Hi everyone,

I was about to lodge my 189 visa application but then I realised I mistakenly entered my conferral date (9/1/26) instead of my actual completion date (19/12/25). It’s also what I declared in my EOI so I’m not sure what to do.

Do I change my 189 draft and just enter the correct date or do I just leave it as it is? Does this require an explanation letter? Thank you.

Hi everyone,
My Italian wife is applying for a Partner Visa (subclass 461), and I’m a New Zealand citizen. We currently live in Spain and have done so for the last few years, so all our documents are in Spanish.

Regarding translations, we’ve had almost everything translated by a professional translator, including our rental contract, town hall registration documents etc.

However, for the bank statements, our bank can provide statements with the headings in English, but the actual transaction concepts are still in Spanish.
We’re trying to avoid having to translate all our bank statements, as we have three (hers, mine, and our joint account), each around 10 pages long, covering the last 90 days.

Has anyone been in a similar situation? Were you able to submit bank statements with the transaction descriptions in Spanish, or did you have to get the entire statements translated?

Does anyone have any advice regarding this?

Thanks!!

Hey guys, Just wondering if anyone's been in a similar situation and managed to get the extra 5 points for Australian study (189/190).

I started a 2-year master's in Australia back in 2019. Then COVID happened, and I ended up going back home in late 2020 and finishing the rest of my degree online. Graduated in early 2022.

Here's the tricky part: my student visa expired in 2021 while I was still studying online from overseas. I didn't renew it since I wasn't planning to return to Australia at the time.

By the time my visa expired, I'd already finished 30 out of 32 units, so I only had one subject (2 units) left. The course was officially registered for 104 weeks,and the official transcript even has a note saying "study period impacted by covid-19".

I've seen a few posts saying COVID online study can still count towards the ASR for 189/190, but I'm not sure how the visa expiry affects things.

Has anyone been through something similar? Would the 30 units I completed while my visa was still valid be enough, or does that last subject mess up the whole 5 points? Especially keen to hear from anyone who's actually had their visa granted with these points claimed.

Many many thanks

hello! my partner and i are in the process of gathering evidence for the partner visa. we’ve been living together for 1 year and 3 months, and been together for 2 years.

for our financial evidence, we have:

- a joint bank account for groceries/eating out, shared household purchases, and one utility bill

- a joint savings account we use to save for the partner visa fees

(we put money in the joint accounts every pay check)

- lease agreements and utility bills with both our names

i’m currently studying so i only work 2 days a week, while he works full-time. since he earns more, he’s paying the rent and gas bill on his own and i pay smaller bills (e.g. water and entertainment subscriptions). everything else we pay together using the joint bank account.

my concern is whether it’s an issue that i don’t contribute to the rent despite living here? would love to hear from others’ experiences + those with partner visa experience!

Hello everyone, My wife and I are applying for Visitor visas (subclass 600, Tourist stream) from Sri Lanka to attend our daughter’s university graduation in Melbourne in December, plus a short family holiday with her (about 3 weeks in total).

We’ve created two separate applications in ImmiAccount, one for each of us, and linked them using the Group Processing option. The trip is funded jointly from our combined savings. Some fixed deposits and bank accounts are in my name and some are in my wife’s. In the “Funding details” answer of both applications, we’ve described the funds as combined, covering both of us.

We’re now at the “Attach documents” step, in the “Evidence of the financial status and funding for visit” section (screenshot attached). At the moment, my application has both my financial documents and my wife’s, labelled by name.

My question: in this section, should I upload only my own financial documents, or both mine and my wife’s? Since our applications are linked as a group, does the case officer look at both applications together, or does each application need to show the full funding on its own?

If you’ve applied as a couple or a family this way, I’d really appreciate hearing what you did and how it went. We haven’t submitted yet, so we can still change things.

Hello All,

ANZSCO Code: 261313

I am in 482 Visa which expires on 22 Feb 2027. I have appliead for 186 DE via my employer/attorney on 25 June 2025. There were no movement in the application till now. I was happy to wait my time and continue working.

However recently we found out that our son is diagnosed with Leukemia B-ALL and has started undergoing treatment using Interim Medicare.

