Being an international student in Australia is one of the biggest dreams many love to pursue. I mean, that’s not surprising since it could be a stepping stone in having an Australian Permanent Residency. However, if you’re about to complete your course and your student visa is on the verge of expiring, you might probably think of what’s next for you. Could it be the end of your Australia PR dream?

Fret not, it’s not the end of your journey in becoming a resident. Hence, you can apply for an Australia Temporary Graduate visa 485. This visa will provide you full work rights that typically range from 18 to 48 months (1.5 to 4 years) depending on the course that you have completed.

Applying for the Temporary Graduate visa 485 is relatively simple, but if you fail to see the common pitfalls, sadly, it could be the end of your journey. Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered. Here are some of the common mistakes that you need to watch out for before applying for the Graduate visa 485.

Applying After Your Graduation Date

Many are confused with the time frame since they’re thinking to apply between the graduation date and the visa expiry date. But that’s a total mistake.

The application should be between the date of completion and the student visa expiry. Marking your graduation date is good for celebration, but 485 applications rely on your course completion.

Not securing Your Completion Letter

Don’t get too excited when applying, make sure that you acquire first all the needed documents to have a smooth application process and of course, to be approved.

One common requirement that many fail to secure is the completion letter from the university where they pursued their course. Avoid this pitfall by getting your completion letter and make sure that it should have the exact dates of study and qualification.

Moreover, for CRICIS registration, make sure that the course duration (or duration of combined courses) is at least 92 weeks.

Spending Time Overseas

This could be a hot topic if you completed your course earlier than expected due to examination exemptions and taking classes during summers. The tendency is, you might take a vacation overseas while classes are underway.

In essence, you should be physically present in Australia for at least 16 months between your commencement and completion date. Again, it’s your completion date, not your graduation date.

Carefully backtrack and count the number of days you stayed in the country.

Delaying English Test

Another vital requirement in getting your Temporary Graduate visa 485 is passing the English test. Unless, you have a valid passport from the USA, UK, Ireland, New Zealand, or Canada.

Many students delay this test thinking that it’s just a minor requirement, but on the contrary, passing this exam is vital in your application. If you fail to provide a passing score before lodging your application, don’t expect that it will be accepted, even if you pass the test later on. The decision is irreversible that even the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) is not capable of changing it.

Take the exam ahead of time since you might experience a long queue for your examination date. It can also give you ample time to retake the exam once you’re not satisfied with your score.

Fail to Provide AFP Clearance

Providing evidence that you have applied for an Australian Federal Police clearance before lodging is another common mistake that many students fail to notice when applying.

Typically, apply for your AFP clearance certificate prior to submitting your 485 visa application. If your certificate has not been issued before lodging your application, upload the receipt that you have applied for your AFP clearance certificate. This will satisfy the time of application requirement. Your 485 visa will still be processed and you can provide your AFP clearance certificate prior to your 485 visa being decided. This will satisfy the time of decision requirement. In that way, your application will most likely be approved.

No Proof of Health Insurance

As much as being an important requirement in your Temporary Graduate visa 485 application, having health insurance is an essential necessity that you must have in case of uncertainties.

Show your OSHC (Overseas Student Health Cover) or OVHC (Overseas Visitor Health Cover) proof all throughout the different stages of your application cycle (At lodgement, during processing, and upon Visa grant)

Providing your OSHC certificate will suffice as a time of application requirement. However, you will need to provide Overseas Visitors Cover (OVC) at the time of decision of your 485 visa.

Application, having health insurance is an essential necessity that you must have in case of uncertainties.

Not Choosing the Correct Stream

There are two different streams that you can take in your 485 application. You can pick between GWS (Graduate Work Stream) or PSWS (Post Study Work Stream).

Both the PSWS and GWS are advantageous. The PSWS path is more advantageous, however for this stream you will be required to study at university level. Whereas for the GWS stream you can study at Vocational level. So the stream depends on each individual’s personal circumstances.

• PSWV is valid for two to four years whereas GWS is good for one and a half years only.
• Your skills will not be assessed in PSWV unlike in GWS.
• There is no requirement to study any discipline that relates to an occupation. On the contrary, GWS will require you to study a course(s) that relate or train you for a position in an occupation that is listed on Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL)

Lack of Understanding About Subclass 485 Criteria

Not carefully reviewing the eligibility qualifications of subclass 485 will ruin your application. Unfortunately, most students overlook this part and suffer later on.

Read and understand the eligibility qualifications before submitting your 485 application.

Generally, You need to complete a particular two-year academic course in Australia.

Here are some guidelines underneath that:

• If you have a break between qualifications, you can add one or more courses.
• The type of course depends on whether you apply for GWS or PSWV
• Your graduate diploma is not an eligible qualification for PSWV
• For the GWS, all qualifications that you count on to satisfy the two-year study requirement must be closely related to the occupation you are nominating.

Lack of Understanding About Subclass 485 Criteria

If you opt to take GWS, then you need to have a positive skill assessment in your chosen occupation. Here are some pointers to review:

• You don’t need to complete the assessment to lodge the application. Simply show the receipt of your skill assessment.
• Carefully select an occupation on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) Ensure that you pick the right one since you can’t change it during processing.
• If your skill assessment is refused, you can appeal the decision.
• Your skills assessment outcome must be positive at the time of decision of your 485 visa.

Not Minding the Section 48 bar

If you’re planning to apply for another visa in case your 485 application gets denied, you better think again. Under Section 48, you cannot apply from within Australia for another visa once your 485 application is refused.

Key Takeaways

Remember that you only have one shot in securing your 485 visas, therefore it’s important to be mindful of those common pitfalls that may ruin your application. Making a simple mistake will lead you to lose the opportunity to obtain a 485 visa. As a result, this will also lose your possible eligibility for permanent residence in the country.

If you’re in doubt of whether you’re going to apply for a 485 Visa? Ask the Migration Agent, it’s a platform dedicated to answering all your burning questions related to immigration pathways in Australia. Click here to join our next live series.

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Bill Mitroulas

Head of Migration at Questra Immigration. Managing and overseeing the growth and performance of Questra’s team of migration agents, while maintaining a client-centric and quality-driven approach. A registered migration agent since 2015 and a member of the Migration Institute of Australia, with over 15 years’ experience in international education and 11 years in Australian Migration law.