What You Need to Know About Student Visa Extension

by Robert Lewis professional speaker

While studying overseas is an exciting endeavor, staying there lawfully and not violating any rule is something that you need to abide by. There are several scenarios where you need a student visa extension to extend your stay in Australia.

Some of them are:

You are applying for another course of study.
You have submitted your post-graduation thesis but your visa expires before the release of the marking result.
You are planning for extended research.
Your course has been extended due to some reasons and your visa is expiring before the completion of the course.

Since there is no automatic extension of a student visa in Australia, you need to find a way to legally stay in the country when the validity of student visa expires. At such times, you can either apply for a student visa again or apply for a visitor visa based on your preferences and needs.

In case your course of study is incomplete and you are intending to finish it, then a student visa is a more suitable choice. However, if you have suspended your studies and are planning to return home, a visitor visa is a more reasonable choice. But, remember that, you are not allowed to work in the country with a visitor visa.

What to do if my student visa is already expired?

If your student visa has already expired, you should apply for a Bridging visa E (BVE) because this will provide you enough time to make arrangements to leave or resolve immigration issues if any.

Which documents do I need to apply for a student visa extension?

A certified copy of the birth certificate
A copy of passport ID page and each page with Australian immigration stamp
National ID Card
CV/Resume
Confirmation of Enrollment (CoE) or a letter from institute or university if you are waiting for thesis marking
Marriage certificate if applicable
Migration agent form 956 if needed
Parental consent if you are under 18 years of age
OSHC policy number that indicates that the policy dates match your visa
Personal statement to explain why you are extending your studies, why the course is important for you, your current situation in Australia, and your current situation back home.

Things to Remember

For the student visa extension, you might need to apply for a new visa before the current visa expires because if the current visa expires, there is a risk of being deported. It could also affect your future visa applications.

So, it is best to not waste time. Apply when there is plenty of time to complete paperwork and application processing. For that, the duration of up to three months is recommended.

You can apply for student visa extension onshore or outside Australia; however, the processes are a bit different. When you apply onshore, you’ll be granted a Bridging visa A (BVA) which will help you stay in the country while the new visa is being processed. If you apply from outside Australia, you must wait for the outcome before entering Australia.

If you need help in finding your dream course or applying for a student visa extension, the most convenient and affordable way is to contact one of the leading education consulting firms.