by Bishal Shrestha | Jan 22, 2017 | News
Student Visas
Student visas are available for a wide range of educational institutions in Australia including primary, secondary (high school), English language schools (called ELICOS schools), vocational and technical schools (including TAFE institutes in Australia), universities and other higher learning institutions.
Generally, student visas require that the student meet all requirements for English language and previous education as set by the institution you will attend. Additional requirements may include demonstrating your financial ability (or that of your parents, etc) to provide for yourself and your studies while in Australia, and Student visa holders are required to pay for and provide evidence of health insurance for themselves and any accompanying family members for the duration of their stay in Australia. Student visas require full-time study, and depending on the type of school you will attend and your country of citizenship, additional language or financial requirements may exist.
Currently, most student visa holders may work 20 hours per week while their course is in session, and may qualify for a Post Study Work (PSW) right upon graduation that can provide 24 months of work rights in Australia after graduation.
In addition to providing abroad study services, our Qualified Education Agents can help you choose and complete enrollment in an Australian educational institution that meets your needs and budget.
Partner Visa – Spouse
These visas allow an Australian citizen or permanent resident who is married to sponsor his or her spouse for permanent residency in Australia. For married couples, one of the key issues with obtaining this type of visa is establishing to the satisfaction of the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) that the marriage is genuine. We can work with you to create a submission package to accompany your visa application that will provide the strongest support for your spouse visa.
Prospective Marriage (Fiance) Visa
The Prospective Marriage (Fiance) visa is a temporary visa that allows an applicant who is outside Australia to travel to Australia to marry their partner. The visa has a strictly limited duration of 9 months, and must be issued to the applicant outside Australia. Once the applicant comes to Australia and marries, the couple can then apply for a Partner (Spouse) visa in Australia, and the applicant will be granted a Bridging Visa to allow him or her to remain in Australia until the Partner visa process is complete.
If a visa applicant comes to Australia on a Prospective Marriage visa and for whatever reason no longer remains in a relationship with the Australian sponsor, there are provisions by which the visa applicant may change sponsors to a different sponsor should the applicant choose to do so.
Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) and eVisitor Visas
Visitors from selected countries may apply for an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) or eVisitor Australian visitor visa.
These visas are generally valid for a maximum length of any trip of 3 months, and multiple trips may be taken within the 12 month period from the date of issue. They have requirements for health and character issues, and are intended for people who wish to visit Australia for tourism or to visit family and friends.
Note: Nepal doesn’t comes under ETA.
Business Short Stay Visa
The Australian Business Short Stay Visa (456) is intended for short-term business visitors to Australia who cannot qualify for an ETA or eVisitor visa.
Like the Business ETA, this visa is designed for business people who wish to visit Australia for short-term business purposes including seminars, conferences, conventions, short-term training, and meetings. Short-term work under this visa is only permitted in extremely limited circumstances.
The Business Short Stay Visa allows holders to visit Australia for one or more trips of up to 3 months in duration for each trip during the 12 month period from the date the visa is granted, depending on the applicant. This visa cannot be extended.
Applicants may be required to provide evidence of their business activities while in Australia, evidence of educational or professional qualifications, employment, previous contacts with Australian businesses or people, and a letter of invitation or details of the meeting or conference you wish to attend. You may also be asked for your itinerary while in Australia and an employment contract or letter from your employer if applicable. Applicants must meet health and character requirements, and have no outstanding debts to the Australian commonwealth.
Visitor Visas
The Australia visitor visas (676) is intended for people from countries that are not eligible for an ETA, or people who for some reason are not approved or eligible for an ETA.
Applicants are required to demonstrate that they have sufficient financial ability to cover their costs for the trip, and must meet character and health requirements. Australian Visitor visas are issued for a period of 3, 6 or 12 months depending on the applicant. Visitor visas issued for 3 or 6 months less than 12 months may be extended for a total duration of 12 months depending on the applicant. Generally visitor visas may not be extended past 12 months. Visa holders are not allowed to work under this visa.
Working Holiday Visas
These classes of visas allow a visitor to come to Australia for a trip of up to 1 year in duration and undertake casual work during their stay in Australia.
Applicants must be between the ages of 18 and 30, and have citizenship from a country on the approved list of countries for this type of visa. Limitations apply to the type and duration of work that can be undertaken on this visa.
Sponsored Family Visitor Visa
The Sponsored Family Visitor (679) visa allows an Australian citizen or permanent resident to sponsor an offshore family member to visit Australia for a period of up to 12 months. As a sponsor, you must be a relative of the applicant, including a partner, parent, child, brother, sister, grandparent, grandchild, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, or the “step” or adopted equivalent of any of these.
Applicants are required to demonstrate that they have sufficient financial ability to cover their costs for the trip, and may be asked to post a security bond which is refundable after the visitor has left Australia and complied with all the conditions of the visa.
Applicants must meet character and health requirements, and this visa is issued for a period of 3, 6 or 12 months depending on the applicant. With this visa it is possible to request a specific period of up to 12 months upon application. This visa is valid for a single entry only in Australia; holders cannot leave Australia and re-enter during the period of the visa. Visa holders are not allowed to work under this visa.
Visitor visas issued for 3 or 6 months less than 12 months may be extended for a total duration of 12 months depending on the applicant. Generally visitor visas may not be extended past 12 months.
Visitor visa holders are permitted to study in Australia for a period not exceeding 3 months.
by Bishal Shrestha | Jan 20, 2017 | News
Writing a college essay could very well be the most high pressure part of the college application process.
