Following yesterday’s official announcement, there has been quite a lot of good news for international students and graduates overseas these past couple of days — three updates in one day!
No.1
Just confirmed! All student visas have temporarily had their work hour limits removed!
Just now, the Department of Home Affairs officially updated its website with the details on the removal of work hour limits for student visas,effective immediately for all student visa holders!
This covers both primary and secondary applicants on a student visa — they may work in any sector (all sectors), even before their course commences, with full-time work permitted upon entering Australia prior to the course start date.This is a temporary measure,and the government will review whether to continue it in April.
Students should still be careful not to breach other student visa conditions, such as maintainingenrolment attendance requirements and academic progress, and so on. And most importantly — safety first!
NO.2
International Students → Student Visa Fee Refund for Limited-Time Return to Australia
This morning, Prime Minister Morrison announced at a press conference:
International students who return to Australia within the next 8 weeks — that is, before 16 March — will receive a refund of the AUD $630 student visa application fee.
According to the Department of Home Affairs, approximately 43,000 international students returned to Australia following the border reopening in mid-December, but around 150,000 international students are still overseas. He also announced that the AUD $495 application fee would be refunded to 23,500 working holiday visa holders.
The Department of Home Affairs website later added:Students who entered Australia in 2022between 19 January and 19 March 2022 — the refund process will be announced shortly, and provided you meet the requirements, you can apply for a refund before 31 December 2022,there’s no need to rush and apply right away.
Offshore Subclass 485 Extensions Available Until 30 September!
Eligible Subclass 485 visa holders will be able to extend or re-enliven their visa until 30 September 2022.
Note: this supplementary concession is intended to complement yesterday’s announcement —helping offshore Subclass 485 holders to have a valid visa to return to Australia from 18 February this year, then apply onshore from 1 July for a new Subclass 485 replacement visa(new replacement stream) — a transitional arrangement to bridge various visa continuity gaps.
Applicable to those whose Subclass 485 visa is soon to expire and wishing to apply for an extension:
– Must have held a Subclass 485 visa on 15 December 2021;
– The current Subclass 485 visa expires before 30 September 2022;
– At the time the Subclass 485 was granted, the primary applicant must have been in Australia;
– The primary applicant was outside Australia at any point between 1 February 2020 and 14 December 2021 (inclusive)
– The Subclass 485 visa has not been cancelled on or after 15 December 2021
– Has not been granted a further substantive visa on or after 15 December 2021
Applicable to those whose Subclass 485 visa has already expired and wishing to have their visa re-enlivened (enlivening):
– The Subclass 485 visa expired between 1 February 2020 and 14 December 2021 (inclusive)
– At the time the Subclass 485 was granted, the primary applicant was in Australia
– The primary applicant was outside Australia at any point between 1 February 2020 and 14 December 2021 (inclusive)
– The visa has not been cancelled
– Has not been granted any further substantive visa
Extension or re-enlivenment is free of charge, and willbe granted automatically — there is no need to contact the Department of Home Affairs. Family members (secondary applicants) who were included on the original Subclass 485 and were similarly affected by border restrictions are also eligible, provided the primary applicant meets the criteria,and will receive the same treatment — note that this arrangement is not expected to apply to subsequently added secondary applicants, though this is to be confirmed.
NO.4
International Travellers Entering Through Queensland — No Quarantine Required
International travellers who are fully vaccinated with a TGA-approved vaccinemay enter Queensland from 1:00 am on Saturday 22 January without quarantine, needing only to complete a RAT (rapid antigen test) within 24 hours of entering Queensland.This is truly excellent news for international students and visa holders in Queensland — though everyone should of course ensure they are doing so safely!
However, international arrivals who are not fully vaccinated or who have received a vaccine not recognised by the TGA will still be required to undertake 14 days of quarantine at a designated facility.
——The following is recent news——
NO.5
A look back at how hard Australia has been working for international students and temporary visa holders recently
Under the original student visa rules, the work limit was 40 hours per fortnight. According to Morrison’s latest statement,the new rules will allow international students to work up to 80 hours per fortnight — equivalent to 40 hours per week — while studying.
