s485 CONCESSIONS AS A RESULT OF COVID PANDEMIC
These concessions aim to ensure that international students are not disadvantaged by COVID related travel restrictions and other factors:
They specify:
- Applicants for the s485 Temporary Graduate visa to lodge an application offshore, and also to enable it to be granted offshore. This allows visa holders to travel to Australia once travel restrictions have been lifted.
- The requirement to have held a student visa within a six month period immediately before making the s485 application has been removed for applicants applying from overseas only.
- The period required to meet Australian Study Requirement has extended from 6 to 12 months for applicants who were prevented from entering Australia due to COVID-19 travel restrictions from 1 February 2020 to 19 September 2020.
- The above date concludes on 19 September 2020, because after this date s485 applications can also be lodged from outside Australia during a concession period, and they can get granted Subclass 485, no matter whether they are inside or outside Australia.
- The above concession period runs from 1st February to a date yet to be determined, due to the uncertainty surrounding the COVID pandemic.
These measures aim to ensure that eligible students are not disadvantaged by COVID related travel restrictions, and can retain their eligibility, by allowing for additional flexibility for s485 applicants
The concessions also mean that the period of stay runs from the date of first entry, not from the date of visa grant, as was previously the case.
This newsletter only provides general information related to current migration matters. The information contained in this communication does not constitute specific migration advice, and should not be construed or relied on as such. Professional advice should be sought for the specifics of your situation prior to any action being taken. BD Welsh and Co disclaims any liability (including, without limitation, for any direct or indirect or consequential costs, loss or damage or loss of profits) arising from anything done or omitted to be done by any party in reliance, whether wholly or partially, on any of the information contained in this newsletter. Any party that relies on the information does so at its own risk. Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation.