@jacqbrions said:
Hello everyone,
Currently preparing for my 485 visa application. I did my Certificate III and will finish my Diploma this year in Early Childhood Education and Care. I plan to apply on my own kasi tingin ko naman kaya ko. Question po ko is, is there anyone here who did theirs own their own for the same course? Would love to chat with you rin po to know more details para sure na maayos yung application ko.
Next question, I will finish my studies on December and my student visa is expiring March next year. I already finished all my assessments up to term 4 and my teacher said she could mark my Diploma completed na and issue me a certificate if I want to since I finished early. I answered her no kasi sabi ko if I finish early then I need to process my 485 earlier din. Pero now, napaisip ako, do you think it is a good idea to finish early? Or should I wait until December na lang kung kailan officially matatapos yung course ko?
Thank you so much po!
I don't know anyone doing Cert 3 in ECE so I can't comment about the application for 485. But for the second question, I'll comment lang based on my understanding about visas (I'm not a migration agent, just an international student too).
I'm not sure if finishing early would affect your student visa validity (might have to confirm that with Home Affairs or something?), but the only benefit I can see is about work rights. As an international student, you have limited work rights as long as your classes are in session, but once you have completed all your requirements and you've finished the term/semester (like bakasyon na), then you don't have work restrictions. So technically if you finish earlier, then you can access the unli work hours until your current visa expires (as compared to working 20 hours/week until December).
But then again, I also don't know if by now you have already completed the required length of study to qualify for 485 visa (16 calendar months minimum). If you have met the Australian study requirements as of today, then you could go ahead and apply for the 485 (you have 6 months to apply for it after getting your completion letter, not from the time of graduation ceremony). If you have not met the Australian study requirements (like if the 16 calendar month is Nov/Dec), it's best to wait it out until you meet the 16 calendar months to avoid issues about eligibility for 485.
For the student visa validity, once you lodge a substantive visa (like 485), you will be granted a bridging visa, but this will only get activated once your existing visa expires and you still haven't received a decision on your new visa application. So you are still bound by the restrictions of your current visa (which carries over to bridging) until the 485 visa is granted (which I heard might take months).
