₦airaland Forum

omokay80:
The reason I responded that way is that information travels long way and you must try as much as possible to educate intending applicant like me in a better way.I was told here before that a brother can not be a sponsor under the new rule cos I was considering using my bro who is a PR holder here in Aussie. Thanks for your concern.

I got it from a vital source. Australian embassy in the Philippines. I will let you browse the website to make sure it is up to date.
Border.gov.au will hardly disclose all information to you.

Well below is the website for your perusal.

http://philippines.embassy.gov.au/mnla/Student_Visa_Requirements.html

Goodluck mate.

rudyislife:
Please gurus in the house, I am new here,I want to ask how this Australia visa works,Do I need to pay my fees here before I can apply for visa? ??

First you need to show you have sufficient fund for your entire course - Bank statement.

After you are offered a COE , you are expected to pay AUD 10- 15k depending on the school and course chosen. That covers part of your 1st semester or trimester fees plus your health insurance.
The above payment has to be made before you apply for your visa.
Upon arriving australia, at the end of the semester/trimester you have to balance up the remaining fees pending on how many courses you have taken.

xplen:
Good day everyone,

I hold a masters degree from the UK and please, I need someone to work me through a couple of questions as I intend migrating.

Can I put in for a 1 or 2yrs PGD program in Australia? If yes, what's the work permit duration I can get after studying?
What are my chances of obtaining PR through schooling there?
Can I apply to study a skilled occupation? If yes, what is the possibility of obtaining PR also?

Thanks

Wont it stress you both physically and financially studying another masters program? If you already hold a Masters degree, why not apply for PR direct. Make sure you hit the 65 points mark. Apply yourself or use an agent if you have extra money to spend.

You have more work right or hours on phd than pgd.

omokay80:
I thought the new SSVP does not welcome sponsorship apart from spouse or parents?pls can you put this in a clearer way?your response will be appreciated.

If your company is really willing to assit you, they can deposit that money in your name with a financial Institute. And then write you a sponsorship letter.

This will give you a much clearer understanding on what to look for before lodging your student visa application.


requirements

In order to be granted a student visa, an applicant must satisfy all legislative criteria. This includes the requirement that the applicant is both a Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) and a Genuine Student.

Full details regarding key visa requirements are outlined below.

1. Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE)
The Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) criterion has been introduced to improve the integrity of the student visa program.

In order to meet the GTE requirement applicants will need to satisfy DIBP that they have a genuine intention to stay in Australia temporarily, for the purpose of study or to accompany a student as a dependent or guardian.

In assessing GTE, decision makers must consider the following factors:

• The applicant’s circumstances in their home country

•The applicant’s potential circumstances in Australia

•The value of the course to the applicant’s future

•The applicant’s immigration history

•Any other relevant matters

Applicants may be interviewed in order to assist the decision maker to determine whether they meet the GTE requirement.

For more information regarding the GTE requirement:

See: GTE Ministerial Direction

2. Enrolled in a Registered Course

All applicants must provide a Confirmation of Enrolment (COE) or Letter of Offer with their student visa applicant to evidence that they are enrolled in a registered course.

3. Financial Requirements
The financial requirements are outlined in Schedule 5A of the Migration Regulations 1994 (‘the Regulations’).


The regulations require international students to show evidence of funds to cover tuition, travel, living costs and school costs for school aged dependents (if applicable). The Assessment Level (AL) of the student determines the amount of funds that need to be shown, who can provide these funds and for how long these funds must be held.


The applicant must evidence that the income of any individual providing funds is sufficient to have accumulated these funds.
In all cases the decision maker should also be satisfied that, for the period that the applicant is to hold the visa, the applicant will have access to the funds demonstrated or declared in application.


Please note that the minimum balance for the relevant period is considered.
Joint accounts are acceptable only if all the account holders meet the definition of 'acceptable individual'.


For AL 3 students, only people who appear on the list of acceptable individuals can provide funds.

An Acceptable individual means one or more of the following (as per Schedule 5A and 5B):
(a) the applicant;
(b) the applicant’s spouse or de facto partner;
(c) a parent of the applicant;
(d) a grandparent of the applicant;
(e) a brother or sister of the applicant;
(f) an uncle or aunt of the applicant who is:
(i) an Australian citizen, an Australian permanent resident or an eligible New Zealand citizen; and
(ii) usually resident in Australia.


