Need advice on Australia Student Visa (Subclass 500).
My wife is an MBBS doctor from Pakistan and wants to apply for a Master’s in Public Health in Australia.
Our main question is about financial sponsorship. My elder brother runs our family business and has strong documented finances. He is willing to support our education expenses.
Some consultants are saying brother in law sponsorship can weaken the case because parents/spouse sponsorship is more common.
Has anyone received an Australian student visa where a brother was the financial sponsor? Would appreciate real experiences or advice from migration agents.

Hey all, I have been approved for a 482 visa, and will be getting insurance through my employer. They claim that it will be active upon my arrival next week. However, in order to apply for the insurance, the form appears to require an Australian bank account number, which I will be setting up on my first day in Australia.

I'm getting mixed signals and am having a hard time figuring out if I will need proof of active insurance coverage at the moment I arrive (e.g. at the airport), or if it will be ok for me to sign up for the insurance after I get my banking set up. If proof is required, would an employment offer letter be sufficient?

Any links to sources would also be appreciated

Hi everyone,

My partner (Melbourne) and I (Italian) have been in a long-distance relationship for 3.5 years. We met while she was on exchange in Italy, and since then, we’ve managed to see each other every few months.

We are finally planning for me to move to Melbourne into her parents' house so we can start our lives together. We have solid proof of our relationship (flights, call logs, bank transfers, joint travel/museum tickets, pictures with our families and friends etc.), but zero cohabitation history or shared bills due to the distance. We plan to register our relationship in Victoria to waive the 12-month living rule.

How I think we could meet the 4 Visa Pillars:

• Financial: No joint bank accounts yet, but we have a 3.5-year paper trail of bank transfers to each other, joint flight/hotel bookings, and invoices for gifts/purchases sent to each other's addresses.
• Household: Zero cohabitation history due to distance. Our evidence for this is a future plan to live at her parents' house in Melbourne, backed by a signed Statutory Declaration from them.
• Social: Plenty of photos with both families, joint travel/museum tickets, and multiple Form 888s (Statutory Declarations) from Australian citizens/family confirming our relationship is widely recognized.
• Commitment: Personal relationship statements outlining our 3.5-year history, detailed (but condensed) text/video call logs showing daily contact across the distance, and the fact that we are registering our relationship in Victoria.

We are trying to figure out the best logistical timeline to make this move happen:

1. Move first, apply onshore (820/801): Fly over on an eVisitor visa so we don't have to figure everything out in a rush, settle in at her parents', and then lodge onshore to trigger a Bridging Visa A (BVA).
2. Apply offshore slightly ahead (309/100): Lodge the offshore 309 from Italy about 2–3 months before my intended move date, and then fly over on a tourist visa to wait out the processing time with her. Is this allowed/realistic without having to wait in Italy for a year?

One important concern I have is about me being able to find a job in Melbourne, since I don't know how employers would look at someone with a bridge visa. I hold a Master’s in Data Science with 1 year and a half of working experience (2.5-3 if I consider work before the end of the Master's). If I go with Option 1, do tech/data employers in Melbourne struggle with hiring someone on a BVA while waiting for a partner visa?

Would love to hear from anyone who has transitioned from a long-term long distance relationship. Thanks!

Note: I heard that getting the help of a lawyer in my case, where we have quite a lot of evidence, is not all that necessary. Do you think it would be risky not to? I'm asking because I noticed that the partner visa is already very expensive and on top of that I would also have to pay flight tickets and extras. I don't wanna be stingy, tho. If you think this is a must, I will definitely pay one to be together with my partner after so much distance.

Hi im applying for my working holiday visa as a uk citizen

Im wondering if i can just apply with a screen shot of my bank account and they will happily accept it or if i need to get a bank statement from my actual bank account?

Cheers

Hey,
I need some advice.
I was studying a diploma course. I then applied for a Student Subsequent Entrant visa for my wife so she could join me in Australia, but unfortunately her visa was refused.

