WHAT LATEST CHANGES MEAN TO STUDENTS IN AUSTRALIA  

• Students who held a student visa on the 8th February 2010 can apply for a a subclass 485 visa until Dec 2012. Once on a 485 visa, their only pathway to apply for onshore Permanent Residence  under the Skilled Migration categories of 885 and 886 will be either under the points system if their occupation is on the new Skilled Occupation List  (http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/general-skilled-migration/pdf/new-list-of-occupations.pdf) or through employer sponsorship, such as a 457 visa and then an Employer Nominated Sponsorship;
• 485 VISA Holders, who held a subclass 485 visa on the 8th February 2010, will have until December 2012 to apply for an 885 or 886 under the old Skilled Occupation List;
• The Australian Government has as an objective to break the link between students coming to Australia specifically to undertake courses that will specifically lead to Permanent Residence visas.
  

 The migration programme allows graduating students from an Australian university, educational or training institution to apply for a Permanent or Provisional Residence visa in Australia, following completion of their course.

The Skilled Graduate Visa (subclass 485) visa is for overseas students who have completed at least two years study in Australia and do not meet the requirements for a Permanent or Provisional General Skilled Migration visa an opportunity to remain in Australia to gain the additional skills they need.

This visa is valid for 18 months and it cannot be extended beyond that. A visa holder will be eligible to apply for General Skilled Migration or an employer sponsored visa at any stage during the course of this 18 month visa.


Onshore:

 Two year Study Requirement:

To meet the two year study requirement, applicants will have to complete one or more degrees, diplomas or trade qualifications for award by an Australian educational institute as a result of a course or courses:

• Assessed by DIAC that the duration of the course is 104 weeks (DIAC will use CRICOS - Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students - to determine that the course is registered and what is the standard duration of a course)
  
• Completed as a result of at least two academic years’ study (fully equivalent) or completed in a total of no less then 16 calendar months that the applicant studied in Australia, while holding a visa that allowed study for which all instruction was conducted in English.
  
• Course duration will be calculated from the date classes begin to the date all academic requirements have been met for that qualification. If you are given credit from prior learning it will reduce the amount of study you have completed.
  
  New Skilled Graduate Visa

Skilled – Graduate visa holders may choose to focus on improving their English language skills or to gain skilled work experience in Australia. Alternatively, they may choose to complete a professional year in cases of registrable occupations.

Applicants who can demonstrate at least 12 months Australian work experience in their skilled occupation or a closely related skilled occupation will be awarded 10 points under the General Skilled Migration points test.

There is no restriction on work or study. Subclass 485 visa holders can:
Work
Complete a professional year
Study to improve their English skills
Travel

At the time of application an applicant must:
Hold an eligible student visa or have held an eligible student visa in the last 6 months;
Have met the two year study requirement in the last 6 months
Have applied for a suitable skills assessment in their nominated 50 or 60 point skilled occupation
Have evidence that they meet the English language threshold:
Competent English (6/9 in all 4 bands of IELTS)
Vocational English if the nominated occupation is a trade (5/9 in all 4 bands of IELTS)
Have booked to sit for an English language test
Have undertaken or booked to under take a medical examination with Health Services Australia;
Have obtained or applied for an Australian Federal Police check in the last 12 months

Have received a suitable skills assessment in your nominated skilled occupation;
Evidence that you have met the English language threshold of competent of vocational English (if nominated occupation is a trade)
Meet health and character checks