum of two years of full-time education – technical or non-technical - at any educational institution in Australia. It is only after completion of the course and possession of the degree or diploma that you can apply for permanent residency in Australia. In fact, if you have completed certain specific courses, you can even be considered for permanent residency without any previous work experience.

2. The applicant will have to go through the skills assessment test by the concerned Australian authority. This is vital in judging your capabilities and will determine if you satisfy the criteria of permanent resident.

3. The occupation intended after completion of your study must be listed in the SOL (Skilled Occupations List).

4. You must file your application within a period of six months of completion of your course. Else, your application might be treated as invalid.

5. If you have any unlawful records in your two year study period, you will not be in a position to apply for permanent residentcy.

6. The applicant must currently reside in Australia while the application is submitted.

7. The applicant must be less than 45 years of age.

If you do not fulfill the requirements of permanent visa immediately, you may request for a skilled Graduate Visa. This Visa gives you an additional time of 18 months to gear up your qualification for permanent residence (like gaining work experience etc).

Having the basic requirements of Australian permanent residency, I hope you now gear up your preparations and get ready to settle into the Australian way of life. Do not compromise in any manner while putting in all the required efforts that would turn your dream of a new life in Australia into a memorable reality.

I have given the above information so that you will be able to scrutinize your profile and determine your capabilities according to which you will be able to take the right decision.

Brought to you by the Australian Immigration Experts at Synch1