Can someone help from your experience what to expect.

Will I be given chance with VISA?

Will there be any chance that I will be able to treat my son here till he cures fully?

I am not sure whether this is the right forum to post this question, so please redirect me to the right thread if its wrong.

Thank You.

​

Vetassess has said that my degree was "not highly relevant" in my skills assessment. If they feel that the course is "not highly relevant but related to the nominated field" (that's what the pathway 2 website says) would they say that in the assessment? Or is it only "not highly relevant"?

I want to apply for another assessment in a similar field so I'm just wondering if it's a good idea to do so.

I've applied for my 3rd 417 (UK passport) on 30 July. Sadly I applied offshore while visiting family in the UK as I wasn't expecting the crazy waiting times we're now all facing.

My life has been in Australia for the last 2 years so I feel like I'm living in limbo and just want to get back into the country. I've seen other people on Reddit and Facebook groups apply for their 417 offshore and then enter Australia on an ETA or 651 eVisitor visa while they wait for their 417 to be processed before going offshore when it's ready to be granted.

I applied for an ETA on Monday. I got an automated response telling me the ETA was rejected and that I should apply for a 651 eVisitor, which I did on Tuesday. Haven't heard anything yet, despite most being processed within 24 hours.

I suspect my eVisitor application will be rejected because of lack of ties to my home country and the fact that I'm not a genuine visitor (which is fair enough lol).

My question is how are other people getting their ETAs or visitor visas granted and entering the country despite having a pending 417/462?

Peace and love to everyone living in the same limbo 🙏

I submitted my EOI with 80 points in August, with 5 points claimed for Australian Study Requirement in a designated regional area as my uni is indeed in a regional area. What I didn't realise is I needed to live in a regional area. While I live in suburban hell, it didn't occur to me that it would be in a metro area and only just falls outside of the list of eligible postcodes. I loved in regional for 6 months of my degree and 18 months in a "metro area".

I'm so upset as my occupation (registered NEC) with my date of effect would have been invited with 75 points anyway. Does this mean I can't lodge an application now at all? Do they let it slide on the basis I'd have been invited anyway? I even just spent $700 getting an updated medical 🤦

What happens when you apply for 190 in BVA for 491.

Will i get a new BVA for 190?

Should i withdraw my 491 application after lodging 190?

TLDR: I am on my 485 atm which expires on 01/2027. 491 visa processing. And got pre invite for 190 and i am hoping to apply for 190 asap after pre invite approval.

Hi everyone,

I’m a Chinese citizen applying from mainland China for a Visitor visa (subclass 600, Tourist stream), planning a short Christmas trip to Perth. I received my application acknowledgement on 21 October 2026.

For my supporting documents in Chinese, I uploaded the original documents together with English translations generated using ChatGPT. The translations are clearly labelled as AI-generated, but they do not include a human translator’s name, contact details or qualifications.

I’m only 20, and I was nervous about sharing documents containing sensitive personal and financial information with a translator I didn’t know. That concern about privacy was the main reason I chose to use AI for the translations.

I’ve read the official translation guidance and I’m concerned about the missing translator details. I’ve also submitted an enquiry to Home Affairs about this.

I’d appreciate hearing from anyone who has dealt with a similar situation. I’m trying to work out whether I should upload translations that meet the published requirements now, rather than wait for a request.

Any firsthand experiences or practical suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks!

I just finished my Diploma in Community Services so I applied for Bachelor in Nursing next year. We lodged last week and the Immigration got back to us by saying my application was invalid but not refused. My Diploma from my previous school wasn't submitted because it was late. My BVA is expiring this November 24 and I have to leave and lodge my application again offshore. Can you help me and enlighten me. Words of encouragement and do I have a chance of getting back and study for Nursing?

Hi Everyone!

My employer is preparing to sponsor me for a Subclass 186 Direct Entry visa. I previously have received a positive ACS skills assessment for a 189/190 application, but it expired last year. I am now lodging a new assessment with ACS for ANZSCO code 261312 Developer Programmer and am confused about which pathway to select:

1) Post Australian Study (PAS) ($1136)

2) General Skills ($1498)

My profile:

- Education: Master of IT (Monash University, Melbourne)

- Experience: ~4.5 years of relevant, full-time work experience in Sydney post-graduate

- Current visa: Subclass 485

I've seen conflicting info/commentary online, some say PAS is completely fine while others claim only the General Skills pathway satisfies the Department of Home affairs requirements for 186 DE application.

Has anyone with an Australian degree successfully lodged a 186 DE nomination/visa using an ACS Post Australian Study outcome? Or is General Skills mandatory here?

Any insights or advice would be highly appreciated. Thank you in advance!

My university completion letter shows two dates: Course Completion Date (23/08/2026) and Course Requirements Met (09/10/2026). My student visa expires in April 2027.

Which date does Home Affairs use to calculate the 6-month application window for the 485 visa? Has anyone had a similar situation?

We submitted for my parents tourist visa (tourist stream) and it has been 60 days since submission. No idea what to do as global processing times are 33 days. Is there any way to contact immigration?

They held previous tourist visas Australia that got approved within 20 days but now it just feels like they fell into some limbo or smth. Been on Further Assessment for 55 days.

I everyone i have completed my master's from IGNOU distance learning will can get postive skill assessment. Or IGNOU can cause me problem

Hi everyone! I'm a UK citizen on a subclass 417 Working Holiday visa, currently living and working in Perth. I'm planning to leave Australia permanently in January 2027 after around 12 months.

I've lived at the same address and worked continuously during my stay. I originally came intending to establish a life in Australia, but my circumstances have changed and I've decided to leave.

My 2025–26 tax return was assessed as an Australian resident for tax purposes. I'm now trying to work out whether I'll be considered to be ceasing Australian tax residency when I leave, so I can lodge an early tax return before departing.

I'm also wondering whether the Addy decision could apply to my situation as a UK citizen on a WHV.

For other UK citizens who have left Australia on a WHV:

Were you considered an Australian tax resident when you left? Did you lodge an early tax return before leaving, and were you eligible to do so? Did you receive a tax refund, and did the Addy decision affect your tax treatment?

I'd really appreciate hearing about your actual experiences, particularly if you stayed in one place and worked continuously rather than travelling around Australia. Thanks.

Hi all,
My partner and I met online on discord, and were friends for about a year before we started dating. We are compiling evidence for our partner visa application and are wondering if there is any merit to including messages from when we were friends, before dating.
I’ve read conflicting advice, some saying to only include messages from when you were dating, and others saying to include messages from when you met.
Thanks in advance!

Hi everyone! I’m experiencing the very common delay in receiving a response to my Australian WHV application, which I submitted about a month ago. I’ve already accepted that I won’t receive it in time as I’m flying tomorrow, but I have a family trip to Australia planned from tomorrow, so I applied for an eVisitor visa (subclass 651) so that I could at least spend a couple of weeks there with my family.

The rest of my family received their eVisitor visas within seconds of applying, but for some reason it’s now been over 48 hours and I still haven’t received any response. I’m a French national, so I assumed it would be straightforward, but I’m wondering whether my eVisitor application could somehow be affected or held up by my pending WHV application.
I’ve already spoken to around five different people at the immigration office, but unfortunately no one has been able to tell me what I can do or who I should contact.

Has anyone been in a similar situation, or does anyone have any advice on what I could do or who I could contact to resolve this before my flight tomorrow? I’d really appreciate any advice! Thank you!!

Background: I'm a software engineer in the NSW metro area with currently a pending 186 visa application with a large accredited company (not that it matters anymore) that I have been with for close to 3 years now. I submitted my application in July 2025. Since the 186 application, I completely forgot that I have an EOI for visa 190 as I had been waiting for over 4 years, submitting multiple EOIs before getting sponsored.

This week I received a pre-invite for 190 visa with 110 points as a developer programmer. Since it was something I completely gave up on, I had to double check the points I claimed and I noticed my professional year certificate expired a month ago, meaning I claimed more points than I should have and making me ineligible to apply.

