If you’re tired of sifting through countless websites and just want to get started, book a chat with me. I’ll help you secure your 485 visa, also known as the Temporary Graduate Visa (TR).
In this article, we highlight common pitfalls to avoid. Discover where you might go wrong and how to ensure a smooth application process for your Temporary Graduate Visa.
Ensure you provide all required supporting documents at the time you lodge your 485 Visa application.
Upload the documents to your online IMMI account immediately when submitting your 485 visa application.
There is one problem that comes up over and over again in relation to the subclass 485 application.
Do you meet the two-year study requirement? Have you studied the right courses for the right length of time and have you actually completed the course, not just completed your final submission for the course?
The second is whether you have lodged within the 6 months window allowed for lodgement of this visa. Be careful here. You need to lodge within 6 months of course completion.
First, it’s important to understand that CRICOS is the authority for”evaluating” the duration of a “course”.
The 2-year study requirement can include the completion of one or more courses.
The study must total “2 years”. But this “2-year” concept must be understood.
To meet this requirement, you must accumulate the equivalent of 92 weeks of study.
It’s essential to note that “92 CRICOS weeks” does not directly equate to “2 years” of study in Australia.
For example, if you complete Course A, which CRICOS evaluates as 46 weeks of study, but you took 18 months to finish due to failing 2 subjects, CRICOS will still evaluate it as 46 weeks.
In this case, you have only fulfilled 50% (46/92) of the required 92 weeks.
Consequently, you will need to remain enrolled and possibly reapply for a student visa to complete additional CRICOS courses.
The additional courses must make up the shortfall, which in this example is 46 weeks.
Some other reasons why your 485 visa could be refused are that you have failed to meet the English Language test evidence requirement at the time of application or you have failed to meet the requirement to provide evidence of your police check at the time of your 485 visa application.
Not doing so, risks a 485 visa refusal!
Firstly, be aware that evidence of health insurance and evidence of an application for an AFP certificate within 12 months of the application date must be provided at the time of lodgement.
Secondly, remember that you must provide (among other things) the following documents to the Department:
* Evidence of English Language Ability;
* Evidence that you meet the Australian Study Requirement; and
* A valid Skills Assessment from a Skills Assessing Authority….depending on the stream you are applying for. A skills assessment is not normally required for the “post-study work stream” of the 485 visa but is required for the “graduate work” stream of the 485 visa.
If the Department refuses your 485 visa then you may have limited options, especially if you do not hold a substantive Visa.
Depending on when you lodged your and when you receive your 485 visa refusal, you might forever be prohibited from getting any 485 visa granted.
You need to decide if you can make another application while you are inside Australia. If so, determine which type of application is appropriate. You will also need to decide whether or not to exit Australia to make your next visa application from outside Australia.
You might face the “section 48 problem.” In such cases, you could apply for a protection visa, partner visa, subclass 491, subclass 494, subclass 190, or a medical treatment visa. Seek advice if you receive a refusal.
If you feel the decision you have received is incorrect, then there is an opportunity to apply for review of your 485 visa refusal decision, at the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. You’ll need to make an application for appeal within 21 days and you will need to be physically present in Australia.
If your visa application is invalid it is as if no application was made and if an earlier visa has since expired, you could be unlawfully present in Australia. Note that a bridging visa will only be granted to you if you make a valid application for your 485 visa and you were and are onshore at the relevant times.
Let’s consider this question from a visitor/client recently:
The starting point is to note that two (2) academic years of study is a measure of the amount of study successfully completed, not the length of time taken to complete the study.
You cannot extend one year of study or 1 1/2 years of study into 2 years of study in order to satisfy the 2-year rule.
For example, if you enroll part-time and take two years to complete a 78-week course, it doesn’t count as 2 years. You’ve completed only 1.5 academic years, extending the duration but not the total study time.
It all comes down to the “registered duration” of your course.
In simple terms: you cannot artificially extend your study in order to satisfy the Australian study requirements. If your course is registered for 1-year full-time study, it will be counted as 1 year.
Case officers will evaluate whether you meet the 2 academic years requirement. They will consider the standard duration of your course as registered on CRICOS.
What other questions do you have about your 485 graduate skilled visa application?
Let me know what questions you have in the comments section below or book a consultation with me.
“Hi,
I have some questions about applying for the Temporary Resident 485 visa.
Currently, I hold a Student Visa 500 and have just graduated. My student visa will expire at the end of next month.
Although I can apply without the IELTS test, I’ve heard this might lead to rejection. Can I submit my IELTS results after applying? Due to the pandemic, I can’t book an IELTS test soon, with the earliest test available at the end of next month. I’m unsure if the results will arrive before my student visa expires.
I have lived in English-speaking countries for over 5 years and didn’t need an IELTS for my master’s degree. I’m not sure if this information is relevant here.
Thank you.”
Migration Regulation 485.212 requires 485 visa applications to include English test results. Late IELTS submissions may result in a visa refusal.
Even though you have lived in English-speaking countries, this information does not exempt you from the requirement. Unless you hold a passport from a few specific countries, you will need to satisfy the language requirement.
In your situation, you might consider applying for a subclass 600 visa first. This approach could give you additional time to obtain the necessary English results.
