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April 2, 2020 Pace Migration Education, Student Visa
Table of Contents
*Updates as per April 2020
This is a summary of the latest updates about the COVID-19 situation and Student Visa conditions (whether they are currently in Australia or Overseas), most of the questions and answers related to the visa extension, Student Visa, Tourist Visa, Working Visa, and other visas in Australia.
Travel restrictions
All visa holders need to be aware of the current travel restrictions.
Extending student visas
Under Australian migration law, it is not possible to extend a student visa.
You need to apply for a new visa if:
You should apply for a new Student visa six weeks before your existing Student visa expires. There is no need to provide evidence of the impacts of COVID-19 on your Student visa application.
If your study in Australia is ending, you can apply for a Visitor visa (subclass 600). You need to do this before your student visa expires.
You can work unlimited hours if your course is considered ‘out of session’. Courses are considered ‘out of session’ during scheduled course breaks or if a student has finished their course as scheduled.
If you have commenced studying a master by research or a doctorate course, you may work unlimited hours.
You cannot work more than 40 hours per fortnight when your course of study is ‘in session’, regardless of whether you are attending classes physically or online. A course is considered ‘in session’ for the duration of the advertised semesters (including periods when exams are being held) even if the student is studying online.
You can work over 40 hours per fortnight if your course has been deferred.
There are new provisions for student visa holders if they are:
See the latest updates in these special work arrangements.
Australian study requirements
The Department of Home Affairs does not regulate the mode of study requirements. For more information or clarifications, you should contact your education provider.
For the exceptions as a result of the travel restrictions, see the National Code requirements for affected tertiary students to undertake online study.
Notifying the Department
You do not need to notify the Department if you return home, or your study situation changes.
Your visa remains valid until you lodge another visa application, or your visa expires. The status of your visa will remain unchanged if you return home or defer your studies.
Travel restrictions
All visa holders need to be aware of the current travel restrictions.
Applying for a visa
Strict travel restrictions are in place for all countries. During COVID-19, you should reconsider whether you need to apply for a visa. However, you can still make a temporary visa application online at ImmiAccount.
Please be aware your application may be delayed until travel restrictions are lifted.
Check this page regularly for updates on:
Applying for a Temporary Graduate (subclass 485)
The Department is considering options for affected students. This will be in line with the Government’s response to assist the international education industry.
Unable to return to Australia
If you are unable to return to Australia, contact your education provider.
They can discuss possible deferment of studies and other study-related issues.
Visa extensions
Student visas cannot be extended therefore you need to apply for another visa .
The ‘must not arrive after’ date attached to a visa also cannot be changed or extended, if you can not go back to your home country because of the COVID 19 or you want to stay longer and finish your studies you need to apply for another visa before the expiration date.
If your visa ‘must not arrive after’ date occurs before the travel restrictions are lifted because of the COVID 19, you will need to apply for a new visa.
Studying online
You do not need a visa if you are overseas and studying online with an Australian education provider.
Education Providers can issue new Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) and enrol students to study online.
Leaving Australia
Can return
COVID-19-related restrictions around travelling outside Australia do not apply to people ordinarily resident in a country other than Australia. You can return to your home country/country of habitual residence if it is safe and possible to do so.
Can’t return
You should apply for a new visa before your current visa expires.
Staying in Australia
You must apply for a new visa before your current visa expires. You might be granted a bridging visa that will keep you lawful until a decision is made on your visa application.
This means you can’t apply for most other visas until you leave Australia. If your visa has less than 2 months of validity remaining you can request to waive this condition. We will advise you of the outcome of your request. If your request is approved, you can make a new visa application.
You will need to apply for a new visa that suits your new needs. Explore your visa options.
If your visa has expired, you need to apply for a Bridging E visa (BVE) immediately in order to become lawful. A BVE keeps you lawful while you make arrangements to leave or finalise your immigration matter.
Can’t provide additional information due to office closure (Health or Police clearances, Biometrics, English Language Testing)
You will be given additional time to complete checks and provide the requested information.
Can’t return to Australia before my visa expires and want to return
You will need to apply for a new visa once the travel restrictions are lifted.
Can’t complete Australian Study Requirement or periods of stay under the regional initiatives for Temporary graduate visa holders
We are looking at concessions on a case-by-case basis.
If your Bridging visa expires and you are outside Australia, you will need to apply for another visa. Bridging visas cannot be granted if you are outside Australia.
Applicants should be aware that some services relating to the visa application process may be impacted by COVID-19.
We are aware of issues accessing the VEVO system for certain visa holders. If you can’t use VEVO to check your visa status and conditions, you can still access your visa grant letter and visa conditions online using your ImmiAccount.
Clients should be aware of disruptions to visa medical services, both in Australia and outside Australia, due to COVID-19.
Our visa processing officers are aware of the disruptions. We will take the extended timeframes into account when considering your visa application.
You do not need to contact us if your visa medical has been rescheduled.
If you have not yet lodged a visa application or have not been requested to undertake an immigration medical examination, there is no need to contact a visa medical services clinic in Australia or an overseas panel clinic at this time.
In Australia
Bupa Visa Medical Services and other Visa Medical Services clinics continue to operate. However, visa medical services have been reduced due to the requirements of the Department of Health in relation to COVID-19.
The measures include social distancing. This is to be implemented for all existing bookings from 19 March onwards. The measures may reduce appointment availability in many centres.
We will cancel some bookings and issue refunds. We will contact all people with cancelled appointments and reschedule into available appointments before opening the booking system to new appointments.
These measures are temporary. They will be reviewed regularly on the advice of the Department of Health.
The measures are intended to ensure the health and safety of visa applicants attending clinics, as well as clinic staff, in line with Australian Government recommendations.
Permanent residents of Australia may return to Australia. They will be required to undertake a mandatory 14-day quarantine at designated facilities (for example, a hotel), in their port of arrival. This includes people offshore who have been granted a permanent visa but have not yet arrived on that visa.
We will notify you in writing if your visa has been cancelled in response to the temporary travel restrictions. This will include information on how to seek revocation of the visa cancellation decision.
Syed Rahman
Mr. Rahman is a knowledgeable professional with expertise in academia, corporate management, and migration law. He holds a Post Graduate Certificate in Australian Migration Law from ANU, an MBA in International Business from UTS, and a BBA from Baruch College. With 5 years of corporate management experience, 4 years of teaching experience in Australia, and over 15 years as a registered Migration Agent, Mr. Rahman has a strong background in helping international students and skilled migrants with Australian migration law.
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