The Department’s recent communication to Education Providers in Australia outlined the following changes to the English language requirement for the Student and Temporary Graduate visa:

For Student Visas (subclass 500):

• The minimum test score required for English proficiency is raised from IELTS 5.5 to IELTS 6.0 (or equivalent).
• The minimum score required to undertake a packaged English Language Intensive Course for Overseas Students (ELICOS) increases from IELTS 4.5 to IELTS 5.0 (or equivalent).
• Students enrolled in recognized university foundation or pathway programs that provide reputable English language training must achieve a score of IELTS 5.5 (or equivalent). 

For Temporary Graduate Visas (subclass 485):

• The minimum required score for English proficiency rises from IELTS 6.0 to IELTS 6.5 (or equivalent), with a minimum score of 5.5 for each component of the test (reading, writing, speaking, and listening).
• Passport holders from Hong Kong and British National Overseas (BNO) are exempt from the increased minimum English language requirement. Their settings remain at IELTS 6.0 (or equivalent), with a minimum score of 5.0 for each component of the test.
• The validity window for English language test results will decrease from three years to one year for all Temporary Graduate visa applications. Applicants must provide evidence of the completion of an English language test no more than one year before the date of the visa application.

The changes aim to uphold the integrity of Australia’s visa system while facilitating the successful integration of international students and graduates into Australian society but many students in Australia will struggle to meet updated requirements.

If you are unsure of your visa situation or that of someone you know, contact Easy Migrate and speak to a member of our experienced team.

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If you’re an international graduate who has been banking on the two-year extension to further your career or explore opportunities in Australia, it’s time to reassess your plans. From mid-2024 onwards, this option will no longer be available, meaning you’ll need to explore alternative pathways to achieve your migration goals.

There are still numerous pathways available for international graduates who wish to stay in Australia. Alternative visa options that align with your qualifications, career goals, and personal circumstances include skilled migration visas, employer-sponsored visas, or state-specific nomination programs.

The end of the two-year extension for Temporary Graduate Visa holder work right marks a significant change in the migration landscape of Australia but it’s essential to have a proactive mindset and be willing to explore alternative pathways. Stay informed, strategic, and resilient, you can navigate these changes with confidence and achieve your migration goals. Remember, the journey may have its challenges, but with the right guidance and determination, your dreams of a brighter future in Australia are well within reach.
Navigating the intricacies of migration laws and visa applications can be overwhelming, especially amidst policy changes.

Contact Easy Migrate for personalised advice and support tailored to your individual circumstances. Our experienced team of agents and lawyers can help you navigate the process, maximise your chances of success, and alleviate any uncertainties or concerns you may have.

Call or make an appointment with Easy Migrate now.

The post Australia Adjusts Temporary Graduate Visa Work Rights: These Are Your Options appeared first on Easy Migrate.

The Department of Home Affairs has officially recognised the length of stay promised under the Australia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA) will be upheld for holders of the Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa.

The agreement says international students who are Indian citizens are allowed to live and work in the country for up to 18 months upon completion of diploma or trade qualification, up to 2 years upon completion of bachelor degree (including honours), up to 3 years upon completion of bachelor degree (including honours), up to 2 years upon completion of masters by research and masters by coursework and up to 4 years upon completion of doctoral degree.

Late last year, Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neill and Immigration Minister Andrew Giles said the current Australian Labor government would aim to reduce net overseas migration to Australia to 250,000 by 2025.

International students make up the largest section of migrants who stay in Australia long term without a clear pathway to permanent residency and the Government has expressed its desire to move towards more “permanent forms of migration.”

Under the plan, graduates (not from India) will see the length of time they are allowed to stay in Australia reduce to 2 years for a Bachelors degree, 2 years for a Masters by coursework, 3 years for a Masters by research and 3 years for a PhD.

On top of this, only migrants who have studied in a regional area will be allowed to apply for a 1-2 year second Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa and only if they study in a regional area.

Stricter requirements around English language proficiency and tightening of the rules around accrediting educational providers, it is even more important to get the right advice when planning your life in Australia.

Easy Migrate provide a complete migration advisory service and can help you to navigate not only the legal side of your migration journey, but also help you find your feet in a foreign land.

Call the experienced team at Easy Migrate to get the very best advice from those who know how the system works and know how you can secure your future in Australia.

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Subclass 309 and 820 visas are temporary visas which applicants for partner visas receive while their permanent Partner visa is being processed.

In the case of the subclass 309 Partner (provisional) visa, applicants usually receive the permanent subclass 100 Partner (migrant) visa within 2 years.

The same processing time applies for the subclass 801 Partner visa (permanent), with applicants receiving a subclass 820 Partner visa (temporary) while waiting.

Applicants for the subclass 309 provisional visa previously had to be outside Australia to apply for and be granted the visa and applicants for the subclass 820 visa had to be inside the country.

The changes mean spouses or de facto partners of Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents and eligible New Zealand citizens who can demonstrate they are in a genuine relationship with a sponsor can be granted subclass 309 or 820 visas from inside or outside Australia.