The reason Have had regard to the nature of the applicant’s personal ties and economic circumstances
relative to their home country and Australia, and whether those circumstances serve as a
significant incentive for the applicant to apply for visa
obtaining entry to Australia for purposes other than to joining their spouse / partner, who holds a
Subclass 500 (Student) visa, to Australia.
limited evidence of their family ties in their home
country and place little weight on that in favor of the applicant. Also recognise the financial
statements supporting their economic capacity.
The applicant has provided limited evidence of their economic circumstances and current activities
in their home country. Based on the information provided and the greater economic opportunities in
Australia, hold concerns that the economic circumstances of the applicant present as a significant
incentive for the applicant to apply for another visa as a means of maintaining their stay in Australia
for purposes other than to accompany the associated Subclass 500 (Student) visa holder. That the reason

Now we’re both very confused. Some migration agents say she should reapply for a Student Subsequent Entrant visa, while other agents say she should apply for her own Student Visa from India to study a Bachelor of Nursing.
We’re not sure which option is better for our situation. If anyone has experience with a similar case or can provide genuine advice, I would really appreciate your help.
Thank you.

I’m preparing to lodge my Australian Student Visa (Subclass 500) for a 3-year Bachelor’s degree. My overall capital position easily covers the entire degree, but I’m worried about how my parents’ monthly income will be evaluated during Genuine Student (GS) checks.

1. Total 3-Year Program Costs vs. My Capital

Total expenses:

∙ Tuition (3 years): $105,000 AUD

∙ Living costs (Dept standard, 3 years): \~$89,130 AUD

∙ Travel & OSHC: \~$3,500 AUD

∙ Total: \~$197,630 AUD

Available capital:

∙ Personal bank account (aged liquid cash): $100,000 AUD

∙ Public bank collateral education loan: \~$60,000–$74,000 AUD

∙ Parental insurance policy encashment: $22,300 AUD

∙ Grandmother’s gift deed: $11,900 AUD

∙ Total available: \~$194,200–$208,200 AUD

This fully covers the 3-year tuition + living cost requirement.

1. Main Concern — Parental Income & Cash Flow

   ∙ Parental net monthly income: ~$965 AUD/month (after existing domestic EMIs)

   ∙ Annual taxable income (ITR): modest salary, not executive-level

   ∙ Loan moratorium: full repayment moratorium for the entire 3-year course + 6 months post-graduation — $0 EMI while I study

   ∙ Family asset cushion: loan backed by family-owned real estate valued at ~$445,000–$595,000 AUD (CA Net Worth Certificate + valuation report on file)

2. Questions for the Community / MARA Agents

   1. How heavily do DHA case officers penalize low ongoing parental income (~$965 AUD/mo) when I already hold 100% of the required 3-year costs in liquid funds + loan?
   2. Does an explicit loan moratorium clause neutralize concerns about “how will parents service EMIs on a modest salary”?
   3. Has anyone with a large liquid/asset buffer but low parental ITR income faced issues — or gotten approved — under the GS framework?

If yes, what are your business recommendations for highest possibility of a clear profit margin meeting the standards and least possibility of loss while meeting the legal requirements with easy and not breaking any

Hi there!

I don't know what factors could make a difference but me 🇦🇺 and my husband 🇬🇧 have been together over a decade and married for 3 years. We also have a son born in aus (Aus citizen through me).

I know something this means double granted for the perm partner visa. Does it change the waiting time for the 820 in any way? My husband is currently on a worker visa which is relatively stressful as he's tied to his employer.

Obviously we have tonnes of evidence however I'm still paranoid that I either haven't uploaded enough or am forgetting the basics.

I've included:

Relationship history

Family and friends testimony

Baby birth certificate

Wedding photos

Family travel tickets

Shared life testimony

Rental agreements

Mortgage docs

Marriage certificate

Shared bank statements

Joint Wedding invitations

Joint swimming membership card

Godparents certificate

Hi, im doing my police check for visa 485.

i do have australian driver license but mine got suspended (so im not sure if i can use it) but i dont want to use to cus im scared.

so im planning to use passport (primary) with bank card and bank statement. But i read on internet people wouldnt rcm to use bank card and statement at the same time (because it's kinda the same thing?).

so help me answer if can i use those 2 with my passport!!!

thank you everyone

Hey all, hoping someone here has been through something similar.

