This document provides information on common visa pathways and options for student visa holders in Australia. It discusses the skilled temporary (subclass 485) visa, skilled migration permanent visas, and employer sponsored visas as potential next steps. It also addresses requirements and eligibility for visa options like the post-study work stream 485 visa, general skilled migration, the 457 temporary work visa, and the 187 regional sponsored migration visa. Tips are provided on planning early, meeting English language and skills assessment requirements, and avoiding issues that could jeopardize future visa applications.

1. Student Visa Holders -
what next?
Common Visa
Pathways

2. Who are we?
•Operating for 10 years (25+ years’ total experience)
•7 registered migration agents
•Senior agent was a DIBP manager
Presenting to you today are:
• Simon Delmo - MARN 1066328
• Ivanna Cheng - MARN 1066462

3. Common visa options and pathways
• Skilled temporary (subclass 485)
• Skilled migration (permanent)
• Employer sponsored visas (temporary and permanent)

4. Common pathway which
does not rely on an
employer to sponsor you.
Need to be sure you can
meet 485 requirements.

5. Again, depends on 485 eligibility,
but provides a good option for
people who need extra points, or
who may struggle with skills
assessments or English.

6. Not eligible for the post study 485 and
your occupation is not on SOL Schedule
1, then you may need an employer to
sponsor you. This pathway has good
options to PR, possibly with no skills
assessment and lower English.

7. Great option if you can do it. This is
what we would first of all be aiming
at, but it's not possible for everyone.

8. Another great 'direct to PR' option
with no skills assessment. Wages
can be lower than with the 457. You
need an employer in a regional area.
PR visa can be cancelled if you don't
stay with the employer for 2 years.

9. Which visa?
•Choose the best visa for your situation
•Know whether you will meet the requirements before you lodge
•Plan well in advance!

10. Genuine Student Issues
•Very important!
•Career pathway (DIBP tougher on ‘genuine student’)
•Not using student visas to gain ‘de facto’ residence in Australia
•Understanding how your choices have consequences for other visas.
Know your clear goal and pathway!

11. The skilled temporary 485 Visa:
•Great first option at the completion of study
•No employer required to sponsor you
•Are you eligible? Normally requires a Bachelor degree
Two ‘streams’:
• Graduate Skilled Stream
• Post Study Work Stream

12. Graduate Stream
Only 485 option for people who had applied for a student visa
before Nov 5th 2011
• Occupation must be on SOL Schedule 1
• Requires a skills assessment
• 2 years study
• IELTS 6 (at time of application)

13. Post Study Work Stream
You must have applied for your first ever student visa after 5th of
November 2011.
• Bachelor level or higher
• 2 years study
• IELTS 6 (at time of application)
• Length of visa depends on your course of study

14. 485 – Time of application (common criteria)
 Met 2 years study requirement in the last 6months
 IELTS 6 at time of application
 Applied for AFP clearance (and evidence)
 Booked in for medicals (and evidence)
 Under 50 years of age

15. 485 – Time of application (common criteria cont…)
 Hold eligible visa. This can get complex so be careful. For example, if
you apply for a new student visa ton study English this could make
you ineligible for the 485.
 Hold or have held an eligible student visa in the last 6 months
 $1440
 Be in Australia
 Health insurance – again, can be complex so be very careful.

16. 485 – other factors
Graduate Stream:
Issues regarding closely related, occupation on SOL and skills
assessments.
Post study work stream:
Eligible qualification in the last 6 months. No skills assessment and no
nominated occupation!

17. General Skilled Migration (permanent)
• Your occupation
• Can you meet assessing authority requirements?
• Do you need state nomination?
• Points Test
• Eligible family sponsorship for the 489 in Melbourne…

18. IT Occupations
Recent changes to ACS requirements include:
• 485 skills assessment based on qualification only (Bachelor +)
• Permanent ACS assessment for Australian graduates now only
available after one year of post qualification work or completion of a
professional year.
• Be careful about the ‘skill level requirement met’ date for points.
• Know what you are doing and plan in advance!

19. Accountants
• For the permanent skills assessment make sure you meet IELTS
Academic 7 and meet the ‘9 in 12’ mandatory subjects, or be a
member of an approved association in lieu of the 9 in 12)
• If you can’t meet Academic 7 you can obtain a 485 assessment with
General IELTS 6. You can avoid Academic IELTS 7 if you then
complete a Professional Year.
• Hint – fast processing skills assessment can result in direct to
permanent visa processes.

20. GSM Process
• SkillSelect
• Expression of Interest first (but see below)
• Invite to apply for the visa.
Do NOT lodge your EoI until you are 100% sure that you have
everything ready and you meet requirements. False information can
result in a 3 year ban!

21. Employer Sponsored Visas
457 – temporary visa
187 – permanent (regional) visa
186 – permanent (anywhere)

22. The 457 visa
• Temporary visa (up to 4 years but can be renewed)
• Fast processing
• Great starting point (can lead to PR)
TSMIT currently $53,900 + superannuation.

23. The 457 visa - transitional residence pathway
• Obtain a 457 visa
• Work for 2 years
• Apply for PR
Advantages include:
• Lower English than other visa options
• Easier to evidence skills

24. ENS - subclass 186
This is a permanent employer sponsored visa. Your employer can be
anywhere in Australia (city and regional).
To meet requirements :
• You have 3 years post qualification work experience, or
• You have worked for your employer on the 457 for 2 years, or
• You earn over $180K per year.
In most cases applicants won't be eligible as a new graduate.

25. RSMS - subclass 187
Permanent employer sponsored regional visa.
Regional is:
• Victoria - anywhere except Melbourne Metro area
• NSW anywhere except Sydney, Wollongong or Newcastle
• Queensland - anywhere except Brisbane or the Gold Coast
All of Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania, the Northern
Territory.

26. Advantages of RSMS:
• Direct to permanent
• No TSMIT (can be paid under $53,900)
• No work experience or skills assessment
• You need only to meet 'ANZSCO' requirements
• IELTS 6

27. RSMS - important information
You must make a 'genuine effort' to remain with your sponsoring
employer for the first 2 years after the visa is approved or your visa can
be cancelled.
DIBP do cancel these visas!

28. Other options?
• Do you have a partner?
• Consider more study?
• Important to understand your pathway
Each situation is different, so please discuss your situation with one of
our migration agents as early as possible!

29. 4020
'Public Interest Criteria 4020‘ is how DIBP smash people who have
provided bogus documents or false information in their application, or in
the application for a visa they have held in the last 12 months.
DO NOT provide false documents or information. It can catch up with
you years later and blow you away.
Examples from our experience (IELTS and character information).

30. How does the application process work?
•Make a valid application in Australia
•Receive a bridging visa (normally a BVA)
•Remain lawfully in Australia while your visa is being processed
Notes:
You can't travel while holding a BVA, you must hold a BVB!
Stay lawful. Becoming unlawful can have terrible consequences (such
as visa refusal and a three year ban).

31. Student visa expiry573 student visa
Apply for another visa (eg 485).
BVA granted here.
BVA comes into effect when student via expires.
No travel on BVA., but you can get a BVB if you need to travel.
New visa approved. BVA ceases.

32. How to start with National Visas....

33. nationalvisas.com.au

34. This slide show is available on our blog site here:
nationalvisas.com.au/blog
Articles written by our migration agents are here:
nationalvisas.com.au/blog/category/migration-agents-
articles