I AM AN INTERNATIONAL STUDENT IN AUSTRALIA AND I WOULD LIKE TO STAY IN AUSTRALIA AFTER I GRADUATE, WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS?

Okay, you have Graduated from Australian University or College  and not sure what options are available for you now. Let us give you some migration  options that may make your decision a bit easier.

• You can return to your home country and apply the knowledge you obtained from Australian college or university.

• You can extend your time in Australia with a Temporary Australian Visa option

• You may apply for Permanent Residency if you meet the criteria

• If you are in a relationship with an Australian Citizen, Australian Permanent Resident or eligible New Zealand Citizen you may want to apply for a Partner visa.

Some of the visa options for you may include if you are graduate from Australian University or Australian College are the following:

TEMPORARY VISA OPTIONS

1. A TEMPORARY GRADUATE VISA (SUBCLASS 485) VISA:

This visa allows you to live and work in Australia temporarily after you have completed your studies, whilst on a qualifying Student visa.

There are two streams of a Graduate visa :

Graduate Work Stream: If you apply for a visa in this stream the visa is granted for 18 months.  Before you apply for this stream, you will need to ensure that your skills and qualifications must relate to an occupation on the Skilled Occupations List.

Post Study Stream: This stream is currently only available to applicants that were granted their first visitor visa to Australia on or after 5th November 2011.

• A visa in this stream can be granted up to 4 years depending on qualifications.

• You must have graduated with an eligible qualification for at least a Bachelor degree. If you complete a Diploma qualification, you will not be eligible to apply for this stream.

GRADUATE VISA ELIGIBILITY

• You must have completed studies in Australia with a qualifying visa You must be in Australia

• You must be under 50 years of age when applying

• You must have obtained an eligible qualification within 6 months of applying for the visa (for Post Study Stream)

BENEFITS:

• There are no work restrictions applied to this visa

• You can either work or study in any field

• You can remain in Australia for up to 18 months to complete a professional year to gain Australian work experience and to increase your English language skills.

• You can apply for a Permanent General Skilled Migration visa or Employer Sponsored visa at any time.

1. TEMPORARY WORK SKILLED (SUBCLASS 457) VISA

The Temporary Work Skilled visa allows you to travel to Australia and work in your nominated occupation for your approved sponsor for up to 4 years.

457 VISA REQUIREMENTS:

• You must be sponsored by an approved business

• Have the required skills for your nominated position by an approved business

• Speak vocational English

• Health and Character requirements

BENEFITS:

• Allows you to work in Australia

• Bring family members to work or study in Australia

• Travel in or out of Australia as often as you like

1. SKILLED REGIONAL (PROVISIONAL) (SUBCLASS 189) VISA

This visa allows skilled workers to live and work in specified regional areas in Australia.

There are 2 pathways to obtaining a 489 visa:

1. Invited Pathway – an expression of interest is required

2. Extended Stay Pathway – a Skilled Regional (Provisional) renewal (subclass 189) visa

REQUIREMENTS:

INVITED PATHWAY:

• You must be nominated by an Australian State or Territory Government Agency or Sponsored by an eligible relative living in a designated area.

• Nominate an occupation on the Skilled Occupations List (SOL)

• Complete a Skill Assessment

• You must be under the age of 50 years old

• Obtain at least 60 points in the Skilled Migration Points Test

• Achieve Competent English

EXTENDED PATHWAY:

• You must already hold a Provisional visa (subclasses 496, 495, 487 or 475)

BENEFITS:

• This visa is valid for 4 years

• You are allowed to stay in Australia for up to 4 years

• You can live, work and study in Australia in specified Regional Areas

• Travel in and out of Australia

• It provides a Permanent Residence Pathway through Skilled-Regional (Residence) (subclass 887) visa.

PERMANENT VISA OPTIONS

SKILLED VISAS

The difference types of Skilled visas consist of:

1. SKILLED NOMINATED (SUBCLASS 190) VISA:

This visa is a points tested visa where applicants must be nominated by a State or Territory Government Agency.

REQUIREMENTS:

• You must be invited to apply

• Nominate an occupation on the Skilled Occupations List (SOL)

• Skill Assessment for nominated occupation required

• Competent English

• You must score 60 points in the Skilled Migration Points test

BENEFITS:

• You can stay in Australia indefinitely

• Enroll in Medicare (Australia’s Scheme for health related care and expenses)

• If eligible you can apply for Australian Citizenship

• Sponsor eligible relatives for Permanent Residence

• Travel  to and from Australia for 5 years from the date the visa is granted.

1. SKILLED INDEPENDENT (SUBCLASS 189) VISA

This is a points tested visa for Skilled workers who are not sponsored by an employer or family member or nominated by a State or Territory Government.

REQUIREMENTS:

• You must be invited

• Nominate an Occupation on the Skilled Occupations List

• Skill Assessment for Nominated Occupation

• Must be under 50 years of age

• Obtain at least 60 points in the Skilled Migration Points Test

• Achieve Competent English

BENEFITS:

• You can stay in Australia indefinitely

• Enroll in Medicare (Australia’s Scheme for health related care and expenses)

• If eligible you can apply for Australian Citizenship

• Sponsor eligible relatives for Permanent Residence

• Travel  to and from Australia for 5 years from the date the visa is granted.

1. EMPLOYER NOMINATED SCHEME VISA (ENS)

Is an Employer Nomination Scheme visa but it is a Permanent visa , you will need a greater level of skill then the 457 visa but the requirements are similar to the 457 visa.

The ENS visa has two stages:

Stage 1 – Nomination

Stage 2 – Visa Application

There are also 3 Pathways:

Temporary Residence Transition Stream: You must have already worked with an Employer on a 457 for the last 2 years, no skill assessment is required and an IELTS score of 5 is required.

Direct Entry Stream: A full Skill Assessment is required by Employee, you must prove that you have worked in your occupation for 3 years. English level required is IELTS 6

Agreement Stream: Employer has a labour agreement

1. REGIONAL SPONSORED MIGRATION VISA (RSMS)

The RSMS visa is a Permanent Residence visa for skilled workers who want to work in Regional areas of Australia.

It also has 3 Streams:

Temporary Residence Transition Stream – This is for existing 457 holders who have worked with the 457 visa for 2 years in the same occupation and with the same employer.

Direct Entry Stream

• You must be nominated by an Employer

• A visa for people who have never worked or only briefly worked in Australia

• Temporary Residents who do not qualify for the Temporary Residence Transition Stream

Agreement Stream – People nominated by an employer through a labour agreement.

PARTNER VISA OPTION:

You can apply for a Partner visa, if you are in a relationship with an Australian Citizen, Australian Permanent Residence or Eligible New Zealand Citizen.

1. PARTNER VISA (subclass 820/801) Onshore visa

This visa allows a spouse or defacto partner to live in Australia. You must be married to or be in a defacto relationship.

You must be in Australia when you apply.

The Partner visa 820 is a Temporary Partner visa when granted allows you to stay in Australia for approximately 2 years.  It lets you:

• Work in Australia

• Study in Australia

• Enrol in Medicare, Australia’s Scheme for health related care and expenses

The Partner visa 801 is lodged after the 2 years which is a Permanent Partner visa once granted:

• You can stay in Australia

• Work in Australia

• Study in Australia

• Apply for Australian Citizenship

• Receive some social security benefits

• Travel to and from Australia for 5 years from when visa is granted.

ONE derland Consulting has extensive experience dealing with different type of visas and complex cases, to find further information on your options  and eligibility after Graduating, please contact our office on (+61) 089477-5831 or email: [email protected]