All you need to know about the Student 500 Visa

All you need to know about the Student 500 Visa

Are you thinking of undertaking studies in Australia? To do so, you will need to apply for a student 500 visa. To apply for this visa, you will need to lodge your application online. Applications can be made either online in or outside of Australia.

So, what does the Student 500 Visa enable you to do?

Essentially, this visa enables applicants to travel to Australia to complete either their tertiary or secondary education. Applicants can stay up to five years in Australia – as long as it is in line with your enrollment.

Primary Criteria

To be eligible under the regulation, the applicant must;

1. Either be enrolled in a registered course; and
2. Be genuine entry and stay as a student; and
3. Have adequate health insurance

Course of Study

The course of study may refer to a full-time course of study under a secondary exchange program that is administered by a State/Territory education authority, a full-time course of study or training under a scholarship scheme or training program approved by the Foreign Minister or Defence Minister or other full-time CRICOS registered course.

Genuine Temporary Entry

The applicant must have a genuine entry to stay temporarily, notwithstanding the potential for this intention to change over time to an intention to remain in Australia for an extended period or permanently. They must also have the intention to entry and stay purely for their studies. The department will consider these factors when assessing GTE:

• Applicant’s circumstances
• Applicant’s immigration history
• Applicant’s age
• Any other relevant matters

For further information, we also have a newsletter article about the GTE for students. Click here.

Health insurance (Overseas Student Health Cover)

Applicants must submit evidence of adequate health insurance during their stay in Australia.

For further information, we also have a newsletter article about health insurance for students. Click here.

Documents Needed

DOHA provides a document checklist tool that enables applicants to know what documents to submit.  Click here to find out what you need for your visa.

Here is an example.

Let’s imagine that Seema just finished her secondary schooling and would like to conduct her tertiary education in another country. Seema is from Amritsar and is 19 years old. She researches and decides that she would like to go to Sydney for her tertiary education. Seema wants to be a biologist and enrolls into a Bachelor of Science at the University of Sydney. She is successful and receives an offer letter. However, for her to complete her course, she will need to apply for a student 500 visa. Conducting her research, she notices that she has to lodge her application online. This is where the document checklist tool comes in handy. Unsure what documents to upload, she uses this tool as a guideline. From there is realizes that she needs to upload the following:

• Identification: i.e, passport, national identity card or driver license
• Confirmation of Enrollment (COE)
• Health insurance cover
• Evidence of GTE: this could include academic transcripts

Seema has completed her form and submits all relevant documents. Seema has met all the requirements, and as a result, she was successful with her visa application. Seema can now go to       Sydney and complete her tertiary education aboard.

Are you looking to apply for a student visa and want to have a story like Seema?  As you can see, there are many requirements which are unique to this visa. We understand that it might be quite complicated and are here to help. Call +98156 09111, 0183-222 1111  today to speak to our migration specialists.

Introducing new Regional provisional visas- Subclass 491 & 494 and Regional Permanent visa- Subclass 191. GSM Points test will change on 16th November 2019.

Introducing new Regional provisional visas- Subclass 491 & 494 and Regional Permanent visa- Subclass 191. GSM Points test will change on 16th November 2019.

Key points:

• Three new visas to assist regional Australia (designated regional areas).
• designated regional areas will include all of Australia except for Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane, and the Gold Coast.

Subclass 491 visa – Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) from 16 November 2019

• It substitutes the current 489
• Must have been invited to apply for this visa through the EOI system
• Need nomination by a State or Territory government agency or sponsored by a relative in designated regional areas
• Age limit- 45
• Must nominate a skilled occupation with skill assessment.

Subclass 494 visa – Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) (two streams: Employer Sponsored and Labour Agreement) from 16 November 2019

• It substitutes 187(RSMS) visa
• Age limit- 45 (have exceptions)
• Skills assessment- waiver- qualification obtained in Australia by holding student visa with Studying a registered course Or Previously held 457/482 visa
• Need 3yr full time work or an exemption
• Competent English- or satisfy the exemptions
• Annual Market Salary rate
• RCB advice required

Subclass 191 visa – Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa, from 16 Nov 2022, for 491 or 494 holders who meet requirements

• have earned a minimum taxable income (yet to be released) for three years as the holder of a regional provisional visa; and
• have complied with the conditions of the regional provisional visa; in particular, including that the holder must live, work and study in a designated regional area of Australia.

• Subclass 489 visa holders will continue to be able to access the Subclass 887 (Skilled – Regional) visa which is the permanent pathway visa for this group, subject to satisfying existing criteria.

Please be noted that If your current visa or your last substantive visa is a subclass 491 visa or 494 visa, you must have held that visa for at least 3 years at the time of application (with exception) to apply for other visas such as a subclass 124(Distinguished Talent), 132 (Business Talent), 186 ( Employer Nomination Scheme), 188 (Business Innovation and Investment- provisional), 189 ( Skilled- Independent) and 190 (Skilled- Nominated) .

