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Why do so few want this Australian work visa?
Recent statistics indicate that of 35,000 who are eligible for this visa only about 15 per cent actually bothered to apply for the visa which grants full work rights in Australia.
Data from the Immigration Department indicates that, of the 35,127 graduates who held a 573 visa on March 15 last year, just 5836 pursued the 485 visa — known as post-study work rights visa — on December 31, according to a report in The Australian.
Of those, just 4685 were still in Australia, the rest overseas. Are students unware of their rights, or are the job prospects here so poor that they have to return home. There are even suggestions that the $1470 visa application charge has become concern for some students.
The Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485) lets eligible students and their dependents remain in Australia after graduation and work full-time for between 18 months and 4 years. Undoubtedly a golden opportunity to recoup some of the tuition fees, gain employment experience and perhaps even transition to a permanent visa.
Many Indian and Pakistani students rely on the post-study work rights to get bank loans to help them study overseas, notes the The Australian, but yet weren’t taking up the visas as an option. Banks in the subcontinent are apparently willing to grant student loans to cover the cost of their tuition fees on the basis of the 2-year post-study work rights.
Speaking to The Australian, International Education Minister Richard Colbeck brushed aside suggestions the uptake of 485 visas was low, saying the full pipeline of students since the visas were introduced in late 2011 had not come through.
After doing English language study, a pathway diploma and three-year degree, students would just be coming up to graduation this year, Senator Colbeck said. Since becoming minister last September, he said, he had not heard mention of cost being a barrier to 485 visas.
“Australia compares quite well in terms of visa costs,” Senator Colbeck said. The full international education strategy would be released in early April.
Immigration blog
The problem is not eligibility or awareness in applying for the 485 visa. The problem is the institutions not delivering graduates that are employable. I have dealt with many students whom have been granted the 485 visa, not being able to find relevant employment in their field of study. The institutions are very quick to provide glowing statistics about employment opportunities to hopeful students during their recruitment process, but many graduates complete their courses with almost zero applicable job skills. Employers simply are not willing to train these new graduates that are learning outdated business practices.
Many migration agents now go through the process of studying for the Graduate Certificate in Migration Law and despite the many new qualified professionals entering the marketplace, the dropout rate is very high for practicing registered migration agents. The universities are good at teaching us the basics, but most would agree with me, that if they did not have a mentor to guide them, the immersion into this industry can be very daunting. We are never taught how to exactly lodge a proper application, what to look out for, dealing with bias assessment by case officers, department delays causing angst to client and RMA, often rude, insulting and unhelpful DIBP support when the line is called. etc (could probably write a long book about it).
Many students are usually tapped out by the time they complete their university studies (average of AUD$28,000 per year) so most would little money to pursue the 485 visa if the job opportunities are low. Yes, the jobs are out there, but many have no idea how to get them. Professional year courses are long and only focus on 'streetwise' students. so not much use there. Most would also chew up at least 50% of their 485 visa period with not much room to secure full-time paid employment.
The lure of the 485 visa is great, but without after sales support, its just additional unjustified expense to remain in Australia. I wonder, if an applicant indicates that he/she was hoping to pursue the 485 visa after completing their studies, would this technically allow a case officer to enforce Clause 57X.223(2) and refuse their student visa application?