Students must provide evidence of living costs for their spouse and dependent children, regardless of whether they intend to travel to Australia or not. School costs for school aged dependents are also required to be evidenced, regardless of whether they are travelling to Australia or not.

Further information on living, travel, and school costs per year (AUD) is available in: Student Visa Living Costs and Evidence of Funds


Financial Institutions (FI) for Funds and Loans

The Regulations define the term 'financial institution' for the purpose of student visa applications:
financial institution means a body corporate that, as part of its normal activities:


(a) takes money on deposit and makes advances of money; and


(b) does so under a regulatory regime, governed by the central bank (or its equivalent) of the country in which it operates, that the Minister is satisfied provides effective prudential assurance. Regulations define the term 'financial institution' for the purpose of student visa


Acceptable sources

The most common sources of funds which may be acceptable for the purpose of assessing funds for student visa applications are:
• money deposit held by an acceptable individual with a financial institution
• loans from financial institutions
• loans from the government of the applicant’s home country
• financial support from the proposed Australian education provider
• State/Territory and Australian Government financial sponsorship
• sponsorship by the national government of the applicant’s home country (evidenced by a letter from the relevant government agency)
• sponsorship by a provincial or state government of the applicant’s home country (written support of the national government of that country)
• multilateral agency funding (i.e. United Nations, World Bank, and Asian Development Bank)
• organisations specified by legislative instrument (currently Rotary, the National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the Ford Foundation)
• financial support from acceptable non-profit organisations
• credit cards and lines of credit




Non-acceptable funds

The following financial instruments may not meet the regulatory requirements and thus are not able to be considered for visa purposes.
• Income from a non-regular income stream (i.e. accumulation of wealth or funds by inheritance, lottery winnings, bequests, gifts, or funds from the sale of assets)

• Shares and mutual funds

• Gold and jewellery

• Bonds

• Life Insurance documents


Exchange Rate used to calculate financial capacity for a student visa
Exchange rates are sourced from weekly information listed by the Department of Foreign Affairs. Clients should use the official daily exchange rate at the time of calculating their financial capacity.


NOTE - Should a case officer have any concerns at the time of assessing the case they will contact the client.


4. English proficiency requirement

To ensure students have the best chance of succeeding in their studies, they are required to demonstrate that they have the appropriate English language proficiency for their course.

Schedule 5A sets out the evidentiary standards applicable to students for the purpose of assessing English proficiency. Assessment Level 1 and 2 applicants must meet English requirements specified by their provider whilst Assessment Level 3 applicants are required to provide DIBP with evidence of their English language proficiency.

The following tests are acceptable for the purpose of a student visa;

•International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

•Test of English as Foreign Language Internet Based Test (TOFEL IBT)

•Pearson Test of English Academic

•Cambridge Advanced English (CAE)

• Occupational English Test (OET)

Further information in relation to the English proficiency requirement is available on the DIBP website at: English Requirements

5. Health requirements

All applicants for a visa to Australia must meet health requirements. Further information can be found at: Health Requirements

All costs related to the medical examination are your responsibility. If you undertake a medical examination and your application is not approved you will not be eligible for a refund of any costs you may have incurred.

6. Character requirements

All applicants for a visa to Australia must be assessed against and meet the character requirements. Further information can be found at: Character Requirements


7. The Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)

The OSHC is insurance that assists international students to meet the costs of medical and hospital care that they may need while in Australia. OSHC also covers limited benefits for pharmaceuticals and ambulance services.

Students must provide evidence of cover for themselves and any accompanying dependants for the proposed duration of their Student visa in order to be granted a visa.

To allow students a reasonable time period to organise their affairs on completion of their course, students should obtain OSHC for a period covering at least one month after the course end date on their Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE). For students studying a package course, the OSHC should cover their entire package and at least one month after the course end date on the latest CoE in the package.

The current approved OSHC providers are:

• Australian Health Management
• BUPA OSHC
• NIB OSHC
• Medibank Private
• Lysaght Peoplecare Limited (subcontracting to OSHC Worldcare).

shoopsy:
Could anyone please be kind enough to answer my question which is , FOR AUSTRALIA STUDENT VISA APPLICATION, CAN I SUBMIT PROOF OF FINANCIAL CAPABILITY USING MY UNCLE'S ACCOUNT STATEMENT OR SPONSOR ? ( MY UNCLE AND I HAVE THE SAME LAST NAME.). Thank you.

Is your uncle or anty an australian citizen, permanent residence or New Zealand citizen? If yes is your answer then your Uncle can sponsor you.

adebayoolatunji:
Pls house can I use a company's statement of account to apply for Australia student visa.......... I'm an employee of the company and the course I'm going for is Advanced diploma in Engineering technology... I happens to be a maintaince engineer with the company... Im in charge of servicing the company's trailer.... Can the company sponsor me....

Yes you can. As the company to write you a sponsorship letter, attach documents that identifies you as a staff of the said company. Do not include a company bank statement as it would raise eyebrow unless otherwise requested by your case officer.
Your contract letter, payslips, ID Card, sponsorship letter would do.

If you have some funds in your own bank account you may include your statement otherwise as whoever is drafting your sponsorship letter to include- they will be willing to supply the embassy one upon request.

I don't think your position in the company allow you to know how much the company has. Just saying

dmelia:
how long does it take Grant to arrive after biometric, I applied for visit visa.

Between 1-3 months

FCCA2012:
House please I need urgent help
I am currently in Australia as I got my grant for subclass 574, my school is VU and I submitted a change of course form for masters by coursework.
my school is saying I can't change because my reasons are personal issues.

Please which reason can I tell them so that they can effect the change and allow me to join them this semester. Meanwhile classes for masters commenced last week.
@Bellong and others in Australia please I need your advise

Ask your sponsor to draft a letter stating their withdrawal if you decide to continue on your current Program.
Reason could be for you to complete your course on time, use your expertise to benefit others when you return home.

Note: Without your sponsor, you can't live in Australia. So your sponsor has authority over your future. Look for other supporting reasons to your claim.

Goodluck.

Solitin40:
owenklay please is transit visa needed in Singapore

Travelling THROUGH Singapore:

Foreigners transiting in Singapore will not require visas if they remain within the transit area of Changi Airport (Terminals 1, 2 and 3) and do not pass through Singapore Immigration.

Sometimes, foreign visitors may be required to pass through Singapore Immigration if they arrive/depart from the Budget Terminal or if their airlines do not have the necessary transfer facilities. In these cases, the foreign visitor should obtain a visa prior to travel so that he/she will not meet any difficulties while transiting in Singapore.

It is advised that you check with the airline to find out if they provide the required transfer facilities and if you require a visa. You may also wish to visit the Changi Airport website for more information on transfer facilities:

http://www.changiairport.com/in-transit/transit-information.

Egbabiekperemo:
What kind of 419 deal is this one? Even Sydney doesn't cost this much. Or do they mine gold in d apartment?

Is always good we mind our choice of words. I never advertised it for myself. Only trying to help people who may need it.
Here's the photo of the advert from gumtree.
Cheers.

An one heading towards Newcastle? Someone is offering there home (2 bedroom well furnsihed) $1200 for 6 weeks. That includes all utilities + internet. If any two people are arriving newcastle soon, this is a great deal. Cheers

POTUSUK:
Praise God People!!!!!


My golden mail arrived, 19th July 2016 at 10:38a.m.

These are my timelines.
Visa lodgement:7th July, 2016
Medicals submitted and biometrics 8th July, 2016
Grant: 9th July, 2016.

Sydney Loading!!!, classes starts 25th July 2016 UNSW.

Who is in Sydney?....Hafa Accommodation parouse??.

Thanks bellong, Jorgan, WestAfrican, Cottyekundayo, cremeuc....for the ready assistance given promptly when needed..... ona too much for here abeg.

Congrats. Country beautiful, bebs yakpa. But be focused. Enjoy.

FutureDon:
Really bro? It's PhD for God's sake.

PhD is a full time job on it's own and that's why some assessing bodies take years of PhD study as years of work experience. Believe me, the unlimited work hours for PhD students is practically useless. They know we will never have that luxury of time to maximize those hours. Almost all, if not all international PhD students in Australia are genuinely here to study. PhD is not something you can have "one leg in, one leg out", you need to have "both legs in" it. Going with the former may lead such student to being kicked out of their program or asked to transfer to MPhil.

Life as a PhD student is hard, not only in Australia but in all advanced countries where kick a s s research is valued. POTUSUK, let me know if you have specific questions that you would like me to answer. Feeling kinda lazy now.

