How to extend student visa in Australia without approaching Agent : 5 simple steps
Want to pursue further studies by extending your student visa?
Are you at the end of your student visa and have more subjects to complete? Want to apply for visa extension?
Are you worried about hefty fees to pay for migration agent for these services?
Don’t worry, there is a simple process that you can do all by yourself. You do not need to pay any hefty fees to the migration agents or spend time for consultation. Many think, student visa extension is a tiresome process and cannot be done without the help of experts.
I was forced to be in the same opinion when I had to extend my student visa. But later proved myself you don’t need any help from anyone.
I came here for 15 months education and the requirement was to have 18 months education for Permanent Residency purposes. So I had a need to extend my visa. There were many bells and whistles about the requirements of extending student visa from unauthorised sources ie friends, co-students etc.
I was worried initially because I was not in a position to afford the Agent fee. I thought let me dare myself first. So, I ignored all the comments and went onto immigration site, followed their steps and applied for it. I was granted just within a month. Believe me, this is a very simple process.
Reasons for extension of student visa:
- Commenced higher studies like Ph.D. or Masters by research
- Changed your course from 1 year to 2 years
- Current visa is expiring before completing the course (due to failed subjects, leave of absence or reduced study load)
- Starting a brand new course of your interest
- You’ve submitted your post-graduate thesis for marking but your current visa will expire before marking is finalised
- If your research candidature has been extended
If you fall in one of the above category, proceed reading further.
Remember these important points after you identified that you need student visa extension:
# Try to apply at least 2 months well in advance before your student visa expires. This gives you some peace of mind
# if you have completed 70% of your course, you do not need to show any financial funds for student visa extension
# Gather all the relevant documents before you start your application process. Prepare a checklist of documents to avoid any confusion at the end.
# Do not get panic if visa is not granted before your student visa expires. You automatically shift onto Bridging visa and this allows you to have same conditions as your previous visa.
# In any circumstances you left Australia after expiry of the current or during bridging visa, you cannot enter back until you are granted a valid visa.
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5 simple steps that you can extend your student visa.
Step 1: Before you apply
# Certificate of Enrolment
Go to the University and get admission to the new course or the existing course for the duration of the course. You are provided with a Certificate of Enrolment (CoE) which is vital for your application process.
# Health Insurance (Overseas Student Health Cover)
Health Insurance is another important document to provide as part of the application. You must obtain OHSC (Overseas Student Health Cover) for yourself and any dependents living with you from at least one week before your course starts and for the duration of your stay in Australia. For this, contact your insurance provider and get the policy number for your application purposes.
Note: If you are from Norway, Sweden or Belgium, you might not have to obtain OSHC. Read here
Research students
If you are undertaking a research in Australia, attach a copy of your research (thesis/project) topic along with your resume
# Source of funds
1. If you have an education loan, disbursement should be provided i.e. the terms and the full amount to be disbursed.
2. If your parents are sponsoring your studies, then a copy of their income source (Business statement or Payslips). Ensure sponsor’s income cover your fee and living expenses.
3. Fixed Bank Deposits supporting your study and explain the source of those deposits.
4. If you are sponsoring your own study, copy of your personal and the last PAYG Summaries (this may be relevant more for short courses).
You may not require the above documents if you have paid your remaining fee and completed more than 70% of your course.
# Employment History
Your curriculum vitae or resume should include full employment and educational history, includes date and position held for the last five years.If you have not worked, you can provide as much information as you can.
# Identity Documents
- Copy of your passport.
- Birth certificate, national identity card or drivers licence if you have.
- If birth certificate not available, you can provide the certificate which shows your date of birth. (I have provided my high school certificate which had DOB on it)
- Ensure you have a valid credit card to pay your student visa processing fee to Home Affairs. The fee is AUD 620.00 at the time of writing this article. (check here for new fee details)
- Ensure you have current IELTS score required for your admission into the university. Remember IELTS is valid for only 2 years. Note: This could be any English exam that your university accepts as an alternative to IELTS (eg CAE/PTE/TOEFL etc).
Step 2: Gather all the above documents and certify them with a GP or any authorised personnel. Coloured copies do not require to be certified (from my experience).
Step 3: Apply for the Visa
Open Immigration website here, this link take you to the correct visa. Alternatively, you can search for Subclass 500 visa on the Department website and click on apply button. This further opens up to provide your login details of ImmiAccount, if you do not have one, you can create one.
Fill out the details as requested. Upload all the above documents where requested.
Step 4: After the application
You will receive an email from Department of Home Affairs with an acknowledgement letter along with a copy of Bridging visa.
While your application is being assessed you should:
Check the Health Assessment tab in your immiAccount to see if health examinations are required. This may be requested if your last health checks were greater than 12 months old. If required, you will be provided a HAP ID and referral letter you can visit an approved clinic in Australia.
On the day of visiting the clinic, ensure you carry HAP ID and referral letter to the panel clinic. After the medical tests, you can log into eMedical Client to ensure your health documents are submitted to Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP).
Note: this is an automated submission, you don’t physically submit anything; this check is to ensure your details were correctly transferred to DIBP.
Check your nominated email account regularly for correspondence from the DIBP regarding the status of the application. Sometimes, the case officer may ask you additional documentation or any clarification of the details provided.
Step 5: Visa Outcome
Once submitted the application in the right way, you are definitely granted a visa.
If you are unsuccessful, you can request the reason for rejecting the application. If you think everything seems reasonable but rejected then you can appeal with DIBP. However, this is very rare unless there are discrepancies in the above documentation provided.
Note: Even if you hire migration agent, every step above needs to be done by yourself.
Alternative Option: If you are still not confident doing it yourself; contact the migration agent for further process.
Hope the above information is useful. Share your student visa extension experience in the comments below.
