Things to Learn Must before Applying for Subclass 485 Visa

Every student who wishes to study overseas, they also like to work overseas. A Student Visa 500 allows students to study in Australia only. It doesn’t give them the right to work in their specialized field. As a result, the Australian government has introduced a Temporary Graduate Visa Subclass 485 to study, work, and live after finishing your studies in Australia. 

What is a Temporary Graduate Visa?

It is a temporary visa. It allows international students who graduated recently in Australia to study, live, and work in Australia for 18 months to 5 years. The processing time may vary depending on the stream you have lodged your visa application.

Recently, the Australian government has announced an increase in the stay duration of some Temporary Graduate Visa holders. Graduates with a Bachelor, Honours, or Master's degree can stay further for up to two years. They can stay only when their qualification is on the Department of Education list.

Benefits of this Visa

Holding this visa has several advantages. Some of them include:

·         You can stay in Australia for a considerable period and increase the stay duration after requesting the Department or applying the other stream under this visa.

·         You can travel around the country during your stay.

·         You can enroll in a course to enhance your current skills.

·         You can work in Australia. However, you must find your job on your own during your stay.

·         You can include members of the family unit or your dependent child.

·         It is an affordable visa to Australia.

Basic Eligibility to Qualify this Visa

You are eligible for this visa if you meet its eligibility criteria. The Subclass 485 Visa falls into several sub-categories or streams. Each stream has slightly different needs than the others. The basic requirements to be eligible for this visa are listed below.

·         Your age must not be above 50 years.

·         If you are applying from Australia, you must hold an eligible visa. Ensure you are not in immigration clearance when you apply for and get your approval letter. 

·         You held a Student Visa 500. Ensure your visa history is not more than six months old.

·         You have finished a course in Australia, and the course is CRICOS-registered. 

·         You are eligible to get a nomination for only one stream. Once you have applied for a stream under this visa, you cannot change it. 

·         The cost of each stream is the same, excluding the Second Post-Study Work Stream. 

·         The English language level is essential to meet if you are not a passport holder of the UK, the USA, Canada, New Zealand, or the Republic of Ireland. 

Streams to Apply under the Subclass 485 Visa

There are several streams under this visa. Before selecting any stream, it is wise to understand how they are different from one another to select a suitable one.

Graduate Work Stream

It is a primary stream of the 485 visa that allows recently graduated international students to work, study and live in Australia for up to 18 months. As of 1 December 2021, the temporary stay can increase to 24 months. Hong Kong and British passport holders can stay for five years.

The processing time for this visa may vary. It may take less than one day or up to 79 days. You are in Australia with a Bridging Visa A or Bridging Visa B. You are eligible for this visa if you have finished your course in two academic years (92 weeks) and have finished the course in at least 16 calendar months.

Post-Study Work Stream

It is also for fresh international graduates in Australia who graduated from an Australian institute. This visa is valid for two to four years. The validity depends on your qualification. Hong Kong and British National passport holders can stay for five years under this visa.

It allows you to bring your family with you. The processing time is less than one day or could take up to 6 months.

Second Post-Study Work Stream

You can apply for this visa if you have complied with the first Post-Study Work Stream or Replacement Stream. Your program must be registered with CRICOS. You must have graduated from an Australian institute located in a regional area.

The stay duration can be one to two years, depending on the region of your institute, holding a first Temporary Graduate visa in the Post-Study Work Stream or the Replacement Stream.

Replacement Stream

The visa is suitable for current and former Temporary Graduate Visa holders who didn’t get time to stay in Australia on a Graduate Temporary visa because of COVID-19 travel restrictions. It allows you to live in Australia for 18 months to 5 years. The processing time is not available. It depends on a case-by-case basis. It lets you include your spouse in the visa application.