What Uni and topic are you researching on?
Do you meet with your supervisor each day? Can you work day time and do your research at night or vice versa? People study for first degree where they have lectures almost everyday, individual cum group assignments and yet still squeeze out time to work.
No sector of study is easy you just have to squeeze out time and set your priorities straight.

If your supervisor is understanding, you can always communicate over the phone, email and then meet onces or twice a forthnight.

Read this url and have a rough idea what to expect and if you can be able to push yourself more. It's never easy but with hardwork and persistence you will come out tops.

http://academia.stackexchange.com/questions/64667/can-an-international-phd-student-in-australia-make-a-living-with-an-apa-scholars

POTUSUK:
Thanks Westafrican for this wonderful tip, with guys like you my sojourn to Aussie land can't go wrong. I'd exploit all the options you've listed

But what is with Qld - Queensland....is that where the 'jobs' are?

I only gave you an example using Qld. Jobs are in Sydney, Melbourne and depending on your field or trade you may find jobs in regional areas too. Between, getting a PR after your PhD is pretty much easy.

POTUSUK:
Any hints on temporary Accomodation in Sydney? I hear I'd have to come in before sorting out long term stays.

What's life as a PhD student in Oz?

@ westafrican, Jorgan, Bellong, futuredon.

Download the app gumtree or click on this url if you are on pc/mac www.gumtree.com.au click on home/browse/real-estate/ sharedroom . You can get a few days rent (use your gps to check for locations close to ur uni) before moving on.

Your benefits as a PHD student is greater than any other degree (s). You have unlimited work hours. Have chances of working with your supervisor (s) and getting paid. You can teach in primary school (if you'r confident in a subject and have good teaching skills -thou it may be difficult if you have a very strong accent.
If you have a good rapport with your supervisor, you can decide to find a job in Qld while studying at NSW.

In Aus you must think ahead and act fast otherwise you will float.

onyemamuoc:
please is Callaghan far from Sydney. I got a family member in Sydney where I can at least perch for the main time and not rush into paying rents. my campus is Callaghan, so I need to know it's proximity to Sydney.

If you are in Newcastle for MSc, it's best to travel from Sydney to uni for lecturers. More jobs opportunities in Sydney than in Newcastle.

Stop being arrogant. Ignoramus

lucky032:
Thank u bro!What is the difference btw TAFE and university

Tafe is similar to Technical colleges in 9ja (mostly hands on). You earn yourself a diploma degree at the end of your studies which doesn't exceed two 2 years. I assume you know about university.

Solitin40:
Sir are you a student

Student when i need promotion at work.

lucky032:
Bros walahi,indeed money falls there.Plz,i studied microbiology and i want to do my masters in nursing.Is it possible there.I am planning applying nov/dec next yr to resume succeding yr feb 2018.

Yes it's possible. Follow this link http://cricos.education.gov.au/

lucky032:
What's so special about this australia?Does money fall from the sky there?

Someone earned almost Aus $11,000 in two (2) months casual work and he has three jobs going. $11k doesn't include tax of Aus $3500 deducted that will be claimed. So earning lets say Aus $14,000 from a job in two months. Does that answer your question?

dauntless15:
Why is nigeria not there close to iraq

We are visa free or visa on arrival to most countries than Iraq, Somalia and Syria

shyling:
The easiest way to ruining yourself is to have Afghanistan visa on your passport.

I doubt it. People spoke similar of Thailand, and i got Japan, Australia and New Zealand visas after visiting Thai and Loas.

Are you marvelled Nigeria escaped this?

When it comes to passports, it pays to be German
Mar 16th 2016, 10:45 BY B.R.

FEW things in life can be as frustrating as applying for a Russian visa. First there is a never-ending form: a list of all the countries you have visited in the past 10 years with exact dates, details of past employers and managers, education history, insurance numbers—it is endless. Then you must procure an official letter of invitation from the organisation you are visiting. As if that were not enough, you have to schlep to some pokey office on the other side town to have your fingerprints taken. All in all, the process cost Gulliver about a month of his time and The Economist over a hundred quid of its cash. My trip to St Petersburg was for a single night.

I moaned about this to an Indian colleague, but he refused me any sympathy. “Now you know what I have to go through every time I enter Britain,” he sniffed. Indeed. Brits like me take hassle-free travel for granted. According to the latest Visa Restrictions Index, released last month by Henley & Partners, a relocation firm, I can enter 173 of the world’s 218 countries (not including my own) either without a visa or with a visa on arrival. That compares with just 52 that my Indian colleague can (most of which are far-flung Pacific or Caribbean islands).