I hope this clarifies your question. Mistakes in this process could result in permanently losing the chance to obtain a 485 visa. This visa is quite a treasured visa for most international students choosing to study in Australia.
Please share your comments with me.
I’d love to know more about your experience with applying for this visa subclass!
View Comments
Hi. I'm an international student. I have intermitted my studies from 2020 T2 to 2021 T1 due to covid-19, then applied for visa and enrolled in the university hoping that I'll get my visa before the starting date. University started on March and currently I'm studying online and still didn't get my visa. Will this delay effect on applying Post study working visa as it requires 92 weeks of study requirement. Is there any way of covering the missing time period? Should I continue or apply for intermission again? Looking forward to hearing from you
Thanks in advance
Hi my name is Biren
My wife is a nursing student in Darwin, she just finished her study.
And
I have confusion which should I chose
1) 485- TR graduate visa- graduate work stream
2) 485 - TR graduate visa - post-study work stream or
3) 485- TR graduate visa - pOst-study work stream extension
Can you please help me.
Thanks.
Get your options assessed properly if your are serious. This link might assist:
MyVisa.com au/7-day
Hi, I am applying for my Visa 485. I booked my PTE test on 20th March 2021 but my visa is expiring on 12th March 2021. I completed application on Immi account but there is no option to upload PTE exam result later. Please guide me upload my result on my application. Thank you.
Thank you for contacting me.
Reg 485.212 requires the Applicant to achieve satisfactory English results specified in the relevant instrument before the time of application.
This means you need to achieve the PTE results before the time of lodging your application.
Given you have booked an exam to be undertaken after lodging your visa application, your 485 visa application should be refused according to the Regulations.
However, the MIA and the immigration website both have suggested a concession applies if COVID-19 has disrupted access to services.
The concession suggests that you may still meet this time of application criteria if you provide evidence that you were unable to book a test where the testing centre is closed, and you subsequently sat that exam and passed it to the required level.
We note this concession is at odds with Migration Regulations 485.212. Immigration policy here appears to be one step ahead of the law.
Should you wish to get specific advice about your circumstances from me, you can book in a consultation with me here.
https://myvisa.com.au/
Regards
Nilesh Nandan
Immigration Lawyer
MyVisa®
Hi Nilesh,
Please I need your advice..
I am an international student and have recently graduated my "2 years" course. However, when I checked on CRICOS the course duration was 89 weeks (only 3 weeks short from the 92 weeks requirement).
Does this mean that I am not eligible to apply for the 485 - Temporary Graduate Visa?
Hoping to hear from you soon... Please help!
You'll need to make sure that you meet the 2-year rule!
If your own calculation is correct than you have a problem which you need to get some advice about quickly ...as you suffer the risk of being refused any application you make for a subclass 485 graduate skilled temporary visa.
Hi, I have completed MIT in 2020. Now i have to apply for TR. As i have completed masters so which 484 visa is there for me.
Graduate work stream or post study work stream?
One more question, i appeared in ielts exam on 7 April 2018 and expiring on april 2021. But i am going to apply for my TR before 15 March 2021. Is my IELTS test valid ?
I recommend that you get your 485 matter assessed for eligibility in a formal way if you are serious.
Hi, I am currently in the process of applying for 485 but the application is not moving forward.. I had a previous refusal due to re-entry ban and therefore was refused a student visa but I departed within time... and did not do anything illegal. However I am back in Australia and completed my masters so now applying for TR... what are the options since immi account is not letting me proceed with the application due to the previous refusal??? Please help
Thank you for bringing this question to me in this forum.
I am surprised that you are not able to proceed further in the immiaccount if in fact you hold a substantive visa and there has not been any visa cancellation action in relation to your most recent entry and stay in Australia.
I would contact for departments to understand why you are not able to see further in your immiaccount.
There appears to be more to your story then has been disclosed above. Before contacting the department yourself you may wish to get some advice and discuss your immigration history in more detail with an immigration lawyer.
Hi Nilesh my name is Mallika I’m applying for 485 and when I do so it asks me for my insurance end date while my insurance is open ended. Please help. Thank you!!
Hi Nilesh I have a question if you can answer.
My course is going to be finished in July so i wanna to ask when is a deadline to apply for 485 visa??? I'm currently stuck outside of Australia so are there any reliefs when applying for this type of Visa such as lodging the visa application later when i will get exemption or when borders will be opened?what if i will be granted my 485visa but i still cannot come back to Australia?what's my options in this case?
Looking forward to hearing from you
Thanks in advance
Simona
Hi, I am on a Post study 485 visa in Melbourne. This visa is due to expire on 12 April 2021. Can I apply for an extension under the Covit 19 Concession because I was affected by the Lockdown and economic downturn in Melbourne.? I managed to get a job 2 months ago. What other visa can i apply to extend my stay. Thank you
I have dome masters in mechanical engg and after my studies i applied for 485 but i applied for graduate work study instead of post work study and they have granted me 18 months tr on 16 feb 2021. I was unaware about this fact at the time of lodging my visa. Technically I am eligible for post work study, what should i do to get 2 years post study work instead of graduate work study?