It is not easy to extend a student visa to Australia. An extension of your student visa requires you to follow several rules, as you need to follow in other Australia Visas. In some cases, you may not even be able to extend your visa. Before getting to know about Australia Student Visa Subclass 500 Extension, if you want to know about Australia Student Visas, you can watch the video on our YouTube channel.
In this article, you will learn whether you can extend your student visa as well as how to do so.
Is it possible to extend an Australia Student Visa 500?
To extend your stay in Australia, you must apply for a new student visa. It is important that you have compelling reasons for applying for a new visa, like:
- Without finishing your study course, your current visa is about to expire.
- You are taking up a new study program
- Extended duration of your graduate research candidature
- You haven’t received a mark on your graduate research thesis yet, and your visa is about to expire.
- Department of Foreign Affairs canceled your first visa.
What is the process for extending an Australia student visa?
Follow these steps if you want to extend your student visa:
- Ensure to meet your visa conditions.
- Request a waiver of the visa condition.
- Make an application for Australia Student Visa Subclass 500 Extension of your CoE (Confirmation of Enrolment).
- Obtain an extension of your OSHC health insurance.
- Get your documents ready.
- Apply for the visa.
Ensure to meet your visa conditions.
Unless you apply to waive a no further stay condition on your student visa, you won’t be able to apply for another visa. The no further stay conditions on student visas are divided into two types:
No further stay condition 8534
Your case officer will decide Condition 8534. Students who have this condition on their student visa cannot apply for another Australia visa unless they are applying for:
- A student guardian visa-subclass 590.
- A temporary graduate visa-subclass 485.
- A protection visa.
Using a paper application form, you can apply for a temporary graduate visa, and you won’t have to apply for a waiver.
If you want to apply for one of these visas after completing your initial course of study, you do not need to apply for a waiver.
- General skilled migration visa- subclass 189 or subclass 190
- Temporary Skill Shortage visa-subclass 482.
- Business talent visa- subclass 132.
- Regional sponsored migration scheme visa- subclass 187.
- Business innovation and investment (provisional) visa- subclass 188.
- Employee nomination scheme visa- subclass 186.
No further stay condition 8535
Students supported by the Departments of Foreign Affairs and Trade or Defence should meet this condition. You will not be able to apply for another visa with this condition other than:
- Temporary student visas (class TU). In the case of Commonwealth or foreign government sponsorship.
- A protection visa.
You need a waiver of condition 8535 if you want to apply for any other visa in Australia.
Request a waiver of the visa condition.
Your visa condition waiver must be based on compelling reasons. A waiver request must be submitted to the Department of Foreign Affairs by filling out the waiver form online or on paper.
Include a copy of your passport bio page and evidence of why you need a waiver (medical condition, personal problems, unable to complete the study program, etc.). When the Department grants your waiver request, you will be able to apply for another visa. Nevertheless, this doesn’t guarantee you’ll get a new visa.
Make an application for Australia Student Visa Subclass 500 Extension of your CoE (Confirmation of Enrolment).
If you want to apply for a new student visa, you need a valid confirmation letter of enrolment. You should apply for a new CoE as soon as possible since most institutions won’t be able to issue a new certificate on the spot.
Obtain an extension of your OSHC health insurance.
Prior to applying for your visa, you must apply for your health insurance extension. In the case of an existing policy, you do not need to apply for an extension.
Get your documents ready.
As with your initial visa application, you must submit the same documents for your new one. Among the supporting documents you will need to submit are your valid passport, identification card, civil documents, documents relating to your character condition, and your GTE.
Apply for the visa.
ImmiAccount allows you to apply for a new visa once you have all the documents ready. Keep in mind that you are still required to pay a visa application fee.
When to apply for an Australia Student Visa Subclass 500 Extension?
It is recommended that you apply for your new student visa at least 8 weeks before the expiration date of your current visa. The bridging visa will most likely be issued after you submit your application. When you are waiting for your new student visa to be processed, the bridging visa allows you to stay legally in Australia.
Most likely, the Department of Foreign Affairs will issue a bridging visa A (BVA); if you wish to travel. You will need a bridging visa B (BVB), as if you leave Australia under a BVA, your bridging visa will no longer be valid and you won’t be able to re-enter.
What is the maximum length of time to stay in Australia after the student visa expires?
In order to stay legally in Australia after your student visa expires, you must have a valid visa.
What is the fees for Australia Student Visa Subclass 500 Extension?
It costs AUD 630 to extend your visa. The amount is same to that which was required for your initial student visa application. If you have dependents with you, visa charges will change even if you have an extension.
Australia Student Visa Subclass 500 Extension Fee Waiver
Those who held a student visa before or after February 1, 2020 will not have to pay Australia Student Visa extension fee. Students who weren’t able to finish their studies due to Covid-19 are eligible for this waiver:
- Those who were unable to travel due to travel restrictions.
- Those who had to switch to part-time study because their educational provider did not provide core subjects.
- Unable to complete their workplace-based training.
The Department of Foreign Affairs must be notified of the completion of this form by your education provider. In this case, only online visa applications are accepted – you must attach form 1545 to your application.
Extension of Australia Student Visa Subclass 500 for Submission of Thesis
In order to qualify for a visa, research graduates must complete their thesis by the deadline. Generally, a student visa’s validity is determined by the length of the student’s study program. After your study course ends, if you haven’t submitted your thesis, you have 28 days to leave Australia or arrange another visa.
A Confirmation of Marking Thesis letter and a new student visa are required if your research paper has been accepted for marking. While you are undergoing thesis marking, you can also continue working while you have a CMT and another student visa.
Conclusion
So, after knowing about Australia Student Visa Subclass 500 Extension, you can now plan your career prospects more clearly. This would gradually help you in applying for Australia Permanent Residency. If you want to know more about Australia Permanent Residency, then you can even watch the video on our YouTube Channel. I hope this article will help you clear your queries. In case you want an update regarding the changes in Australia Student Visa Subclass 500 Extension, then you can get it from the official website of Australia-
https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/student-500