Overseas students often ask Australian visa experts to extend their Student Visa Subclass 500. This visa is a temporary Australian visa, which means the holder has to return to their home country once their studies are complete and the visa expires. While you can get a new Student visa adelaide, several rules and procedures must be followed. Sometimes, your Student Visa 500 may not be eligible to get an extension. Read this blog to know about this topic in more detail.
What Reasons Should You Show to Apply for an Australian Student Visa Extension?
If you want to stay back in Australia after graduation, you must make a new student visa application. In that case, you must have some convincing reasons, as follows.
- Your current student will expire shortly, and you have not finished your studies yet.
- You want to start a new course.
- The Department of Foreign Affairs had cancelled your first visa subclass 500.
- You have not been able to submit your graduate research thesis.
How Can You Extend Your Australian Student Visa?
For your Australian student visa extension, follow the steps discussed below.
Check Your Visa Conditions
First, check whether a ‘no further stay’ condition is attached to your Visa Subclass 500. If this condition is there, it will prevent you from applying for an extension. Usually, there are two types of ‘no further stay’ conditions attached to a visa subclass 500.
Condition 8534 – No Further Stay
If your visa has this condition attached to it, you cannot apply for another Australian visa except:
- A Student Guardian Visa Subclass 590
- A Temporary Graduate Visa Subclass 485
- A Protection Visa
If you decide to apply for a temporary graduate visa offline, you will not need to apply for a waiver of this condition.
You will also not need to apply for this waiver if you have finished the initial study course and now want to apply for any of the following visas.
- Business Talent Visa Subclass 132
- General Skilled Migration Visa Subclass 189 or 190
- Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme Visa Subclass 187
- Employer Nomination Scheme Visa Subclass 186
- Temporary Skill Shortage Visa Subclass 482
- Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) Visa Subclass 188
Condition 8535 – No Further Stay
This condition is imposed on 500 Visa holders who receive financial support from the Department of Defence and Foreign Affairs and Trade. This condition will not allow you to apply for another Australian visa except:
- A protection visa
- A temporary student visa (class TU), if the Commonwealth or a foreign government sponsors you
If you decide to apply for a student visa subclass 500 other than the aforementioned visas, you must apply for a waiver of this condition.
Apply for a Visa Condition Waiver
Note that if you have to apply for a waiver of a ‘no further stay’ condition from your Subclass 500 Student Visa, there must be some compelling reasons. You can choose to either apply online or on paper. Once you fill out the form, you will have to submit it to the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs.
Along with your filled-out form, you have to attach the following things:
- A copy of your passport bio page
- Proof of why you are applying for a waiver, including personal problems, medical conditions, inability to complete the study program within the specified time, etc.
Keep in mind that even if the authority approves your request, it does not mean that you will receive a new visa.
Apply for a CoE Extension
Submitting the electronic Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) is one of the vital requirements to obtain an Australian student visa. When your student visa expires, this document expires automatically. That is why when you want to apply for a new student visa subclass 500, you must get another valid CoE.
Once the current CoE expires, you must apply for a new one as early as possible.
Extend Your OSHC
You must also extend your Overseas Student Health Cover.
Prepare the Documents
Keep in mind that for your new student visa subclass 500 application, too, you must submit the same documents as your previous Visa 500 application. So, the student visa 500 checklist will include:
- A valid passport
- Photographs
- A national id card
- GTE statement
- Character and health documents
- OSHC details
- CoE
Make an Online Application
Once you have gathered all your necessary documents, you can now start your application procedure. For an online application, you have to log in to your ImmiAccount and pay the specific visa application fee.
When Should You Apply for a Student Visa Extension?
Note that your new student visa application must be made at least 8 weeks before your current student visa expiration.
Once you submit your application, the Department of Home Affairs will grant you a relevant bridging visa so that you can stay in Australia lawfully when your new student visa application is under process.
How Long Can You Stay in Australia after the Expiration of Your Student Visa 500?
Once your 500 Visa expires, you will not be allowed to stay any longer.
Take a Note of the Student Visa Extension Fee
The student visa extension fee is the same as the student visa application fee, AUD 630. Like your initial application, your visa charges may change if you have included your family members in the application.
Can You Waive Your Student Visa Extension Fee?
The Subclass 500 Visa extension fee waiver applies to those affected by the border restrictions imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and who could not finish their studies.
What Is the Visa Processing Time?
The Student Visa 500 processing time depends on the sector and the number of applications submitted at a given time.
- Foreign Affairs or Defence Sector: 7-57 days
- Postgraduate Research Sector: 15 days-6 months
- Non-award Sector: 1-22 days
- Schools Sector: 17 days-5 months
- VET Sector: 26 days-11 months
- Independent ELICOS SEctor: 17 days-15 months
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