Visa FAQs
Frequently Asked Visa Questions
You need a student visa to come and study at Melbourne Business School. Unfortunately we cannot influence the timing or speed of visa processing in any way and are unable to advise students on applications for permanent residency. However, here are some frequently asked questions regarding visa requirements for studying at Melbourne Business School. All information is accurate at the time of publication; please check with your local embassy or www.dimia.gov.au/students for updates. Frequently Asked Visa Questions include:
How do I apply for a Visa?
How long does the Visa application process take?
Will the Australian Embassy accept a faxed copy of my Electronic Confirmation of Enrolment (eCOE)?
Who do I notify when I change my address?
Do I need to have Overseas Students Health Cover (OSHC)?
Can I apply for a Leave of Absence?
Can my family visit me in Australia?
Can family members accompany me?
Can I work in Australia?
Can I change education providers?
Can I change my course?
Can I extend my stay in Australia? If so, how?
How soon do I have to leave Australia if I cancel my program or my enrolment?
Am I permitted to remain in Australia for the duration of my student visa if I complete my program one or more semesters before it expires?
Can I leave Australia and re-enter?
Can I remain permanently in Australia?
What if my application is not successful?
Q: How do I apply for a Visa?
A: Begin by contacting your local Australian Embassy or by visiting www.dimia.gov.au/students.
Q: How long does the Visa application process take?
A: Processing time varies significantly from country to country. In some cases it is best to allow at least 6 months for Visa applications to be processed. Processing times vary between offices for a variety of reasons. The office processing your application will provide you with information on the average processing times. Application processing is slowed down by lodging an incomplete application or by failure to comply with any requests made of you by DIMIA in the time specified. Any adverse health findings may also affect the time taken to decide your application.
Q: Will the Australian Embassy accept a faxed copy of my Electronic Confirmation of Enrolment (eCOE)?
A: Yes, as the name suggests, this form is submitted electronically via the Provider Registration and International Students Management System (PRISMS). Australian Diplomatic Posts can access this electronic copy.
Q: Who do I notify when I change my address?
A: If you have condition 8506 labelled in your visa, you must notify the Department of Immigration, Multicultural & Indigenous Affairs (DIMIA) and MBS at least two working days before you move to your new address. If you have condition 8533 labelled on your visa you must notify MBS within 7 days of arrival. If you change address you must notify MBS within 7 days of moving to the new address.
Q: Do I need to have Overseas Students Health Cover (OSHC)?
A: Yes, Government regulations state that it is compulsory for international students and their dependants to maintain adequate health insurance arrangements for the duration of their program. You are responsible for ensuring you have valid OSHC cover at all times. For more information about Medibank student health cover please click here.
Q: Can I apply for a Leave of Absence?
A: International students are not permitted to take a Leave of Absence except in the following exceptional circumstances:
Illness evidenced by a doctor's certificate.
Exceptional compassionate circumstances, for example a bereavement (death in family).
Please note: any leave of more than 6 months, authorised on any grounds, may lead to mandatory cancellation of your visa.
MBS is obligated to inform the Department of Immigration, Multicultural & Indigenous Affairs (DIMIA) of all students undertaking a Leave of Absence.
Q: Can my family visit me in Australia?
A: Your spouse and dependent children may be included in your application for a student visa. Your parents and other family members wishing to visit you in Australia must obtain a tourist visa.
Q: Can family members accompany me?
A: Generally, family members who intend to accompany you to Australia may be included in your application for a student visa and be processed for visa entry at the same time. They must undergo a medical examination and hold health cover insurance amongst other things. If your family members decide to come to Australia after you have arrived, they will have to apply separately. They may also require you to nominate them for entry.
Q: Can I work in Australia?
A: All initial student visas granted do not provide for the holder to be granted permission to work in Australia. Students and their dependants will only be able to apply for a student visa with work rights after they arrive in Australia and the student has commenced their course of study. The application charge is A$55.
Students are limited to 20 hours work per week while the student's course of study or training is in session. Students may work full-time during holiday periods. Spouses and dependents of Subclass 574 Masters and Doctorate students have unlimited work rights after the principal student visa holder has commenced his or her course in Australia.
From 1 November 2000, a student visa is subject to mandatory cancellation if a student works in excess of their entitlements.
For employment information in Australia please visit www.seek.com.au or www.mycareer.com.au
Q: Can I change education providers?
A: You must remain with the education provider of your preliminary and principal courses for the first 12 months (or the duration of the course/s if they are for less than 12 months). This means that, if you are granted a student visa for example, for a package consisting of 6 months prerequisite English language studies followed by 3 years for a degree, you are required to remain with your provider/s for a total of 18 months, unless you successfully apply to DIMIA to change provider.
You must inform your current education provider if you intend to change to another provider. If you apply to change education providers within the same education sector as the student visa you currently hold, you must complete an application and will be subject to a charge of A$130, except where you have to change because the education provider is no longer able to provide the course.
If at any time after your arrival in Australia you wish to study a new principal course which is in a different education sector to your current principal course, then you must apply for a new visa and will be subject to a visa application charge of A$315.
Q: Can I change my course?
A: You may change your course but if your course is in a different education sector to your current principal course, then you must apply for a new visa.
Q: Can I extend my stay in Australia? If so, how?
A: You may apply for a further student visa while in Australia, provided your current visa is not subject to a 'No Further Stay' condition. You will have to apply for a new visa before your current visa expires. To extend your student visa you need to ensure you have the appropriate DIMIA forms and information, a valid eCOE (electronic confirmation of enrolment) issued by Melbourne Business School Admissions Office, the appropriate health cover, a medical check and x-ray unless you have already undertaken them within twelve months prior to submitting your application.
Q: How soon do I have to leave Australia if I cancel my program or my enrolment?
A: You have 28 working days to leave Australia. You must seek approval from Department of Immigration, Multicultural & Indigenous Affairs (DIMIA) to stay in Australia after this time.
Q: Am I permitted to remain in Australia for the duration of my student visa if I complete my program one or more semesters before it expires?
A: No, you must leave the country within 28 working days. If you wish to stay longer you must seek approval from the Department of Immigration, Multicultural & Indigenous Affairs (DIMIA). Please be aware that MBS is obliged to notify the Department of Immigration, Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (DIMIA) of your early completion.
Q: Can I leave Australia and re-enter?
A: Your student visa has been granted allowing for multiple entry. This means that you can depart Australia and re-enter using this visa whilst your visa remains valid. If you leave Australia without a valid visa you will need to re-apply overseas, pay the application charge and meet the visa requirements that are current at that time.
Q: Can I remain permanently in Australia?
A: We are unable to give advice on applications for permanent residency. Students are able to seek assistance from a registered migration agent. Please contact Admissions if you are granted permanent residency. Certain overseas students in Australia who recently completed a diploma or degree after at least one year of full time study in Australia may be able to apply for:
Graduate - Skilled (Temporary) (Class UQ), subclass 497, or
Skilled Independent Overseas Student (Migrant) (Class DD), subclass 880, or
Skilled Australian Sponsored Overseas Student (Migrant) (Class DE), subclasses 881 or 882.
Q: What if my application is not successful?
A: If you have applied from outside Australia, the decision not to grant you a visa cannot be reviewed by the Migration Review Tribunal. If you have applied in Australia, you may apply to the Migration Review Tribunal for review of the decision not to grant a visa.
For all visa and migration related questions please contact your local embassy www.embassy.gov.au or visit www.dimia.gov.au. The student visa checklist for your subclass and assessment level may be downloaded from www.immi.gov.au/students/checklists/index.htm.