The median processing times for these visas is 5 months for the subclass 820 and 10 months for the subclass 309. They both cost $A8,850, which covers the application for the permanent partner visa as well.

Subclass 309 applicants can now also apply for merits review in their own right, rather than having to use their sponsor.

This move is being interpreted by many as a fairer way to process Partner visas and is aimed at allowing victims of domestic violence better access to permanent visa options.

Applicants for the subclass 485 temporary graduate visa, which allows international students to live, work and study in Australia for up to four years after they have finished their course, can also now be granted the visa from inside or outside the country. There are four streams of the subclass 485 visa and they cost between $A745 and $A1,895 to apply.

The Partner visa is one of the most common pathways to permanent residency and the temporary graduate visa is also a popular option for migrants looking to start a new life down under.

The substantial cost associated with Partner visas in particular make it essential to contact and employ the services of a registered migration agent.

Easy Migrate is one of Australia’s oldest and most experienced agencies with a proven track record of securing visas for its clients.

Our qualified migration lawyers and agents bring a wealth of knowledge to the table and will make sure you receive the best advice to help you on your migration journey.

The post Australia partner visa requisites relaxed appeared first on Easy Migrate.

The Subclass 485 Graduate visa is a very popular option for migrants to Australia wishing to live and work in the country and as part of sweeping new rules handed down by the Department of Home Affairs which took effect on July 1, 2023, graduates on Subclass 485 visas will be allowed to stay for much longer.

Foreign students in the country studying for Bachelor’s degrees are now allowed to stay up to four years post-study, with Masters students now able to live and work as many hours as they want for up to five years.

All international students who have graduated with a Doctoral degree are permitted to stay in Australia for six years in a boon for businesses desperate for qualified job applicants.

The changes come as Australia winds back its working rights for migrants who are still on student visas, where previously, as a response to border restrictions and record low immigration, student visa holders had working restrictions removed; their working hours are now capped at 24 hours per fortnight.

VAC is the fee for applying for visas in Australia and have also been subject to review. Below are the new costs for many of the most popular visas that have been subject to the new pricing schedule:

• Partner Visas: A$8,850
• Skilled Visas: A$4,640
• Graduate Visa: A$1,895
• Student Visa: A$710
• Working Holiday Visas: A$635
• Temporary Skills Shortage Visa (Short Term): A$1,455
• Temporary Skills Shortage Visa (Long Term): A$3,035
• Employer Nomination Scheme Visa: A$4,640
• Investor Stream Visa: A$13,860

The Australian jobs market still represents some of the best conditions and pay for well-qualified workers in the world, with average salaries for a graduates in Australia currently at $73,994 per year, according to job site Talent.com. Many more experienced graduates earn up to $91,189 per year.

This pivot indicates the current Australian government’s plan to encourage migrants to stay in Australia longer with more favourable conditions for visa holders with higher qualifications.

The Subclass 485 visa is a popular pathway to Permanent Residency and eventual citizenship in a country which has the 12th largest economy in the world.

Australia is ranked as the 3rd best country in the OECD for household income and the population experiences the 9th highest average earnings of OECD countries, according to the OECD’s Better Life Index.

It is no secret that it pays dividends to migrate to Australia, and now graduates from the country’s world-beating universities can stay for longer, earn more and progress toward establishing a comfortable life in the country.

There has never been a better time to consider a future living and working in the land down under.

Easy Migrate are uniquely positioned as one of Australia’s leading resources when it comes to finding the right migration advice and they will give you the best chance of securing a visa to live and work in Australia.

An expert team of highly experienced agents and lawyers with decades of experience securing visas for migrants to Australia from a range of backgrounds makes the choice clear.

Call or email now to get an expert opinion; do not leave your future up to chance.

The post Graduate Visa Stays Extended: Very Good News for Study in Australia appeared first on Easy Migrate.

Along with increasing Australia’s migration intake to 195,000 for 2022/23 and spending A$36.1 million on 500 more staff to address visa backlogs, Minister for Home Affairs, Clare O’Neil and the Minister for Immigration, Andrew Giles said that Covid concessions allowing students to have work rights would be extended to 2023 when they will finish.

Laying the truth bare, the government recognised student visa holders as significant contributors to the labour market in Australia, ahead of permanent migrants and natural population growth. Although raising the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) was discussed, there were suggestions that any such raise would be indexed in order to not contribute to the current skills shortage.

Labour Market Testing was criticised during the summit, it requires Australian employers to advertise for positions in Australia before sponsoring overseas applicants for that position.

Announcements at the Jobs and Skills Summit made it clear that the current Australian government had plans to increase Australia’s permanent migration, moving away from a more temporary model to encouraging more migrants to stay in Australia by offering pathways to permanent residency and citizenship.

In 2022/23 there will be 34,000 regional places and 31,000 state and territory visa places, a total increase of 29,000. Since May, the government has brought in 180 new staff to help address the visa backlog and has processed almost 1.14 million overseas visa applications, with less than 1 million applications in the backlog, according to Reuters.

