Australia Visa Application
SALIENT/ADVANTAGEOUS FEATURES¬
There are advantages to applying for an Australian student visa. If you are studying on a student visa you:
have access to Australia ‘s subsidized student health cover
are able to study for more than three months
are generally able to change status to an overseas student in Australia
can apply for permission to work.
CATEGORIES OF STUDENT VISA¬
In Australia , you may undertake any course of study that is for less than three months on a visitor or a working holiday visa. If you intend to study for more than three months, you must apply for a student visa. There are seven different types of Australian student visas you can choose from depending on your circumstance.
- Schools Student Visa (Subclass 571) :This visa applies to those of you who intend to study in a primary or secondary school or are on a student exchange program.
- Vocation Education and Training Student Visa (Subclass 572):This visa applies to those who seek to obtain a diploma, advanced diploma or certificate through a publicly funded Technical and Further Education College (TAFE) or a private college.
- Higher Education Student Visa (Subclass 573 ):This applies to those seeking a tertiary qualification from a university, such as a bachelor degree, graduate diploma or a graduate certificate.
- Masters and Doctorate Student Visa (Subclass 574 ):This visa applies for those seeking a postgraduate qualification, such as a masters or doctorate degree.
- Non-Award Foundation Student Visa (Subclass 575):This visa relates to those doing a foundation course. The course does not include any formal educational prerequisites and is one which will not lead to the award of a formal degree or diploma.
- Aus AID or Defense Sponsored Student Visa (Subclass 576):This visa applies to students who have the support of Aus AID or Australian Defense. It is a highly specialized visa category.
- Independent English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students (ELICOS) Student Visa (Subclass 570):This visa applies to those students intending to study only English. Students who are studying English as a prerequisite to other courses need to apply under the other visa subclass to which those courses relate
CONDITIONS FOR APPLYING FOR A VISA¬
As a visa applicant, you must fulfill the following requirements:
An Offer of Acceptance – Before a student can apply for a student visa, a valid offer letter from a CRICOS registered Australian institute is required.
English Proficiency – An IELTS score is a mandatory requirement and evidence of this must be included at the time of application for the student visa. The TOEFL exam is not accepted.
Financial Capacity – Student visas are granted when a student can prove that they have adequate funds to support themselves in Australia , pay for their tuition and care for dependant family members included on the visa.
Work Permit Rules – As a student in Australia , you will only have a limited working allowance on your visa. Therefore adequate funding to pay for living expenses and tuition are important and must be evidenced to gain the visa. If you take time off from study to work, you will fall below full-time study levels, exceed your work allowance on the visa, or will fail academically. Any of these things can lead to visa cancellation.
Bonfires – The student needs to submit their past academic records for verification as well as a statement of purpose for undertaking the desired course.
Health cover – Because Medicare, the Australian national health system, is not available to overseas students, you must maintain your Overseas Student Health (OSHC) cover while in Australia
Non-Immigrant Intent – You must leave Australia before your visa expires.
Good Character – Other requirements are that you be a genuine student, have good health and be of good character-without a criminal record
PERMISSION TO WORK IN AUSTRALIA ¬
As per the Australian visa policy, all initial student visas granted do not give the holder permission to work in Australia . Students and their dependants will only be able to apply for a student visa with work rights after they arrive in Australia and the student has commenced their course of study. The charge is $55.Generally, students and their dependants are limited to 20 hours of work per week while the student’s course of study or training is in session. Students may work full-time during holiday periods. Dependents of subclass 574 masters and doctorate students have unlimited work rights after the principal student visa holder has commenced his or her course in Australia
PROCESSING OF VISA APPLICATION¬
The main aspect to gaining an Australian student visa is to obtain an electronic confirmation of enrolment (ECoE) from the university. This is the only accepted evidence of enrolment for processing student visa applications. Each student visa application is assessed according to an assessment level which is determined by the passport held and visa subclass applied for. The steps given below make the process seem simple:
Step 1: You must submit the relevant completed application form. This must be signed personally and given with the non-refundable visa application charge in the form of a demand draft in favor of the Australian High Commission-New Delhi. The fee amounts to Rs.27,300/- with effect from June 1, 2016
Step 2: When applying for a visa, you will need to provide an ‘offer of a place in a course’ letter from your education provider to the visa processing office.
Step 3: After applying for a student visa you need to wait patiently for approximately 2-3 weeks. If you meet the basic requirements you will be issued a preliminary visa assessment (PVA) and further steps will be directed.
Step 4: After you receive your PVA, you will be advised to undergo a medical checkup from a prescribed doctor of the High Commission.
Step 5: You are required to pay for the first semester tuition fees and the OSHC premiums after getting the PVA.
Step 6: On receipt of payment, the institution issues an electronic confirmation of enrolment(ECOE) which comes directly to the Visa Office.
Step 7: You are now required to submit your passport to the visa office
MANDATORY DOCUMENTS¬
- Additional information sheet
- Application form
- Letter of offer from the institution (original and photocopy) stating the course, fee structure and the duration
- Valid passport
- Four passport photographs
- A statement of purpose
- Other forms – supplementary Questionnaire, details of relatives
- Guardianship form (if applicable)
- Academic Documents (original and photocopies)
- IELTS test result
- Work experience documents (original and photocopy)
- Financial documents (originals and photocopies)
AUSTRALIA EMBASSY DETAILS IN INDIA¬
New Delhi
High Commission address:
1/50 G Shantipath,
Chanakyapuri
New Delhi – 110 021
Ph.: +91-4139 9900
Fax: +91-4149 4490
All individuals who need to appear at the embassy for visa matters should report to gate 6 (visa gate) which is located on Nyaya Marg.
SALIENT/ADVANTAGEOUS FEATURES¬
There are advantages to applying for an Australian student visa. If you are studying on a student visa you:
- have access to Australia ‘s subsidized student health cover
- are able to study for more than three months
- are generally able to change status to an overseas student in Australia
- can apply for permission to work.