At some point, there is little students can do about grades, extracurricular activities and what will and won’t be said in their recommendation letters.
The essay is the one component of the application students can control fully, and provides one last chance to leave a lasting impression. Students who want to write a compelling essay should keep several things in mind, experts say.
First, crafting an effective essay takes time. “This is not an exercise that can be procrastinated and done successfully,” says John Gaines, director of undergraduate admissions at Tennessee’s Vanderbilt University.
“It takes drafts sometimes and it takes reflection, sometimes some deep personal reflection.”
The best personal essays tell the admissions committee something about a student that they wouldn’t otherwise pick up from an application, admissions experts say. The strongest pieces not only have great descriptions of people and events, but ultimately explain how those experiences have affected the student.
Effective essays also need to be well written, experts say. And students should be sure to seek out a thorough proofreader. But students who rely too much on a parent, counselor or other person for writing help may face negative consequences.
“When you’ve read tens of thousands of essays, you get a sense of what the 17-year-old voice is, and it’s not the same as a 45- or 55-year-old voice,” says Karen Long, senior associate dean of admission of New York’s Colgate University.
“Sometimes you read something that is really polished but it does not sound like any teenager I have ever met. We are not expecting someone to sound like a college graduate; we are expecting someone to write like a thoughtful high school student who is excited about learning and exploring ideas.”
[Watch this video to learn how to write a great college application essay.]
by Bishal Shrestha | Jan 20, 2017 | News
The U.S. government takes working illegally very seriously. This page will help you learn the basics of the work authorization process.
There are limited work opportunities available in the United States for F-1 students. For this reason, before coming to the United States, F-1 students must prove they have the financial ability (e.g., present bank statements) to pay for tuition and living expenses while studying. If you decide that you want to work, the first step is always to talk with your designated school official (DSO).
If your DSO knows you are working without permission, they must report it through SEVIS and your record can be terminated. That means that you will have to leave the United States immediately, and you may not be allowed to return.
Below are the 4 main types of opportunities to work in the United States depending on your visa and program of study.
On-Campus
On-campus employment is work that F-1 students whose status is Active in SEVIS status may apply for. On-campus employment is specific to work that takes place on campus or at an off-campus location that is affiliated with the school. Examples on on-campus employment include working at a university bookstore or cafeteria.
Off-Campus
Off-campus employment is work that that takes place outside of a school campus. Off-campus employment is only available to F-1 students who have completed at least one full academic year of their program of study, and who have an economic hardship that qualifies for the Department of Homeland Security’s emergent circumstances.
Curricular Practical Training
Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is an alternative study, internship or other type of required practicum that is offered by a sponsoring employer through your college or university. CPT is only available for F-1 students when it is part of an established curriculum within a school. CPT must relate to your program of study, however, unlike OPT and other work, CPT can be full time and is not restricted by a weekly 20-hour work limit.
Optional Practical Training
Optional Practical Training (OPT) is a form of temporary employment that directly relates to your program of study. You can apply for OPT during your program of study, which is known an pre-completion OPT, or after you finish your program of study, known as post-completion OPT. In order to apply for OPT, F-1 students must request approval from their DSO. A DSO makes this recommendation by endorsing a student’s Form I-20. Then the student must file the Form I-765 with USCIS, if approved, USCIS will issue a Form I-766. You cannot begin to work until you receive your Employment Authorization Document from USCIS.
by Bishal Shrestha | Jan 11, 2017 | News
As a senior in high school, you only apply to college once in your life, so it can be both very exciting and emotionally exhausting. College applications are stressful because missing a single item can jeopardize your chances of admission.
Therefore, we have a few essential tips for international students about important items they need to include that can help strengthen the quality of an application and potentially make them stand out as applicants.
Certification of finances:
This document does not have to consist of all of your parents’ financial information, tax returns or a marriage certificate. I have seen too many international students stressed out about this part of their application because they think that it is a complicated matter.Remember, you are not applying for a U.S. visa or a green card at this point. All admissions counselors want is to see your ability to pay for your education. In many cases, a statement of income from your parents with a signature from an authority will suffice.
Know how to present referrals or references:
In a lot of countries, there are services that get paid to translate letters of recommendation into English. You can bring this translation to a government authority to get approval. You can even ask the department of education in your hometown to facilitate this process. However, due to the volume of students, they might not be able to deal with your document in time.When you ask your high school teacher to write you a letter of recommendation, you must remember to ask for his or her permission to put their phone number and email address on the letter as well, because in some cases, admissions people may want to verify that letter.Too many times, students forget to put down the phone number and email address of their teachers. It may be because those writing the letters do not speak English, or because they think that it is not necessary.
An explanation of your country’s grading system:
Different countries have different ways to assess a student’s academic performance. For instance, Teachers in Vietnam do not give out letter grades like A’s or B’s, or grade students on a scale of 100. Rather, they use a scale of 10, with a minimum division of 0.25.You do not want your admissions counselor to misread your 8.0 and assume that it is only an 80 out of 100. Instead, you should write to explain the grading system, and tell them that you have worked hard to earn the grade on your transcript today. At the end of your letter, you need to make sure that you have someone from the board of education acknowledge that the explanation is accurate. This usually comes in the form of a signature or a short written confirmation.
Mention any siblings or relatives that attend the college:
American college admissions counselors love to see generations of family members going to the same college. Once these loyal generations of students graduate and become successful,they are likely to give back to the Alma matter.A lot of college endowment money comes from loyal alumni. When generations of a family attend the same college, the school taps into that loyalty – and hopes for a high rate of return.
