STUDENT VISA

 

Australia’s Overseas Student Program

 

The Australian Government operates an overseas student program (OSP) that allows people who are not Australian citizens or Australian permanent residents to study in Australia.

Anyone who is not an Australian resident may apply to study in Australia under the OSP.

If you want to study under this program, you must obtain a student visa before you can commence a course of study in Australia.

 

Registered Courses

 

You can be granted a student visa only if you wish to undertake a registered course or part of a registered course on a full-time basis.

A registered course is an education or training course offered by an Australian education provider who is registered with the Australian Government to offer courses to overseas students.

 

Applying your Student Visa

 

- pay for your course fee in order to obtain a confirmation of enrolment (COE)

- adequate health insurance by obtaining the Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)

- no debts to the Commonwealth

- good character

- you will not be allowed to study in Australia while you are under 18 years of age unless:

  • you are accompanied by a parent or legal custodian,

  • you stay with a suitable relative, or

  • your education provider provides a written statement saying that your accommodation, support and general welfare arrangements are appropriate.

- find out your student visa assessment level according to your nationality of passport and satisfy the checklist requirements for the student visa application eg. bank statements, past qualifications, English language requirement etc.

 

Extending your Stay

 

Following your initial student visa, you may wish to extend your stay for:

- continue your studies with a new student visa

- attend your graduation ceremony

- have a holiday

- to migrate to Australia under the General Skilled Migration program

 

Changing Courses

 

- If you want to change to a new course at the same level of qualification, you do not need to apply for a new Student visa unless your current visa is about to expire.

- If you want to change your level of qualification, you will need to apply for a new Student visa because your visa subclass will have changed.
Example: Changing from a graduate diploma to a PhD degree.

- All initial student visas are granted with the Condition 8206, No Change of Provider.

- This means you must stay with your principal (or main) education provider for the first 12 months.

- Where you have been granted a package, you must stay for the first 12 months of the principal (or main) course and for the duration of any prerequisite course/s.

- However, you may change your course if the new course is:

  • at the same level of qualification,
    Example: A bachelor or masters degree,

  • of the same duration, and

  • with the same education provider.

- To apply for a change of provider within the first 12 months of your study in Australia, you must demonstrate exceptional circumstances justifying the change of your enrolment. Exceptional circumstances can include:

  • the provider ceasing operations,

  • an Australian government sponsor considering the change to be in the best interest of the student, and has provided written support,

  • the original provider stating in writing that the course is inappropriate, that is it does not adequately meet the needs of the student, and

  • compassionate and compelling circumstances.

Working while Studying

 

- All initial Student visas are granted with the condition 8101, No Work.

- You and members of your family can apply for permission to work only after you have commenced your studies in Australia.

- If you are given permission to work, there will be restrictions on the number of hours you will be allowed to work in a week depending on the condition (for example 20 hours a week).

- You may undertake a work placement as part of your course requirements as long as it is a registered part of your course. Your education provider will know if the work is a registered component of the course.

- If you volunteer or take part in unpaid work, then you must apply for permission to work. Any volunteer or unpaid work counts towards the limit of 20 hours per week.

- If you are granted permission to work, a new visa label will be put into your passport. It will have a work limitation condition (8105 or 8104), instead of the no work condition (8101).

- You need to obtain a Tax File Number (TFN) to work in Australia. You can obtain a TFN through the Australian Tax Office.

 

Bringing Family Members

 

You are generally eligible to apply to bring family members to Australia if you are assessed as:

  • assessment level 1 or 2, or

  • assessment level 3 or 4 and your course is for more than 12 months.

Who are members of your family?

Members of your family are:

  • your spouse, and

  • you or your spouse’s dependent children who have not turned 18 and who are unmarried.

Under Australian law, your spouse may be either:

  • a person to whom you are legally married, or

  • a person of the opposite sex with whom you have been living for at least 12 months and with whom you have a genuine and exclusive relationship (your de facto).

If you are planning to have members of your family live with you in Australia, then you must show proof of your relationship to them, such as officially issued birth and marriage certificates.

The Australian government office overseas or department office processing your application will contact you if further information is needed.

Sometimes you or your family member may also be asked to come in for an interview.

 

Declaring family members

All members of your family must be declared on your student visa application, whether or not they intend to travel to Australia at any time.

If you do not declare a member of your family in your application, then that person will not be eligible to come to Australia on your student visa.

Please note that if a person (including a new spouse or newborn child) becomes a member of your family only after you make your application, they may be eligible to apply for a visa as a member of your family, or to be included in your next student visa application.

 

EMAIL US:

migration@bridgeblue.com.au

 

BACK TO

 

Bridge Blue Pty Ltd Suite 801A Level 8, 276 Pitt Street

Sydney NSW Sydney Australia
Tel: +61 2 92690110   Fax: +61 2 92690197
 Email: study@bridgeblue.com.au

 

 

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