If you want to study full-time at an Australian university or institute, you will require a Student Visa 500. With this visa, you can stay in Australia for a maximum of 5 years, in line with your course enrollment. While applying, you must have a Confirmation of Enrolment or CoE as the paper of your acceptance from the university.
Benefits Of Student Visa 500
Student Visa Subclass 500 will offer you the following benefits.
- You can pursue your subject at a top-ranking Australian university.
- You can bring your family members along with you.
- The visa will give you full working rights to work for 20 hours a week during your course.
Who Can Qualify For This Visa?
For a successful application, you have to meet the following Student Visa 500 requirements.
- Your age must be more than 6 years.
- You must be able to provide evidence of your acceptance to an eligible and full-time education program.
- You have to show the Genuine Temporary Entrant requirements. The GTE documents should show that you are here only for study and not something else. The course you will attend should have relevance to your future. You also have to show the visa application and grant records and previous academic transcripts.
- You have to provide English language proficiency skills. A test score of IELTS or TOEFL iBT can be accepted. The score level varies with the level of education you are applying for. However, low scores can also be allowed if you show an enrolment to any English course at the time of lodgement. But, you will not need any English test scores if you come from a native English-speaking country.
- For any international student and his or her family members in Australia, OSHC or the Overseas Student Health Cover is mandatory. Make sure that you get it from an authentic provider. IAP can help you assign a registered migration agent from Perth, WA, who can find you a genuine provider.
- Health and character requirements must be met to enter Australia.
- You also have to provide evidence of having adequate funds to support all the costs, including living, travel, and tuition fees. Right now, a yearly minimum of AUD 20290 needs to be shown.
The Student visa (subclass 500) allows you to remain in Australia for up to 5 years for the purpose of full-time study at an educational institution, in line with your enrolment.
With this visa you can:
- take part in an eligible course of study
- include your family members in your application (your partner or you and your partner’s dependent child.
- apply online in or outside Australia
- work up to 40 hours every 2-week period once your course starts.
How Does The Application Process Work?
You can apply onshore or offshore in Australia. However, while applying from inside Australia, you should start with your application before the expiry of your current visa. And if you are not in Australia, you must begin with the process at least 6 weeks prior to the enrolment.
But, wherever you are, you must have a sufficient amount of time to carry out the application process.
Confirmation of Enrolment is the mandatory document that you need to show at the time of application. Also, the course must be registered under the CRICOS. If you still haven’t the CoE, you can use the amount of money you have paid as tuition fees or any letter of acceptance.
Before you start, you should check whether you have these documents in your hand:
- Passport copy
- Financial statements
- Results of English proficiency test
- Health insurance proof
- Passport-sized photos
- Criminal background check results
Which Family Members Can You Include In The Application?
Close and dependent family members can be included in the application. These members include the spouse or de facto partner, your or your partner’s child. Make sure that your child hasn’t turned 18 and is still dependent.
What is the Document Checklist Tool?
The checklist gives you an idea of the documents you will need to lodge with your application. Enter your country of passport and education provider to get an accurate document checklist. If you haven’t decided on your education provider, you can leave the field blank or select ‘My provider is not listed.
If proof of English and financial capacity are required at this stage, please ensure they are attached before you submit your application.
What is the cost of the Student visa 500?
The cost of the Student visa 500 is AUD$620 for the main applicant. A charge will apply for each family member who applies for the visa.
What To Do If Your Age Is Less Than 18 Years?
An applicant who has not turned 18, should have a legal guardian whose age is more than 21. This guardian can be his or her parent, or any relative who has a valid visa for the study program’s entire duration or until the applicant turns 18.
Alternatively, if your age is under 18, you can provide a CAAW (Confirmation of Appropriate Accommodation and Welfare) issued by the Australian institute you wish to attend.
An exchange student should get an AASES (Acceptance Advice of Secondary Exchange Student) form and, along with it, including the CAAW in your application. You do not need to show financial capacity here.
If you want to join Foreign Affairs and Defence, you must acquire the appropriate welfare arrangements proof from a sponsoring government agency.
What Is The Visa Processing Time?
The processing time for Subclass 500 fluctuates according to several factors. Two significant factors are seasonal peaks and application volume at the time you lodge your application.
If you have submitted an incomplete application, the Department will ask you to complete the application by giving all the relevant information after a few days. All these matters can delay the visa process. In general, the majority of the application processes take over under 4 weeks.
How Can You Use The Student Visa?
If you get your visa early, you can enter Australia at most 3 months before the commencement of your classes. But, once you arrive, you have to inform your educational institute about your residential address. And, every time you change your address, you have to tell your university.
Using this visa, you can do a full-time job for up to 20 hours a week. However, you can only start your work using this visa only when your course program begins.
Can I include anyone else in my application?
Yes, you may include family members for student visas. They include:
- your partner or
- your or your partner’s dependent child who is unmarried and has not turned 18 years old.
When Will The Visa Expire?
Your visa will remain valid for the entire course duration. But, you and your family members must obey all the visa obligations during the whole period. After your course completes, the visa will be valid for two more months. Then, you may either arrange to return to your home country or lodge an application for another visa. Note that you cannot extend the visa, you have to get a new one.
Final Thoughts
Hope all this relevant information can help you. If you still want to know any specific information like course packaging or COVID restrictions, you may contact the best Immigration Agent Perth anytime.