Britain is joint third on Henley's list of the world’s most useful passports (see table). Germany comes top. Its citizens can gain visa-free access to 175 countries. At the other end of the list, it is little surprise to find some of the world’s most troubled nations, including Afghanistan, Syria and Somalia.

It will be interesting to see which way the world moves when it comes to visas. As more nations adopt biometric passports, there should, in theory, be scope for further relaxation of restrictions. And generally as countries’ economies become more global they also tend to loosen visa requirements for travellers. Over the past two years, for example, citizens of the United Arab Emirates have been able to travel visa-free to 45 more countries than before, according to Henley. This includes to the Schengen Area, a group of 26 European nations that have abolished passport controls, making it the first Arab country to be granted a European visa waiver. But as the EU creaks under the weight of its migrant crisis, how many more nations will be afforded this privilege in the coming years? It is not only Europe that is drawing in its horns. America, too, is tightening its waiver programme following the terrorist attacks in Paris. And that is before the possibility of the country electing an anti-immigration president like Donald Trump.

Keeping up barriers to entry is not only frustrating for travellers, it is also probably short-sighted. As we wrote in a leader earlier this year:

Visas are necessary evils. They offer governments a way to control their borders, whether to regulate the flow of immigrants or to pick out threats to security. But the paperwork and fees they entail also deter legitimate tourists and business travellers. Researchers at the Cato Institute, a libertarian think-tank, reckon that eliminating all travel visas to the United States would add between $90 billion and $123 billion in annual tourist spending. By one estimate, introducing visa restrictions can lower trade and foreign direct investment between a pair of countries by as much as 25%.
For all that, it will be some time before Afghans are allowed to globetrot in the same hassle-free way as Germans.

Mzurch:
Must I ground ma Egusi and Ogbono?

Blend it or lose it. If possible purchase a commercial well packaged ones. And make sure you declare on your passenger card or risk getting a fine.

A day without BEER is unBEErable.




Licking bottles in this cold weather

POTUSUK:
Bellong and co. Please, I want to pay my OSHC of 2,500 AUD (medibank), how do I go about it please?. Can I use my debit card or what?. House, I need answers pls.... Time is of the essence .... Muchas Gracias.

Yes debit card is accepted. Why $2500 for OSHC? For how many years? Have you looked into NIB? Cheers.

Sometimes It could delay ur visa processing time if they find fault with a family members' medicals, criminal records or when they ask you for bank statement.

Again it can be annoying trying to get Form A and may be letter from your university to get her or them over. The ball is in your court.

mrsoje:
@Stanleyelege i suggest you send a mail to the school and also call them at about 11pm Nigeria time, talk to them and discuss your options.
As regards applying with wify i suggest as soon as you get your Coe, pay using your debit card for OSHC for single person policy for her(so as to save time instead of just reapplying for form A) and include her in the visa application. Adding or not adding your spouse or family members is not a determinant of your visa issuance. Best of luck

For those that have gotten their visa grant. Congrats. Please use of iomaustralia(cheaper) and endevour to book early cause july is the peak period.

shinerpoly:
@WestAfrican u might be right with those people mentioned above. But this info might be applicable to those who are already in Australia and require their documents to be certified

I Think it would be good for an applicants to certify their documents from the high court if they can still catch the chance or better still go to a notary public to certify your documents.
I met a judge I know at the high court to certify my documents for me but he directed me to a notary public to certify my documents since all documents were going outside d country

That judge doesn't trust you and didn't want to commit himself (Joking). Well my naija documents were all certified by a justice of peace of the local council here in Australia. How do they know it is genuine? Trust? Because they saw my original documents?
Will let you draw your conclusion.

AlvinKem:
Bro I wana ask if also someone like a naval officer can certify for u

Who can certify a copy of a document?

Any person or agency recognised by the law of the country in which you live can certify documents. All our offices outside Australia have a person who can certify or witness documents. You might have to pay for this service.

Got that from Border Protection website.

Australian govt is not fussy about who certifies your document. Certification coming from lecturers, teachers, nurses, marriage celebrants, doctors, engineers, local councle are all accepted.
In Australia, it is the responsibility of aforementioned to certify your documents without charges.

Our government just make things hard for everyone.

AlvinKem:
Congrat it's been a wile coming dear! We r following suit soonest... Pls hlp us with this certifying of documents