Graduate Visa In Australia

If you’re looking to graduate in Australia there is good news. Most of the courses available in Australia are offered by public and private universities. Depending on your field of study, an online course or a degree from a non-Australian university will allow you to obtain a Graduate Visa.When you are studying in Australia or already have a graduate degree and experience, you can apply for a Graduate Visa which will allow you to live and work in Australia longer. Here’s what you need to know about the Australian Graduate Visa.

Australia is considered as a top destination for overseas students who are looking to study abroad. Almost every year, thousands of international students come over in order to pursue their higher education. The main reasons behind choosing Australia are, higher standards of living, excellent educational institutions, quality job market and affordable living.

Graduate Visa In Australia

Unlike in some other English-speaking countries, there is no automatic right associated with your student visa to stay and work for a period of time in Australia after you complete your degree. When you receive your student visa, the government lets you in on a temporary basis of entry for study with the understanding that you will leave upon completion of course and before the visa will expire. Australia continues to have demand for foreign workers, and students that have earned a degree in Australia have a special work visa category. There are also several other visa categories open to international students, and Australia has a very straightforward path to permanent residency using a points system . If you want to stay and work after you graduate, you must apply and obtain a work visa.

Here are a few of the categories of visas that are available:

485 Skilled Graduate
Temporary VisaThis visa is the most common option available to international students after graduating. With a 485 visa, you are allowed to stay in Australia for 18 months to gain work experience only if you have just completed at least two years of study in Australia.402 Training and
Research VisaAnother option for international students, the 442 visa is for students to improve their work skills for up to two years while being sponsored by an employer.487 Regional
Sponsored VisaThis visa provides a pathway for permanent residency while allowing you to work for 3 years and work in a specialized regional area887 Skilled Regional
Residence VisaThe 887 visa awards you permanent residency and with this you can live and work in Australia permanently. You must have already lived in Australia for two years, have a year of work experience and have sufficient points.885 Skilled Independent
Residence VisaThe 885 visa allows you to live as a permanent resident and work without needing to be sponsored886 Skilled Sponsor
Resident VisaThe 886 visa allows an overseas student to apply for permanent residency and work while being sponsored by an employer.

As mentioned above, Australia uses a point system to see if someone qualifies for most visas. The point evaluations will be assessed along with your application. These are a few of the items that gain you points:

• English ability or mastery
• Occupation in demand
• between 19 and 44 yrs of age
• Work experience
• Australian qualifications (length of study)
• Sponsorship

To see if you have enough points to pass use the point calculator.

You should make an appointment with one of your university’s counselors to discuss your options before you graduate as rules and requirements change often.

What Is a Temporary Graduate (TR) Visa Subclass 485?

Temporary graduate visa- TR 485 is issued to international students who finished their studies in Australia and wish to work there. This work visa will allow you to stay in Australia for a short time and work there, but you can only apply for this visa once.

Temporary Graduate Visa 485 Streams

For a 485 visa, there are two streams you can apply for:

1. Post study work stream. This stream will allow you to stay between two to four years depending on your degree level. During that time you can work anything as long as it’s related to your field of study- you can also apply for a second post study work stream visa that will allow you to stay for up to two more years.
2. Graduate work stream. You can apply for this visa stream if you want to work in an occupation that belongs to the skilled occupation list. To get this visa stream, your degree, diploma or trade certificate must be related to the job you want to work in.

485 Visa Checklist

Make sure you provide the documents listed here for your 485 visa application:

• Make sure you prepare a copy of your passport pages with all the information details.
• Proof of your finished studies. You will most likely need to submit a letter of completion including the dates when you started your studies and when you finished your study program.
• School records. You are also required to submit a copy of your school transcripts will all your course grades.
• Proof of English language proficiency. Unless you are from the United Kingdom, the US, Canada, New Zealand, or the Republic of Ireland, then you must submit proof that you have successfully completed an international English language test.
• Health insurance. You must submit proof that you have valid health insurance during your stay there, or that you are a part of MediCare.
• Your character documents. You have to provide proof that you applied for a National Police Check, and you must submit other documents that show you are not involved in criminal activities. Please make sure you also provide form 80 and form 1221 for additional information.
• Skill assessment documents. You are required to go through a skill assessment for your nominated occupation-this assessment must be submitted with your application. However, you only need the skills assessment for a graduate stream visa and not for a post study work visa.
• Partner documents. For your partner or spouse, you must provide copies of their identification documents, a copy of your marriage certificate (if applicable), proof of registered relationship and similar documents.

• Minor children documents. If you are taking a minor child with you, you must provide their birth certificate or a family book, and either a parental consent form 1229 or a statutory declaration.
• Dependent children documents. In case you have adult dependent children, you must submit proof of dependency, and form 47a. Don’t forget to include their identification documents.

Eligibility Criteria for a 485 Visa

You need to meet the following criteria for a 485 visa:

• You are under 50 years of age.
• You hold a valid student visa.
• You held a student visa 6 months before you applied for a 485 visa.
• You received one of these degrees:
  • Bachelor degree
  • Bachelor degree (Honors)
  • Master’s (course work) degree
  • Master’s (extended) degree
  • Master’s (by research) degree
  • PhD
• You studied at an Australian university.
• You did not hold a previous 485 visa or a 476 visa (for a graduate stream).
• You meet the skills requirements (for a graduate stream)
• Your occupation is listed in the skilled occupation list (for a graduate stream).

Please note that you must have gotten your student visa either on November 5, 2011 or after this date- anyone with a student visa issued earlier is not eligible to apply for a 485 visa.

Meeting the Study Requirements for Australia Visa 485

The study program you followed in Australia must meet the study requirement for you to be eligible for a 485 visa:

• The course you took was a part of CRICOS (Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students).
• You held a valid student visa.
• You completed all the course requirements.
• The course you studied was taught in English.
• You studied for at least two years or 92 weeks in total.
• You finished your study program in no less than 16 months.

How Can I Apply For a Temporary Graduate Visa in Australia?

You can apply for the visa by following these instructions:

1. Open an ImmiAccount.
2. Attach your documents.
3. Pay the application fee.
4. Submit your application.

Open an ImmiAccount

You have to apply online for a visa 485. To submit a successful application, you must have an ImmiAccount- if you don’t have one then you must open a new account. The online platform will give step by step instructions on how to apply, and you will also find a full list of the required documents you must submit for your visa application.

Please make sure you choose the visa stream carefully when applying, you cannot change streams after you apply.

Attach Your Documents

Once you have selected which visa 485 stream you are applying for, you can continue with the next part of the application- attaching your documents. For online applications, you must submit scanned copies of your original documents, or scanned photocopies. You have to prepare your documents so that the files can be uploaded.

Pay the Application Fee

To get your application processed, you must submit the application fee or your application is invalid. You must pay the fee online- you will see the option for payments in the ImmiAccount.

Submit Your Application

You submit the application as soon as your payment is finished. Please make sure you apply on time, and keep in mind that applications should be submitted according to the Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST).