[JasDu]

Hey everyone,

I've just finished my 3 years Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Psychology, to make the most of this degree I want to do my 4th Honours year which I'm eligible for. The only problem is that there is a few months break between my Arts degree and my Honours year in which I really want to stay in Australia, but cannot find a possible visa that lets me do so. I've researched a lot but as the expiring date of my visa is coming closer I'm becoming more desperate, I really hope one of you could give me some tips or point me towards the right visa.

Some possible useful information:

I initially didn't come to Australia to study, hence Bachelor of Arts with Major in Psychology which as far as I researched doesn't work for any occupation on the SOL (to possibly apply for Graduation Visa).
I already stupidly used my first Working Holiday Visa, and am not eligible for a second one as I did not work in a regional area.
My student visa expires 30th of September 2012 and my Honours year starts around beginning of March 2013, ultimately I am looking for a visa to keep my in Australia for about 5 months.
Initially I wanted to have a visa in that period that would permit me to work to gain experience for my degree and not waste any time but considering that seems even less likely anything will currently satisfy me as long as I can stay.
I decided I want to stay in Australia as I just really love life here, met great people, and in the last half year I got into a relationship with a girl that I definitely do not want to leave behind for 4-5 months.

Thank you all so much in advance, any small tips or advice will already make me heaps happy.

Cheers!

 

[russellie]

Have you already applied for your student visa for March 2013?
You're in a bit of a tough situation. As you said you can't use your WHV, a tourist visa means no work, in order to get a work visa you have to go through skillselect after July 1 and nobody really knows how that is going to go - it would be a bit of a gamble to assume you would get the invitation and apply for the visa etc prior to your current student visa expiring...
Is there anyway you could delay graduating, extend your student visa and pick up a couple of extra subjects to tide you over until March?

 

[Adventuress]

Hi JasDu,

I'm not familiar with the student visa system, so this is an idea that may not be possible to act on, but if you can't defer graduating then perhaps you could look into doing a TAFE course. Many Certificate I courses last only for six months, and you might even be able to find something to supplement your Psychology studies at university.

 

[JasDu]

Thank you for the quick reply guys, I really appreciate your ideas.
Delaying my graduation by picking up extra courses would be a way to stay for a longer time, however I'd prefer other ways as it means I'd have to pay an additional 10k for studies that will not benefit my future and it practically is a waste of time as studying requires a lot of time and effort.

I cannot apply for the student visa for March 2013 yet as it is an Honours degree, which has a selection which doesn't start until August 2012, with results of whether you're selected coming out half November 2012. I'm wondering whether it's possible to get a bridging visa the moment I can apply for that next study (half November 2012), but then I still require a visa in between for 1.5 month (October - Half November).

Small 1 semester courses are a good idea however, hopefully that would supplement my studies but as far as I've seen so far there's nothing that will benefit me and takes up only 1 semester. On top of that it's still a lot of money that I actually need for my real course.

Questions that have arised from me in the past days looking into it more are whether there are any other temporary visas that give a possibility to stay for a short amount of time, as I've heard about people on a temporary visa (trying to get into contact with them already).

 

[russellie]

Unfortuantly a bridging visa isn't quite what it sounds - it is actually only granted to those who are awaiting the outcome of a visa application. So you can only get one after you have applied for the second student visa or a work visa...

I hope you sort it out. If you do please let us know it will be good knowledge for the forum to have.
Cheers.

 

[JasDu]

Unfortuantly a bridging visa isn't quite what it sounds - it is actually only granted to those who are awaiting the outcome of a visa application. So you can only get one after you have applied for the second student visa or a work visa...

I hope you sort it out. If you do please let us know it will be good knowledge for the forum to have.
Cheers.

Yeah so does that mean from the moment I can apply for that course (end November 2012) I could get a bridging visa for untill February/March 2013? And is a bridging visa from a tourist visa possible? Anyway thanks again Russelllie, I'll definitely post it here when I find the solution, but also quite hope there are other people here that would know!

Cheers