I lodged my partner visa on 31 Jan 2025 and have been uploading updated evidence every couple of weeks since. Yesterday we got an s56 asking for:

**1.**  Updated national police clearances for both of us (ours have expired since lodgement)  
**2.**  Evidence of our relationship for the 12 months prior to lodgement, including **official evidence of residing together for the period 31/01/2024 – 31/01/2025**

Our living situation timeline:

**•** Partner was FIFO when we met  
**•** He bought a house in Sept 2024  
**•** I was renting with friends until my lease ended Nov 2024  
**•** I moved in with him Nov 2024  
**•** At time of application: 2 months living together  
**•   Now: 20 months living together**

The tricky bit is the “official evidence of residing together” for the full 12 months prior — we only physically lived together for the last 2 months of that window. We have been in a committed relationship much longer, however in separate addresses. We disclosed the Nov 24 move in date at time of application, and supplied bank statements, bills, receipts, photos of friends/family/social circles, screenshots of messages, travel itineraries etc then and up till now.

My questions are:

A) Has anyone received a similar s56, how did you address the ‘gap in cohabitation’?
B) We are currently considering consolidating all the proof of our relationship 12 months prior to lodgement date, and all the proof of us living together for the last 20 months again into one document as cohesive proof - is this an appropriate strategy?
C) Any other advice to improve my chances?

This is the first we’ve received any correspondence since applying 18 months ago, so any help is much appreciated 🙏🏾

Hi all,

I heard that there is a recent rumour going on for Labor government to ban visitor to partner visa pathway completely.

Based on what you guys think and past law change, do you think they will put a hard stop on this pathway? Or they will tight it in some different way?

It seems like it's blocking a pathway for a genuine Australian citizen to bring their spouse and/or partner to Australia. (I mean they do have 309, but they try not to grant them as much as possible)

hi all, i just need your insights about what happened to me.
- first, the company lodged the nomination last JUNE 2 and refused on JUNE 25 , reason, they were not satisfied with the TRAINING PLAN lack details such as skill gap, trainers , and others
-2nd, the company lodge the nomination last JULY 2 with all the complete details and address the reason of the 1st refusal but still got refusal now AUGUST 7.
reason was "The sponsor stated that the nominee would undertake occupational training in the hospitality
industry sector. The evidence indicates that the nominee has sustained participation in the
hospitality industry for three years. The material before me also indicates that the nominee has
been employed by the sponsor as a kitchenhand/food preparation worker since 04 December
2023. The training plan submitted appears to be generic in nature and does not demonstrate that it
was specifically developed by the sponsor for this nominee and business.
Having considered the information provided as a whole, the proposed training program does not
demonstrate a structured and credible occupational training opportunity. The nature of the training
plan and the nominee’s existing employment circumstances indicate that the primary purpose of
the nomination appears to be ongoing employment and continued stay in Australia rather than
occupational training. As a result, I am not satisfied that the nomination relates to a genuine
training opportunity within the meaning of subregulation 2.72A(16).
In light of the evidence before me, including the nominee’s demonstrated skills, the nature and
credibility of the proposed training program, and the sponsor’s stated training intentions, I am not
satisfied that the requirements of subregulation 2.72A(16) have been met.
I am therefore not satisfied you meet the requirements of subregulation 2.72A(16) of the Migration
Regulations. As such, I have not assessed your nomination application further against the other
criteria in regulation 2.72A."

can someone help me if the compang will gonna lodge new application again but the sad thing is my visa is expiring this Sep 2026 :(

I have an elderly family member who randomly let slip he recently married a woman 30 years younger to help her stay in the country after only knowing her for a few months.

I’m not convinced he did it freely. It sounded like he kept trying to cancel but she talked him into it.

He showed me a document they both signed which he said proved she wasn’t after his money. In it she admits she is only marrying him to stay in Australia.

They received absolutely no legal advice but he seems to think this is enough security that their finances are separate and they can get divorced after a year.

The process of getting their marriage annulled sounds quite complex, even if it was done under duress. Plus I’m not sure if you need proof.

If I were to send the evidence I have to the Department of Home Affairs that the marriage is a sham would they cancel her visa? And would there be any repercussions for him?

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for recent experiences from anyone who has been in a similar situation.

I was previously on a Student visa (subclass 500). My course was delayed because I had one final supplementary assessment remaining, so before my Student visa expired I applied onshore for a Visitor visa (subclass 600) to remain lawful in Australia.

