Hi,
I'm interested in applying for the Visa 485 (post graduate). I have a couple of questions on this.
Could I be granted the Visa 485 before my current student visa expires?
Will I need to remain in the country whilst waiting for the Visa 485 to be granted? (I'm hoping to travel to my home country after I apply and return to Australia before the visa 485 is granted)
Would be very keen to know your thoughts.
Thanks,
Paul
As this is not a migration forum, I would suggest you to ask migration professionals if you really need some reliable idea :-)
Regarding to your Qs:
1 YES, if you apply this 485 graduate visa, it will be granted anytime in the near future (of course there is no guaranteed processing time). AFAIK, the processing centre of subclass 485 visa is now in Adelaide. HOWEVER, remember you need to make the decision before your current visa expires. Once you apply this visa and your application is deemed to be a valid visa application (you would get an email if your application is valid), you will then be granted a bridging visa (naturally it would be BVA unless you have another bridging visa under your name). The BVA remains inactive until your student visa expires so you student visa condition still applies (and I think your BVA visa conditions would remain as same condition as your student visa but I am not sure about this).
2 YES, as soon as you get that BVA, which will make you remain in Australia lawfully when your old student visa expires, you are not eligible to leave the country as BVA will be revoked when you are traveling O/S. However, you can apply for another bridging visa, which is BVB, to let you leave Australia temporarily. But keep in mind, most of the BVB is granted case by case only - you might get up to 6 month of time O/S or you could get up to one year, they are dependent on your situations.
The bottomline (or trick): If your student visa is still valid, you can apply for 485 visa and leave the country - of course your BVA will be revoked because you leave Australia. However, you can reapply for the BVA again when you get back to Australia if you are still a holder of the student visa. ASK MIGRATION PROFESSIONALS TO CONFIRM THIS!!!
You must come back to Australia before your 485 visa is granted. In other words, the case officer will contact you to come back to Australia before your 485 is granted.
Disclaimer: I held no responsibility of the information I have provided and above information is not a migration advise.
PS: I was a 485 holder years ago and changed to 189 now.