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Latest news: No Skill assessment for 485 Visa - Temporary graduate stream and no requirement on nominating an occupation

Australia is trying hard to bring back its valuable international students and graduates to fill the skill shortages caused by the disruption of Covid-19 travel restriction

From 15 December 2021, fully vaccinated Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa holders can enter Australia without a travel exemption.

It has been followed by many more positive policies recently

In this blog, we cover all changes of Temporary Graduate visa subclass 485 Including what has been changed before the mentioned date

Temporary Graduate Visa 485 New Eligibility

Australia DHA have changed the requirements for a Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa for those who have been affected by COVID-19 travel restrictions:

• Online study undertaken outside Australia will count towards the Australian Study Requirement (ASR) for existing and new student visa holders

• Only study undertaken outside Australia whilst holding a student visa will count towards the ASR. 

• Graduates can apply for and be granted a Temporary Graduate visa outside Australia (where they have met all the requirements).

This will be useful for those with their student visa expired and cannot return to Australia. Please remember to apply within 6 months of completing your eligible qualification.

If you are unsure about your eligibility, please submit your enquiry here.

Flexible timeframes for English tests and Health Exams - Temporary Graduate visa 485

The Department of Home affair allow extra time for you to provide English language test results if you were unable to take a test because of COVID-19. Extra time will also be given for health checks where COVID-19 disrupted access to services.

Where you have made an appointment for one or more of these services more than 28 days into the future, you may attach your booking confirmation in ImmiAccount.

Please respond to requests for information to inform the Department, via ImmiAccount, that you need additional time should you require it.

Future Flexibility on Temporary Graduate Visa and Post Study Work visa 485

Future Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) applicants will also enjoy a longer or more flexible criteria.

• Permanent extension in the length of Temporary Graduate visas for Masters by Coursework students from 2 to 3 years.
• Temporary increased from 18 to 24 months stay on Temporary Graduate visas for VET graduates, and 5 years for Hong Kong and British National Overseas passport holders may stay for 5 years.
• Temporary expansion of opportunities for VET graduates to apply for Temporary Graduate visa by not requiring occupations on the Skilled Occupation Lists and not requiring skills assessments (on plan).
• Extend existing measures for students and recent graduates to have time spent offshore studying online to be recognised towards qualifying for a Temporary Graduate visas

There have been a lot of successful applicants who get 3 years stay on their 485

Please remember that this only applies to those who get their visa assessed and granted after December 2021.

There is no automatic extension for the previous 485 visa holders who completed their master’s in Australia before the announcement date.

VET Graduates are likely the happiest clients with the new temporary change of up to 24-month stay.

It gives them more time to complete their job ready program (JRP), typically taking at least one year and another few months for applying for skilled visa

AUTOMATIC EXTENSION AND ENLIVENING

From 18 February 2022, Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa holders who were affected by COVID-19 travel restrictions will have their visa extended or enlivened to 30 September 2022 automatically.

Check if you are eligible

To be eligible for a Temporary Graduate visa extension:

• visa holders must have held a Temporary Graduate visa on 15 December 2021
• the current visa expires before 30 September 2022
• the primary visa holder was in Australia at time of the visa grant
• the primary visa holder has been outside Australia for any period between 1 February 2020 and 14 December 2021 (inclusive)
• the visa has not been cancelled since 15 December 2021
• the holder has not been granted a further substantive visa since 15 December 2021.

To be eligible for visa enlivening:

• visa holders must have held a Temporary Graduate visa that visa expired between 1 February 2020 and 14 December 2021 inclusive
• the primary visa holder was in Australia at time of grant
• the primary holder of the visa has been outside Australia for any period between 1 February 2020 and 14 December 2021 inclusive
• the visa was not cancelled
• the visa holder has not been granted a further substantive visa

The visa extension is FREE and will occur automatically. It will include family members that were included in the original Temporary Graduate visa.

REPLACEMENT STREAM

From 1 July 2022, Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) replacement stream will be available.

And only for temporary Graduate visa holders impacted by the Australian travel restrictions.

This means people who could not stay in Australia for the entire period allowed by their previous Temporary Graduate visa.

Check if you are eligible

• currently hold, or have held a Temporary Graduate visa that expired on or after 1 February 2020; and
• have been outside Australia at any time between 1 February 2020 and 15​ December 2021

The visa costs AUD1,680 for the primary visa applicant. There is also a charge for each family member who applies for the visa with them.

Successfully applicants will have full validity of their initial 485 visas

Further details will become available over the coming months. We will update this blog when more information is available. Please continue to check back for updates.

In summary, the Government recognizes the valuable contribution of temporary visa holders and acknowledges the disruption caused by the COVID-19 travel restriction.

To go on with these positive changes on 485, we hope that the Australian government will take more effective measures to deal with the backlog of skilled visas 190 and 189.

There is currently a significant backlog of visas waiting to be granted since 2019

These visa holders are playing essential parts in recovering Australia’s economy post-pandemic.

Further news has been announced by Australian Government, all visa holders are now eligible to travel Australia with a condition of being fully vaccinated.

Travel exemption will drop away, there may be no quarantine required which is similar to others.

However, the covid-19 Omicron situation is still very complicated, please be careful when you are travelling.

Work Visa Lawyers – Temporary Graduate Visa 485 

Work Visa Lawyers will assess whether your occupation and your current profile fits into this Visa 485. We will then draft and collate all the necessary paperwork, submit it, and follow up on your behalf.

We are one of the best Immigration Agents and Lawyers in Australia. we are based in South Australia, and you are always welcome to book an appointment with us via phone call, Zoom/Skype or Face to face consultation.

Book an appointment with one of our experienced Immigration Lawyers and Registered Migration Agents here.

Contact us on (08) 8351 9956 or +61 8 8351 9956 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Sources:

https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/news-media/archive/article?itemId=812​           

https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/temporary-graduate-485/graduate-work

https://www.dese.gov.au/australian-strategy-international-education-2021-2030/resources/australian-strategy-international-education-2021-2030

Many employer-sponsored visa holders experienced changes to their employment as a result of the COVID-19. These unprecedented times have presented many challenges for these visa holders, including questions as to how their visas will be affected by these changes.

We have compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions to answer some of these questions. 

The Australian 2019/20 bushfire season has been one of the worst natural disasters our country has faced. Our thoughts are with those who have suffered from these fires and we praise the efforts of all firefighters, especially the volunteer brigades who have worked so hard to protect life and property at their own mortal risk and continue to do so. 

This month Work Visa Lawyers has chosen to support the South Australian Country Fire Service Foundation with a financial contribution.

We have all seen the heart wrenching media images of immediate loss of people, wildlife and property but the social impacts will be far-reaching and persist long after the fires have been extinguished. In particular we would like to acknowledge the loss suffered locally in our native South Australia, particularly the Kangaroo Island Community. We have assisted the Southern Ocean Lodge for many years and we wish everyone involved in the lodge the best possible outcomes in the difficult time.