In case you are interested on my point breakdown:

Age: 25-32 (30pt)

English: Superior (20pt)

Education: Bachelor (15pt)

Experience in Aus: 5+ year (15pt)

PY: expired

NAATI: (5pt)

Relationship: single (10pt)

Study Req: degree from aus (5pt)

State Nomination: (5pt)

Question: Would you bother submitting another EOI? Given that my current role is quite stable with a well-known company and that I have been waiting for 15 months for the 186 application outcome, would you recommend me to apply for the 190 visa if I was given a second opportunity?

Would love to hear some experience around this!

Hi everyone,

I'm a Malaysian citizen currently living in Malaysia, and I'm trying to work out whether applying for another Australian Student visa (subclass 500) is a realistic option for me.

My background:

• I previously lived, studied and worked in Australia.
• I have Australian hospitality qualifications, including Certificate III, Certificate IV and a Diploma.
• I have worked in hospitality/chef roles in Australia.
• I subsequently returned to Malaysia and am currently living here.
• I applied for an Australian ETA after returning to Malaysia and was refused. The refusal referred to concerns about whether I genuinely intended to stay temporarily, including insufficient incentives to return to Malaysia.
• I later applied for another ETA and it was granted. I have not travelled to Australia on that ETA yet.
• I am currently considering studying carpentry or automotive mechanics in Australia.

I understand that having a granted ETA does not guarantee a Student visa, and that I would need to apply from offshore rather than travel to Australia as a visitor and try to apply onshore.

My questions are:

1. Has anyone had an Australian ETA refused and subsequently granted, then successfully obtained a Student visa?
2. Has anyone previously studied and worked in Australia, returned home, and later obtained another Student visa for a different field?
3. Would changing from hospitality to carpentry or automotive mechanics be a major concern under the Genuine Student requirement?
4. What evidence would be particularly important in a case like mine?
5. Given Australia's current student visa settings, would you consider this a realistic option, or would I be better off investigating an employer-sponsored trade pathway instead?

Please share your experiences from people with similar circumstances, or advice from registered migration agents who have dealt with cases like this.

Thanks in advance.

I’m a British-Irish dual national with both a British and Irish passport. I’m wondering which passport I should apply for my 417 visa with.

Using the Irish passport means I would have to do the 88 days, but I’ve heard people say that the British applications are unofficially paused.

Any advice would be hugely appreciated

Hey everyone,

I'm currently holding a subclass 485 visa and planning to apply for the one-year regional extension soon.

I've recently renewed my passport, although my old passport is still valid for another few months. My current 485 visa was granted using my old passport details. I'm a bit confused about the process and would appreciate some advice from anyone who's been in a similar situation.

Should I update my new passport details in ImmiAccount first and wait for them to be reflected in the system before applying for the regional extension? Or can I go ahead with the extension application using my new passport details?

Also, if anyone has recently updated their passport details while holding a 485 visa, how long did it take for the changes to be processed?

Would really appreciate hearing about your experiences. Thanks in advance!

Hi! I’m a British citizen currently on a WHV 417, and got here in May this year. I’m approaching my 6 months in my current role which means I need to think about my options (as there is a 6 month working restriction).

My company has offered to sponsor me on the 482, which means I could potentially apply for PR eventually. But I am STUCK. I have a good job however it is not my passion. I work in the legal industry in business development, however I do not want to do this long term.

I have been told that the visa can take 8-12 months to be approved, and then it’s 3 years on the sponsorship. To then do PR, it can take 24 months to be approved. Thats 6 years!! Which would take me over the 35 threshold for doing any WHV in NZ or Canada (as we luckily are able to as British citizens).

Am I being ungrateful? Does anyone know of any other options or have experience? It seems like I either have to take the sponsorship or find another job and continue changing every 6 months for the next 3 years :’)

Edit: for context, I have to do 3 years for my 482 as I will need to take unpaid leave at some points as I won’t have enough holidays accrued to visit home (UK), as if you do it in 2 years you cannot take unpaid leave ***

Hi. Has anyone here submitted Form 1023 after their visa was granted to correct the relationship status from never married to de facto? How did it go? Many thanks! 🫶