Highlights
- Temporary graduate (485) visa holders urge government to bring forward the date for replacement visas
- Replacement visa will be implemented from July 2022 as it requires an amendment to Migration Regulations: Home Affairs
- Replacement visa applications can be made both onshore and offshore from 1 July 2022
For thousands of temporary graduates whose visas expired on or after 1 February 2020, the announcement means that while they now have a pathway to return to Australian shores, they still have to wait for another seven months to board flights.
'Making us wait is unfair and unnecessary'
Vivek Bhargava, who has been stuck in Punjab in north India for the past two years, said the government’s decision to make them wait until July next year has taken away the happiness they initially felt when they heard about replacement visas.
“It is totally unfair to make us wait for another seven months. This has further aggravated our anxiety and financial losses. It is unnecessary and risks further damage to Australia’s reputation as an academic destination,” the 25-year-old said.
Mr Bhargava, who is leading a group of 485 visa holders stuck in the Indian subcontinent, urged the government to bring forward the date for replacement visas.
Vivek Bhargava says government should bring forward the availability date for replacement visas for temporary graduates. Source: Supplied by Vivek Bhargava
“Replacement visas should be made available as soon as the government reopens international borders so that we also have a fair chance to return along with international students and other eligible visa holders.
We have a life in Australia, why are you making us wait?
Replacement visa will be implemented from July 2022: Here's why
Immigration Minister Alex Hawke announced the changes in a statement on 25 November. Source: AAP
When questioned why it was taking so long for the government to make replacement visas available, a Department of Home Affairs spokesperson told SBS Punjabi that the availability date has been slated for next year as the process requires an amendment to the Migration Regulations.
“Information and communications technology changes are also required to give effect to the replacement Temporary Graduate visa,” the spokesperson said in its statement.
Shedding light on how the process works, former deputy secretary of the immigration department Abul Rizvi said the time taken to implement a change often depends on the design of the new visa and the nature of changes required.
“If the changes to the Migration Regulations are significant and they also require technological changes, then I’m afraid it cannot be done any faster.
“The only way the government could have implemented replacement visas faster was if the new visa was similar to the existing 485 visas. But in this case, they have to identify a narrow group of people who will be eligible to apply for the new visa, which is a time-consuming process,” Mr Rizvi said.
Impact on current 485 visa holders
The confusion runs deeper for others like Madhur Bhalla, whose 485 visa is still valid.
Madhur Bhalla (L) with his younger brother Dennis Bhalla (R). Source: Supplied by Mr Bhalla
The engineering graduate, whose visa is expiring in January, said while there is some clarity on the timeline for those who have run out of their visas, temporary graduates with valid visas are unsure if they should return to Australia when the borders reopen even if they are classified as ‘eligible’.
“We understand that current 485 visas can return to Australia, but there is no clarity on the issue of when our visas expire onshore, which visa we should apply for next to stay in Australia legally, considering replacement visas would only be made available in July 2022,” he said.
Responding to the query, the Department of Home Affairs spokesperson said: “Prospective replacement visa applicants may also consider a range of other existing visa options to enter Australia prior to 1 July 2022, according to their individual circumstances.”
“Applications for the replacement visa can be made both onshore and offshore from 1 July 2022,” the spokesperson further stated.
In addition to offering replacement visas, the government has also announced provisions to increase the length of stay on the 485 visas from the current two to three years and recognise time spent offshore studying online towards qualifying for a temporary graduate visa.
It is expected that these changes will benefit approximately 30,000 current or former Temporary Graduate visa holders.
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