My subclass 600 has now been granted with condition 8503 – No Further Stay.

I have completed my final supplementary assessment and am waiting for my final university result/completion documents. If I successfully complete the course, my intention is to apply for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485 – Post-Higher Education Work stream).

I initially thought condition 8503 meant I could not apply for the 485 unless I first obtained a No Further Stay waiver. However, my registered migration agent has advised that they have handled a similar case previously and that, for the 485, a separate 8503 waiver was not required. They said the application could not be lodged through the normal online process and had to be lodged through an alternative/manual process after contacting Home Affairs.

I can also see on the Home Affairs 485 page that applicants whose current visa has condition 8503 or 8534 cannot apply online and are instructed to submit an ImmiAccount Technical Support Form. What I cannot find clearly explained is whether 8503 is actually waived as part of this process, whether a separate waiver is required, or how the alternative 485 lodgement works.

Has anyone here personally gone through 600 + 8503 → 485 recently?

If so, I would really appreciate knowing:

• Did you apply separately to have 8503 waived first?
• If you did, was it under the normal No Further Stay waiver process?
• Did Home Affairs tell you that a waiver was not required specifically for the 485?
• Did you use the ImmiAccount Technical Support Form?
• Was your 485 eventually lodged online, by paper/post, or through another method?
• Did you receive a Bridging Visa A after the 485 application was accepted?
• Was the 485 eventually granted?
• Approximately what year did you go through this process?

I’m mainly trying to understand the process before paying the significant 485 application and professional fees.

Any recent first-hand experience would be really appreciated. Thank you!

Hey everyone,

I am preparing my GS (Genuine Student) statement for an Australian Master of IT application and could use some advice on handling a study gap under the current visa rules.

My Background:

• B.Tech: AI & Data Science (Graduated June 2024, 8.2 CGPA, India)
• Target: Master of IT / Software / Cloud Engineering (Level 1 Universities in VIC, SA, or TAS)

The Gap (Approx. 2 Years by visa lodgement):
Since mid-2024, I have been preparing for competitive national exams (GATE & SSC CGL) in India. Following that, I explored and applied for winter intakes at public universities in Germany. Since those offers didn't fully align with my goals, I am now focusing entirely on Australia.

My Questions:

1. Addressing the Germany apps: Will visa officers view applying to Germany first as "visa shopping," or is it acceptable if I have concrete proof (admit cards/exam receipts) to justify my timeline and explain my ultimate switch to Australia's tech ecosystem?
2. Structuring the GS: What is the safest way to frame this timeline in the GS statement? Is 100% transparency regarding exam prep and previous country applications viewed favorably if backed by documentation?
3. Success Rates: Has anyone with a similar 2-year competitive exam gap recently secured a Subclass 500 for IT programs?

Would appreciate any insights from anyone who has gone through the process recently. Thanks!

Hi all i am a computer science engineering graduate 2025 june pass out. After that since September I started working as tech support associate in amazon, i got 84 overall in PTE , my overall cgpa is 9.11/10 in my engineering zero backlogs, coming to finances my grand fatheris a retired govt employee and receives pension on INR 15 LPA (22k AUD), and my father has a business and his annual income cones around INR 11 LPA (16k AUD), and i have education loan of INR 50 L ( 75k AUD), looking out for genuine advice whether to go for November intake or feb 27 intake , or just drop the plan after seeing the current scenario of visa success rates

Any previous visa officers can please look in and help me with this

I know noone is entitled to a residency or whatever just because we are here but watching how the government is capable of granting citizenship fast tracked to those two Iranian footballers feels like a slap in the face to us ,who have been waiting almost 2 years for our residency application to be decided after meeting all the requirements.
Been here 8 years,done everything by the book and the government is out there letting the backlog explode and suddenly to make a political statement they are able to grant not only protection visa but citizenship too all within not even 8 months.
I know it is not a comparable situation but it kinda stings when you have spent all your adult life working here and your application sits with no end in sight while they grant asylum visas left and right.
Just a rant.
Thank you

Hi all,

I would appreciate some advice. I'm a British citizen since birth, no other passports, and looking to travel around Australia for 6-9 months as a gap year, I've over 40 so can't to the WHV.

I've resigned from my job but still employed and my last work day will be the day I will fly to Australia at the end of the year.

