Extra One or Two Years for International Graduates from Regional Institutions

Under the Migration Amendment (Temporary Graduate Visas) Regulations 2020, former international students who studied for their qualification at an educational institution at any location outside of Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane will be given the opportunity to extend their Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa, adding one or two more years to the current two-year Post-study work stream. The Amendment Regulations do not affect the Graduate Work stream.

Applications Are Now Open
Applications for the second temporary graduate visa (TGV) in the Post-Study Work stream can be made from 20 January 2021 (the commencement date of the Amendment Regulations). From that date, any holder of a first TGV in the Post-Study Work stream can apply for, and be granted, a second visa if they meet the eligibility requirements. Eligibility can arise on the basis of where the applicant lived, studied and worked before and/or after the commencement of the Amendment Regulations.

Eligibility
The immigration department has created 3 new area categories to explain whether you are eligible for the extra period. If you are eligible, these categories explain how long your second 485 visa will be.

Table Source: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/temporary-graduate-485/second-post-study-work#Eligibility

Please note that new visa conditions may be applicable to this visa. If you would like to know more about your migration options, Straits Lawyers are now offering online services in both English and Chinese.

Please note that this article does not constitute legal advice and Straits Lawyers will not be legally responsible for any actions you take based on this article.