Graduate visa
The Temporary Graduate visa, Subclass 485 is an appropriate visa option for recent graduates seeking to accumulate employment experiment for other skilled, regional and employer sponsored visas. These visas generally require 12 to 36 months employment experience in your nominated occupation.
On the surface, the Temporary Graduate visa, Subclass 485, appears straight forward. However, there are many time related criteria both at lodgement and at the decision making stage. Often these are overlooked and the consequences can be devastating.
Two Streams
- There are two streams to choose from, the Post Study Work stream and Graduate Work stream
- The stream you can apply for will depend on when you applied for your first ever student visa and the course you have studied.
Study
- You must meet the Australian study requirement
- It is often assumed this simply means 2 years (92 weeks) of academic weeks of study
- If you have received credit, accelerated your course, changed institutions, or spent time overseas this could impact on whether or not you meet the Australian study requirement
Timing
- There are various deadlines, if unsatisfied can lead to a refusal
- For example, the visa application must be submitted within 6 months of course completion and within 6 months of holding a Student visa
Skills
- Graduate Work stream – applicants are required to acquire a skill assessment in a Medium and Long-Term Skilled Strategic List (MLTSSL) occupation
- Each skill assessing authority has different requirements and often graduates find it difficult to meet their requirements
Closely related skills
- Gradate Work stream – the qualifications that you have just completed must be closely related to your nominated occupation. We will need to determine whether your qualifications are in fact closely related based according to the legal definition
Travel
- There is a risk that once the education provider notifies the Department of Home Affairs of your course completion that your Student visa will be cancelled if you leave Australia
- It is advisable to apply for a Graduate visa, Subclass 485 before departing Australia
Location of institution
- Depending on where you studied and the format in which you completed your course load, you may or may not be eligible for additional points and/or an additional year on a second Graduate visa
For more information on the Graduate see Graduate visa, Subclass 485