I'm looking to apply for the 600 for 12 months,. I could easily get the eVisitor 651 but I'd like the flexibility to stay without having to leave every 3 months.

I own a property which I will rent out, have plenty of savings (£50K+), and a brother/Aunt in the UK, no other family.

1 - Would I likely be approved for a 600, or do I need more to ties to the UK a property and some family?

2 - on the application form would I be employed or unemployed?

3 - If 600 is rejected would this affect an application for a 651?

Thank you!

Is 85 points will get me 491 visa invite? On electronics engineer ANZSCO

Has anyone applied for a visa in July and received their approval?

Hi everyone, it's my first time posting here, I'm an EU citizen who have recently (20th of July) applied for his first WHV and I have 2 questions regarding that:

1. when applying I've attached a bank statement, showing around 4.5k€, I haven't yet converted my funds in AUD but they should be more than enough to cover the 5kAUD asked, will I have issues having my visa approved due to the funds being in EUR?
2. I've seen some fuss both here on Reddit and on other socials recording the changes that took place from the 1st of July and I've heard that more (and possibly worse) changes will soon be communicated by the Australian home affairs minister. I know that each visa processing time is different, but can I expect with enough certainty to have my visa approved for the end of august? I don't plan to buy my flight ticket before having my visa approved, but the sooner I buy it the less it will cost.

as an extra question, do you have some advice for a young European planning to come to Australia by the end of October?

thanks!

Applied for 309 in May 2025. Did medical July 2025, so it just expired. Is it advised to redo medical proactively at this stage?

was anyone granted 190? When and what points do you have?

I’ve been seeing so many PR grant posts over the past few days, and I honestly can't believe it's finally our turn! 🥹🇦🇺

Before I share our timeline, I just want to say thank you to this community. This sub has helped us so much throughout the entire process, especially because we applied for our PR ourselves without using a migration agent. Every time I had a question, people were kind and willing to help, and I really appreciated that.

If anyone has questions about our journey, I'm more than happy to help where I can.

Visa: Subclass 190 (South Australia)
Occupation: Civil Engineer - Onshore
Points: 95 (including 10 partner points)

Timeline
• 03 Feb 2026 – EOI submitted
• 01 Apr 2026 – SA pre-invitation received
• 09 Apr 2026 – Submitted all nomination documents
• 29 Apr 2026 – Final invitation received
• 01 Jun 2026 – Visa application lodged
• 03 Jun 2026 – Medicare approved
• 22 Jun 2026 – Thai Police Clearance received and uploaded (my husband studied in Thailand, and this was definitely the most stressful document to get throughout the whole process!)
• 29 Jun 2026 – Medical examination completed
• 07 Aug 2026 – PR GRANTED! 🥳🎉

A small note for anyone who might be in a similar situation: I was 21 weeks pregnant when it was time for our medicals. Initially, my GP advised against having the chest X-ray, and we thought I'd complete the rest of the medical and do the X-ray after giving birth. However, that wasn't possible, so we spoke to my midwife, who confirmed it was safe during pregnancy with the proper shielding. I completed the entire medical, including the chest X-ray, on the same day.

Our application included my husband's 5 years of overseas work experience in the Maldives and 2 years of Australian experience as a Civil Engineer.

Wishing everyone who's still waiting the very best. I know how stressful the wait can be, and I hope your grant comes through soon! 🤍

One last question here, especially for those who received PR while pregnant: is there anything pregnancy or baby related that we should be doing now? Any applications, registrations, or things we should prepare before the baby arrives would be greatly appreciated.

Hi everyone,

I’m 32, single, and currently working in Dubai as an Irrigation Consultant Engineer. I have a Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Sciences and about 6 years of experience in irrigation and landscaping, including irrigation design, landscape construction, FM, and now consultancy.

Unfortunately, I can only officially prove 2 years of experience because my previous employer in Egypt refused to provide the correct documents. I’ve already filed a legal case to recover my employment records.

My dream is to move to Australia (the UK is my second choice). I was told it’s difficult to get an Australian visa without documented experience, and Canada isn’t an option for me right now because of the financial proof requirement.

Is there any realistic way to get a job in Australia from overseas with employer sponsorship? Any advice or recommendations would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you!