There are signs that waiting times will come down and it will be easier to get a graduate visa in the coming year for overseas migrants to live work and thrive in Australia. Now is the time to make your next move and start your migration journey.

The post Jobs and Skills Summit: Graduate Visa to Allow More Working Rights appeared first on Easy Migrate.

This concession allows applicants who have studied for occupations that are not on the skills lists to live and work in Australia for a further temporary period.

The 485 Graduate visa lasts between 18 months and 4 years depending on the type of qualification completed, full work rights enable students to accumulate further points for working in Australia.

If you are studying for a Diploma or Advanced Diploma and would like to apply for a Subclass 485 Graduate visa, you must remember that the completion date is the date you are notified of your final results, not your graduation date and in most cases, your student visa will expire within a few weeks or months of completion of your studies.

You will need to apply for a further visa before your student visa expires and you must apply for a Subclass 485 graduate visa within 6 months of completing your studies.

Studying in Australia has some huge advantages, apart from the course being far more likely to be recognised when applying for visas, the quality of education, not to mention your quality of life whilst studying is of a very high standard.

Talk to us today about securing a post-study Graduate visa today! We have the experience and local knowledge to help you achieve your dream of living and working in the land down under.

The post Requirements Removed, No More Skills Assessments For Graduate Visas appeared first on Easy Migrate.

The measures were announced as part of the government’s Australian Strategy for International Education 2021-2030, an updated strategy to replace the 2016 National Strategy for International Education 2025.

The strategy outlines government plans to diversify the student cohort in Australia and encourage overseas students to study in areas of need such as engineering, maths, technology and health.

The Temporary Graduate visa (Subclass 485), Issued after completing a masters degree by coursework will change in length from 2 to 3 years and the visa duration for VET students will extend from 18 to 24 months.

Overseas students will also be made more aware of their rights and responsibilities whilst living, studying and working in Australia.

There will be a $28 million support package offered to the education industry in Australia as well as many previously announced changes including recognition of time spent studying overseas counting towards future visa eligibility.

Australia has some of the most reputable universities in the world and the government is heavily incentivising study in Australia by making these changes to one of the most common permanent residency pathways, starting with the Temporary Graduate visa. (Subclass 485) and then by applying for Subclass 189 or Subclass 190/491 state-nominated permanent residency.

Moving to Australia to study can be easy! Contact Easy Migrate now to receive the best advice from the best source, getting you a visa is our job.

The post More Changes to 485 Visa Means No Skills Assessments and No Need for Occupations to be on Skilled Lists appeared first on Easy Migrate.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has just announced that the cap on working hours for ALL student visas has been removed and working holidaymaker visas will now be able to work for the same business for the entirety of their visa.

Working holidaymakers who are offshore and come to Australia within the next 3 months with a valid working holiday visa will receive a full rebate of their Visa Application Charge, while student visa holders who arrive in Australia within 2 months will receive the VAC back from the government.

“We want you to come to Australia and enjoy a holiday here … move all the way around the country,” Mr Morrison said.

“At the same time, join our workforce and help us in our agricultural sector, in our hospitality sector, and so many of the other parts of the economy that rely on that labour.”

Temporary graduate visa holders are now eligible for an automatic extension to their visas until the 30th of September and a new Covid-19 stream for temporary graduate visa holders will come into effect on 1st July 2022.

Australia lost more people than ever before in history at the height of the pandemic and it seems the government will waste no time in trying to increase migration levels back to pre-pandemic levels and higher.

There are unprecedented skills shortages across all industries in Australia, yet the country has the 6th highest average income in the world, the time to make the call to migrate to Australia is right now.

Call our expert team now to secure your future in a beautiful, safe, prosperous country.

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Masters by coursework students on a Subclass 485 visa have three years to stay in Australia with no restrictions on how much they work,  if you are overseas and if you currently hold a student visa, you may apply for the 485 visa.

If you have a 485 visa but went overseas because of the Covid 19 pandemic, you may apply for an extension of your visa if that visa expired on or after the 1st of February 2020.

In the Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector, 485 Temporary Graduate visas now last 2 years.

The Innovation Development Fund, which provides short-term targeted support to private English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students (ELICOS) providers will receive $9.4 million, to diversify their education offerings into online and offshore delivery. 

Australia’s economy is going very well and now it is enticing migrants back to its shores with a slew of visa changes. 

The Government has indicated that immigration will be ramped up in 2022 and that is exactly what is happening, Australia is going to open its borders very soon and when it does the opportunities for migrants will start to build up.

There has never been a better time to plan for a secure, safe and prosperous future for you and your family, as all streams of the Temporary Graduate visa allow for your family to join you and Australia is an excellent place to raise children.

Take the next step! Contact Easy Migrate to take the hassle out of getting your visa, we are experienced locals who will offer you the soundest advice and make sure you have peace of mind whilst in Australia.

The post Temporary Graduate Visas to Last Longer after Big Changes to Rules appeared first on Easy Migrate.