New conditions to 491 & 494 visas:

• Condition 8578 requires the visa holder to notify Immigration of any change, within 14 days of the change occurring, to the holder’s residential address, an email address of the holder, a phone number of the holder, the holder’s passport details, the address of an employer of the holder, or the address of the location of a position in which the holder is employed.
• Condition 8579 requires that while the visa holder is in Australia, they must live, work and study only in a designated regional area.
• Condition 8580 requires that, if requested in writing by the Minister to do so, the visa holder must within 28 days provide any or all of the following: the visa holder’s residential address, the address of their employer or employers; the address of the location of each position in which the holder is employed; the address of any educational institution attended by the visa holder.
• Condition 8581 requires the visa holder, if requested in writing by the Minister, to attend an interview at a place and time or in the manner specified in the request. The interview may be face to face or undertaken using modern video conferencing applications such as Skype or Facetime.

Transitional arrangement available for Transitional 457 workers and Transitional 482 workers: – Not disadvantaged by the new requirements.

• Transitional 457 worker means a person who on 18 April 2017 either held a Subclass 457 (Temporary Work (Skilled)) visa or was an applicant for a Subclass 457 visa that was subsequently granted. This cohort is referred to subsequently for the purpose of exempting them from the closure on 16 November 2019 of the Temporary Residence Transition stream in the Subclass 187 (Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme) visa.
• Transitional 482 worker means a person who on 20 March 2019 either held a Subclass 482 (Temporary Skill Shortage) visa in the Medium-term stream or was an applicant for a Subclass 482 (Temporary Skill Shortage) visa in the Medium-term stream that was subsequently granted. This cohort is referred to subsequently for the purpose of exempting them from the closure on 16 November 2019 of the Temporary Residence Transition stream in the Subclass 187 (Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme) visa.

Changes on Points test for General Skilled Migration: (apply to 189, 190, 489, and 491) from 16 November 2019

• 15 points for nomination by a State or Territory government agency or sponsorship by a family member residing in regional Australia, to live and work in regional Australia;
• 10 points for certain Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) qualifications;
• Partner points
  • 10 points for a skilled spouse or de facto partner; Partner need a skills assessment or
  • 10 points for applicants without a spouse or de facto partner or partner is Australia citizen or PR or eligible NZ citizen or
  • 5 points for a spouse or de facto partner with ‘competent English’

These new changes are going to be complicated so call +91 98156 09111 today to speak to our migration specialists.

Indian Study Permit Holders In Canada Rise 350% In 5 Years

The number of Indian citizens in Canada on Study Permits has spiked by nearly 350 per cent in the last five years, the latest figures show.

Indians rose above Chinese citizens as the number one nationality of Study Permit holders in 2018, as numbers increased to 172,625 from 38,460 in 2014.

During the same period, the number of Chinese Study Permit holders has increased from 107,815 to 142,985.

The figures show how India has quickly become the most important source country for Canadian colleges and universities looking to grow their international student populations.

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Citizens of India and China dominate the landscape of Canada Study Permit holders.

Of the 572,415 total Study Permit holders in Canada in 2018, 315,610 of them, or 55 per cent, were either Indian or Chinese.

South Koreans held the third most Canadian Study Permits in 2018, with a total of 24,195.

A three-step process has been established in Canada targeting international students. First, they hold Study Permits while in full time education, second, they become eligible for a Post Graduation Work Permit, and third, they can use all the experience gathered to qualify for permanent residence.

It had made Canada one of the more attractive countries in the world for foreign students considering their study options.

Ottawa announced in October 2018 that it will accept more than a million new permanent residents over the next three years, and a significant chunk of those are expected to be international students who are graduates from Canadian universities.

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The federal government sees them as blue-chip new permanent residents: young people with a Canadian education, knowledge of the official languages, often with Canadian work experience and knowledge of how life works here. This puts them already on the pathway to integration.

Since coming to power in fall 2015, the Liberal government has attempted to make it easier for international students to gain permanent residence.

At the federal level, the government has introduced points under Canada Express Entry. In November 2016, Comprehensive Ranking System points were added for three-year post-secondary, master’s, professional degrees and doctorates (30 CRS points) and post-secondary diplomas lasting one or two years (15 CRS points). No points are awarded for a Canadian high school education or below. This gives many graduates the extra push they need to achieve a coveted Invitation to Apply.

The federal government and relevant provinces also promote the Atlantic Immigration Pilot, which includes a category aimed at international graduates. It was introduced earlier in 2017 to try and reverse aging populations and shrinking labour markets in the Atlantic provinces of Nova Scotia, Newfoundland & Labrador, New Brunswick , nd Prince Edward Island.

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Provincial International Graduate Programs

In Quebec, the international graduate stream, which forms part of the Quebec Experience Program, is the only provincial program that offers permanent immigration to diploma and undergraduate degree holders, without a job offer.

