Visa is a legal document. Students are required to give English eligibility tests as per university rules. If the Study visa of a student has expired before the competition of their studies then they need to renew their visa. Students should apply 30 days before their visa expires.
Student Visa Extension
The process of applying for a visa isn’t a very complex one unless followed precisely. This article contains all the information for somebody who wants to extend their Australian student visa. It contains the step-by-step procedure of what one needs to do to stay in the country and continue one adventure
Below given are the four scenarios that might need you to extend your visa:
- An extended research application
- A new course of study
- When one has already submitted their post-grad thesis but the marking is yet to happen and their visa expires
- There has been an extension in your course and before it completes, your visa expires
Recent Visa Update
there is no automatic extension of a student visa in Australia as of now. However, if one needs to extend their visa because they can’t return to the country right now or their course has been extended then have to look for a way to legally stay in the country. There are two options that can be considered in such a situation:
- One can either apply for student visa again
- Or they can apply for a visitor visa
Such a decision is exclusive to each person and depends on the kind of situation they are in. The choice of getting a student visa is preferable if you are still studying and are intending to continue. While a visitor visa is adequate if you have suspended your studies and intend to return home when you can. However, one cannot work on this Visa.
There may also be instances of delays and problems in accessing some Visa services during this time. For example:
- Delay in procuring appointments for important medical check-ups
- Issues in accessing the Vivo system
- Delay in additional information like biometrics and English testing
However, the Department of Home Affairs is always aware of the problems one can face and allows extra time In the process that accounts for that, irrespective of the instance.
In case a visa of some person has already expired, then that person might be required to apply for bridging visa E in order to avoid any illegal activity. This also helps in giving you the time to make arrangements to leave or resolve any immigration issues you’re facing.
How can one apply for a Visa extension?
Applying for a new Visa before your current one expires, is required in Australia in order to extend your student visa. Inability to do so can lead the person to be deported and might also affect the outcomes of their future visa applications.
Therefore such an action should not be delayed. Within the stipulated time, one should put all the paperwork together and give enough time for all the further processing – which is around 3 months.
One can either apply onshore or from outside Australia as well, but these processes might differ slightly. One is likely to be given a Bridging Visa A or “BVA” in case they submit their valid visa application onshore. If one applies from outside of Australia then you’ll have to wait for the outcome of the visa before entire Australia.
Given below are the steps that need to be followed for application:
STEP 1: Enrol in the course you wish to choose and arrange for an Overseas Student Health Cover.
- The first step is to get a Confirmation of Enrollment (CoE) from your educational institution. This letter is given after enrollment, a sure place, and payment of fees.
- Another important requirement by the Australian government is that of health insurance so one will have to continue their existing Overseas Student Health Cover. This document has to be pulled out until the end of the new Visa therefore it is advisable to get in contact with the health insurance agency and get your end date extended.
STEP 2: Documents required for Student Visa application:
After collecting your CoE and secured OSHC, the next step is to bring all your paperwork together that is required for the application. To see what one needs to provide to the Department of Home Affairs, use the Document Checklist Tool. However, the list of documents that are required may also change depending on the education provider and the reason for applying. The list of important document required is given below:
- A certified copy of your Birth Certificate
- Passport size ID page and a copy of every page within Australian immigration stamp
- National ID Card
- CV/resume
- Marriage certificate, if applicable
- Migration agent form 956, if required
- If the person applying is under 18 years of age then parental consent
- A personal statement that needs to include the reason for extending your studies, the situation back in your home, your situation in Australia, and the importance of the course to your future
- Your CoE. But if you’re waiting on a post-graduate thesis marking then you will need a letter from your Institute or university
- OSHC policy number, making sure that the dates of your policy match to the dates of the visa.
Evidence of financial capability will be determined by:
- Providing evidence proving that you have enough money for a year to cover your expenses and your college fee and also your accompanying family members and also any school cost for any school-aged dependence
- Acceptance Advice of Secondary Exchange students form for secondary exchange students only
- a letter of support from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade or Department of Defence.
- Evidence that your spouse or parents can support you and proof that they have an income of at least AUD$60,00 annually for single students or at least AUD$70000 for students that are accompanied by family members as well
Evidence of having genuine access to money for which one will need:
- Record and history of financial assistance from a business or person
- Explanation of any recent large deposits in your accounts or wage payments
- To prove that you have an education loan to cover your tuition fees and living expenses
- An evidence of agreement and ability to cover cost, in case you have any other loan type.
STEP 3: Submission of your Australian student visa application:
Sign in to your ImmiAccount and attach all the relevant documents and lodge your application which will cost around AU$620.
After this, you will receive a letter of acknowledgment from the Home Office along with your Bridging Visa if you have submitted it onshore. The confirmation will be received on your email from the Home Affairs Office and you can thereby respond to queries quickly to ensure a turnaround time.
In case of your visa being denied, there is no need to panic. This might happen in a case where the officer needs more information. And for that, they will email you with an IMMI S56 request for more information. However, you can also appeal using immigration professionals in case your visa has been simply denied.
STEP 4: Biometrics
Right after lodging in an application, applicants might be asked for their Biometrics for which they will receive a letter and they will also be able to see this request in their IMMIAccount. Immediate action should be taken after receiving the letter and instructions should be followed thoroughly because the candidates will be given only 14 days to provide the biometrics.
STEP 5: Medical Examination
The applicant will also be needed to get health checks to prove that they are in perfect health. In case there has been a gap of a year from the previous checkup to now, then the applicant needs to undergo and other health examination. the applicant can visit any account and click on the health assessment tab. A HAP number and a referral letter for a clinic outlining the assessments that the applicant needs, will be given from there. once you reach the clinic give them your HAP ID and referral letter. After your checks, the medical service will forward the report to the department of home affairs for further assessment.
STEP 6: Hold a valid visa
The applicant will be granted a Bridging Visa A (BVA) if they have applied for this visa when they were in Australia. The BVA allows you to stay in Australia while the visa is being processed and it commences right after the expiration of the current visa. However, traveling on your BVA leads to one losing the right to return as the visa cancels on departure. It is also necessary for the applicant to cancel the current visa as it allows the candidate to not only stay in Australia legally but also be eligible for a Bridging Visa A.
STEP 7: apply before you travel
It is important for the applicant to ensure that the current visa is valid and it allows them to travel because the Bridging Visa A will also be terminated as soon as you leave Australia. However, if the applicant has a BVA along with a strong reason for travel, a Bridging Visa B will be provided to them that would enable them to return to Australia while their application is still being processed.
The applicant can go to VEVO to check if they can travel on their current visa or not.
STEP 8: Application outcome
The assigned case officer will then contact you for further information or might as well make decisions on the application without contacting you. as soon as the visa is granted, the application needs to inform their Australian education provider and then make the necessary arrangement for your further accommodation in Australia.
The applicant should however, remember to leave plenty of time to apply and provide all the paperwork they ask for without any errors. This will enable and ensure your stay in Australia for further studies.
