Student Visa

Stu1980 · 01-05-2007, 06:34 AM

Hi Im currently in Melbourne on a WH visa. I love the place and have recently lodged an application at NMIT for a diploma in horticulture which is a 2 year course. The qualification gives you the skills of a gardener which is a 60 point occupation on the SOL list. Im 26 and will be 28 when l complete the course. Im just wondering whether anyone else has taken this route and whether it is a good route to take for residency as l dont want to spend a fortune then after 2 years have to go back to the uk! Im worrying about the TRA and 900 hrs experience too.

Any further help would be much appreciated.

Welshtone · 01-05-2007, 08:31 AM

do you have any relatives in Australia. The 900 hours is important but there will be an 18 month new temporary graduate visa available to you after sucessfully completing a 2 year Diploma course which may give you more time to clock up the required 900 hours.- You will probably get the AQF Cert III after 12 months of study which is technically your trade certificate - it is this plus the 900 hours experience that gets you through the TRA. presume you are then intending to apply for SIR visa as your occupation will probably not be on MODL. Those with MODL occupations will need to work in their occupation for 12 months (in Australia on the new grad visa if they wish) before they would score the MODL points.

So, assuming your occupation is still being nominated for SIR by Adelaide in 2 or 3 years time, you may qualify for the SIR visa via this pathway.

Regards

Tony Coates
MARN 0635896

Stu1980 · 02-05-2007, 04:02 AM

Hi thanks for your reply. I have 2 uncles who are residents, theyve been here 25 years. 1 now lives in Tasmania and the other in Newcastle and they are both willing to sponsor me. I believe that you gain extra points if you can get a sponsor. I will be doing my course in Melbourne and then applying under the Skilled independent Overseas Student visa (880) l think? I may do a different course other than the Horticulture but l dont know which one would be best to pass the TRA?

Welshtone · 02-05-2007, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stu1980

Hi thanks for your reply. I have 2 uncles who are residents, theyve been here 25 years. 1 now lives in Tasmania and the other in Newcastle and they are both willing to sponsor me. I believe that you gain extra points if you can get a sponsor. I will be doing my course in Melbourne and then applying under the Skilled independent Overseas Student visa (880) l think? I may do a different course other than the Horticulture but l dont know which one would be best to pass the TRA?

The uncle in Newcastle will be restricted (depending on the post code where he lives) to sponsoring you only for occupations on the special Sydney SOL (SSASSL). - Horticultural trades are not on this list.

Uncle in Tasmania may be the safer option in that you could do any Diploma, related to any VETASSESS 40 point occupation and then probably be OK for the new version of the 138 visa. It may need you to do the IELTS test and score at least 7 in each category but at least you will not be going through a Trade that has the added pressure of you finding trade related work for 900 hours. You could do a general administrative diploma, over 2 years, and this could be OK. You obviously need to tie down other things like would the uncle also be willin gand able to be your assurer or is there somebody else who would/could.

Regards

Tony Coates
MARN 0635896

Rachel&Stu · 02-05-2007, 10:35 AM

Hello Stu1980:)

My Stu (1976) will be studying in Melbourne as from July 08. He's doing a Diploma in Automotive Engineering (2 yr), which will lead to him having a Skill in Demand. After completion of his course, he will either apply for the new graduate 18-month visa, or a Regional visa sponsored by the Victorian Government. We found out about the Regional sponsored visa on the official Vic website, www.LiveInVictoria.vic.gov.au.

Cheers,
Rachel

Welshtone · 02-05-2007, 10:51 AM

Hi Rachel

What will be his "Nominated Occupation" at the end of his course. Presume if it is a trade then he will be doing a CERT III as part of the Diploma and getting 900 hours of experience before TRA would approve him ?

Regards

Tony Coates
MARN 0635896

Rachel&Stu · 02-05-2007, 12:37 PM

Hi Tony,

His nominated occupation will be motor mechanic. He is doing Cert III as part of the Diploma. We're unsure as to the 900 hrs experience bit, obviously this is where we might fall down, but some questions we have we feel won't be answered til we're there and he's doing the course. Obviously we are thinking ahead to when the course ends, and trying to ascertain what our options might be, in order that we can stay and get PR.

On the Vic website I mentioned before, it seems quite clear that the Vic government will grant a further visa, if Stu agrees to work in Regional Vic. We are willing to do that, but we are also interested in the new Graduate Visa, which might enable Stu to gain the further experience he needs.

Clear as mud really....

Ever hopeful

Rachel

Welshtone · 02-05-2007, 12:48 PM

I'm sure you will need successful TRA assessment as Motor Mechanic for Vic to sponsor for any regional visa so this new Graduate Temporary visa will possibly be the only option to get the required 900 hours work experience. It may be easier for him to do it this way rather than try and get experience while training on the 20 hours per week restriction.

Will need to look closely at the requirements for this Graduate visa and hopefully it will not need a successful skills assessment to be eligible - we will see.

Regards

Tony Coates
MARN 0635896

Stu1980 · 03-05-2007, 06:30 AM

If your studying a trade there has to be a Cert III in the Diploma for TRA? Is this included in every Diploma? Horticulture just says Diploma of Horticulture!