The category imposes an advanced intermediate oral French requirement, but this stipulation is met if the candidate’s studies are completed in Quebec and the qualification is recognized by the province. Candidates must either complete their studies in French or pass a French language test or pass certain recognized courses to transition to Canadian permanent residence.

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program runs a similar program without the need for a job offer, but it is aimed at Master’s and PhD graduates. The education requirement, therefore, is much more onerous, and the candidate must have English or French at Canadian Benchmark Level 7 or higher. The Ontario Master’s and PhD streams are open periodically throughout the year.

International students can already qualify to work in Canada after graduation by applying for a Post Graduate Work Permit. Here they can gain valuable Canadian work experience through a special work permit issued for the length of the study program, up to a maximum of three years. The work experience could then be used to qualify for permanent residence, through one of the above avenues.

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Post Graduation Work Permit Requirements

• Studied full time in Canada in a program of at least 8 months duration.
• Graduated from a public post-secondary institution, a private post-secondary institution, or a private institution authorized by provincial statute to confer degrees.
• Submit an application for a work permit within 90 days after receiving written confirmation of completing a study program.
• Received notification of eligibility to obtain a degree, diploma or certificate.
• Possess a valid Canada study permit.

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Citizenship Made Easier

Recent changes to Canadian citizenship requirements are also beneficial to international students, allowing them to count their time spent in Canada while studying towards a citizenship application. Study permit holders can count a half day for each full day spent in Canada towards a citizenship application, up to a maximum of a year.

At the same time, the overall physical presence requirement was reduced from four years in six to three years in five, allowing international students to become Canadian citizens just two years after becoming a permanent resident.

“The result is the highest quality Australian Migration Advice and Representation”

Our History

Key2visas was established in the 2013 and collaborated with Gorsi Law Firm Amritsar in 2018. The firm has continually grown since its foundation and has developed an envied reputation for the relentless protection of our clients’ interests. We have established clientele with interests in Australia and worldwide. The firm includes Migration  Experts with diverse backgrounds that have the experience and legal skills to handle a wide variety of legal matters. This means that you will get the RIGHT advice every time. We are committed to providing the highest quality Australian Migration advice.  

Our Objective

To provide appropriate and cost-effective migration advice and assistance creating a win/win situation for our clients in an environment of first-class personal service.  

What Constitutes Win/Win?

Migration advice must be appropriate to the personal or commercial background in which it occurs. We listen closely to ensure that we understand our clients’ instructions. Time and costs can be squandered if the representative does not come to grips with the issues from the start. We are well known as a jargon-free zone. We realize the importance of providing advice in clear, concise and consistent language. In complex migration cases, your representative will select and recommend a course of action which is likely to lead to the least expensive and best possible resolution. Equally, in non-complex situations, we stress the need for our representatives to think laterally to seek imaginative solutions. This fresh, client-oriented approach of Immigration Law Matters can cut time and save costs.  

Our Promise

As our valued clients, you have our assurance that:

•  We place our clients’ interests first
•  We seek imaginative solutions to your problems within the constraints of the Law
•  We will confer regularly with you and will respond promptly to your enquiries
•  We will continue to maintain the highest standards of professional competence
•  We will provide value for the fees which are charged
•  We will uphold the principle of Confidentiality
•  We value integrity and reliability above all

Contact us today on : 98156 09111 or email us on info@key2visas.com

 

NEW SKILLED REGIONAL PROVISIONAL VISAS

There will be two new skilled regional provisional visas introduced in November 2019:

• Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa: for people sponsored by an employer in regional Australia.
• Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa: for people who are nominated by a State or Territory government or sponsored by an eligible family member to live and work in regional Australia.

Under these new visas, migrants will be required to live and work in a regional area of Australia for at least three years before they are eligible to apply for permanent residence.

These new regional visas will provide greater incentives for regional employers to nominate skilled workers, including priority processing of applications and access to additional skilled occupations. Based on current eligible skilled occupation lists:

• the Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa will have almost 700 eligible occupations; and
• the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa will have over 500 eligible occupations.

Holders of the new skilled regional provisional visas will need to live and work in regional Australia. Visas will be granted with a validity period of up to five years.

The introduction of the two new regional visas will not impact people who already hold existing permanent skilled visas. Applications lodged prior to November 2019 will continue to be processed as normal.

New permanent visa pathway

A new permanent visa pathway, the Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) Visa, will also be available for holders of the new regional provisional visas in November 2022. This new permanent visa will provide further incentives for migrants to bring their skills to regional Australia and grow the Australian economy.

Definition of Regional Australia

In November 2019, the definition of Regional Australia for all skilled visas will be simplified and expanded to include all of Australia except for the following metropolitan areas:

• Sydney
• Melbourne
• Brisbane
• Gold Coast
• Perth

Areas within the new regional definition will have access to the two new skilled regional provisional visas, which enable migrants and employers to access a wider range of occupations as well as receiving priority processing.