Before we know it, 2021 is drawing to a close. It has been a difficult year for many of you, and a large number of students’ Australian student visas will soon be expiring.If you are unsure how much time remains on your visa, please check via VEVO as soon as possible,to ensure you can remain in Australia on a valid visa.
It is generally recommendedto lodge a new visa application within 90 days before your current visa expires. If you remain in Australia after your visa has expired, you are in Australia unlawfully,in breach of the Migration Act,which may result in a 3-year re-entry ban and render you ineligible for many future visa applications,unless you can demonstrate compelling circumstances beyond your control, in which case there may be an opportunity to seek an exemption.
On the border front,New South Wales, South Australia, and the ACT (Canberra) have all confirmed that international students who are fully vaccinated with an Australian-approved vaccine will be able to enter without any quarantine requirement,The New South Wales Premier has stated that the return of international students is an absolute breakthrough, noting that they make a significant contribution to the Australian economy and help Australia get back on track — NSW is leading the push.
We expect other major states to follow with quarantine-free entry policies, with large numbers of student visa holders anticipated to be able to enter Australia from early next year.
For those currently outside Australia
So for students overseas whose visas have already expired or are about to expire,now is the time to prepare your visa renewal — otherwise applications will pile up, delays will be unavoidable, and you will miss out on both study time and the chance to work and earn.The currently recommended renewal pathway is the work-and-study student visa.
Students overseas should first check how much time remains in their course,then use an education consultant or VEVO to check when their visa expires.If you are eligible to renew your student visa, contact your education consultant right away to begin the renewal process. The requirements for a student visa application from overseas are the same as those within Australia — just keep the following points in mind:
1) Age
2) Institution and country risk level
3) Academic arrangements
4) Visa history
For more detailed information on offshore visa renewal, click here:Everything you need to know about this popular Australian visa — processing FAQs, bringing your spouse, onshore/offshore, risk levels, and more…
Labour shortages driving a wage-growth windfall
Another key reason we strongly recommend offshore students begin the work-and-study visa process without delay is that Australia is experiencing severe labour shortages,particularly in the industries where international students typically work,the service industry and the construction industryare hit especially hard, forcing employers to raise wages in order to attract workers.
According to the latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, for the December quarter ending in September,the construction and hospitality/hotel services industries ranked second and third respectively for hourly wage growth.So if you are overseas and planning to work and study, the sooner you get your visa sorted and enter Australia, the sooner you can take advantage of this opportunity.
In the chart below, the orange bars represent the quarter-on-quarter increase, with professional and technical roles seeing the largest rise at 1.3%,and the industry average at 0.9%.
If you area student currently in Australia, renewing your visa is more straightforward and you have more options available. We recommend considering all of them based on your personal circumstances. Below are some recommendations and overviews,please read on ⇓⇓⇓
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For students currently in Australia
1) Work-and-study student visa
Regarding the student visa, if you have previously had aleave of absence, failed a subject, or transferred schools, this only affects your enrolment timeline — it does not automatically change your visa status,your student visa expiry date remains the same. The first important thing to be aware of is that,if there has been a change to your course(for example, the duration, course name, or institution has changed),you will need to obtain a new COE (Confirmation of Enrolment). Current processing times for onshore student visa renewals are approximately 4 to 10 weeks.
Application requirements
A) The applicant must provide a COE (Confirmation of Enrolment);
B) The applicant must hold Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) as required by the visa
C) The applicant must meet the health and character requirements;
D) The applicant must provide a study plan addressing the Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) requirement;
E) The applicant must provide a completion letter from their previous studies (if applicable);
Please note: the adjusted student visa application fee is AUD 630,and renewing a second student visa from within Australia incurs an additional fee of AUD 700.Many students wonder why the fee differs for a second onshore renewal — this additional charge is levied by the Department of Home Affairs.
2) Visitor visa
The visitor visa is a temporary visa suitable for those holidaying in Australia or visiting family and friends. It is generally granted for 3 months, 6 months, or 12 months.
Application requirements
A) The applicant mustdemonstrate a genuine purpose of travel, and must provide a specific travel itinerary;
B) The applicant must demonstrate sufficient fundsto cover all expenses during their stay in Australia;
C) The applicant must meet the health and character requirements;
D) The applicant must obtain Overseas Visitors Health Cover (OVHC) as required by the visa.
＊Please note: this visa can be applied for either from within Australia or from overseas.If the application is lodged from within Australia, the applicant must be in Australia when the visa is granted.Equally, if the application is lodged from overseas, the applicant must be outside Australia when the visa is granted.
3) Subclass 408 visa
This is a Subclass 408 / Temporary Activity visa, which came into effect on 4 April 2020 to provide more than 2 million temporary visa holders stranded in Australia with a reasonable visa transition pathway during the pandemic, and to enable more people to contribute to the COVID-19 response on a lawful and appropriate visa,with no official application fee — it is free!Family members may also be included in the application.The visa is generally granted for 3–6 months; however, applicants working in a critical sector may receive a validity of up to 6–12 months with full work rights,with critical sectors including aged care, childcare,hospitality, tourism,agriculture, and public health.
Application requirements
A) The applicant must be located in Australia;
B) The applicant is temporarily unable to leave Australia due to the pandemic and is unable to apply for any other visa;
C) The applicant must lodge the application when their current visa has fewer than 28 days remaining, or within 28 days of their last valid visa expiring;
D) The applicant must obtain Overseas Visitors Health Cover (OVHC) as required by the visa.
＊Applicants working in a critical sector must additionally:
E) lodge the application when their current visa has fewer than 90 days remaining,or within 28 days of their last valid visa expiring;
F) The applicant must providea letter from their employer confirming their employment, including (but not limited to) payslips, an employment contract, or a letter of sponsorship from the employer;
Australia’s borders will open to international students and other temporary visa holders sooner or later — now is the critical time to get your visa in order, regardless of whether you arecurrently in Australia or overseas, if you are looking to come to Australia tostudy, work, earn an income, or simply experience life here, you are welcome to get in touch with us to plan your next steps!
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