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Attention:
All information in this topic are to be taken as
a guide only and may be outdated. The Department
of Immigration of Australia, constantly modify
and update the rules for most types of Visas.
For actual and correct information, please
consult the official
website of the Department of Immigration.
Extension of Visas in Australia - can be easy to get if you provide the Immigration
Department with evidences that you need to stay
longer for some special reason, AND also show to
them you have enough financial situation to
support yourself during this new period. But
there are some situations in which there are
written rules about that class of Visa that will
restrict the edition of a new Visa, and the
person will have to leave Australia to re-apply
from overseas. It doesn't matter which class of
Visa you are, the most important of all is to
have a chat with an Immigration Officer BEFORE
your Visa expires. One of these situations is
when you get a stamp in you passport, saying
"Condition 8534 or 8535. It means " NO
Further Stay". Over staying a Visa as it is
called, is considered a serious offence by the
department, and can lead to fines and even
deportation. So to evict troubles, the best
thing to do is to call the Immigration
Department, explain your situation, and hear
what the Officer have to say.
Usually a standard tourist Visa allows a maximum of 3 months in
Australia, but in some cases a person can get 6
months or more, depending about the intentions
and the financial situation, e.g.: someone who
wants to buy a Motor home or Caravan and circle
Australia. This trip may require at least 6
months, and to get this extension the applicant
will need to write a letter to the Immigration
Department explaining all the plans, providing
evidences of financial support for the trip. Note:
The Working Holiday Visa is the only Visa
that allows you to do Tourism in Australia and
work at the same time for a longer period. The
pure Tourist Visa doesn't allow work to finance
the trip. Note also that in case of re-applying
for a Visa, the same documents required at first
instance may be required again and all have to
be in English (or officially translated to).
To renew any Visa in Australia you'll have to ring the Immigration
Department nearest to the city you are, and
appoint an interview. Don't forget to take your
passport and the necessary documents. If your
application (for the renew) is accepted, you
will have to pay a new tax for the new Visa. If
for some reason it is going to take a while to
unite documents and other, ask the officer if
you can get a "Bridge Visa" (a
temporary Visa) while the other one is
processing, but DO NOT stay in Australia without
a valid Visa.
Changes of the status of the Visa are allowed only for countries considered
"Level 1" (see
topic Level by Country). Example: Once in
Australia a person wants to change from a
Tourist Visa to a Student Visa or vice-versa.
Anyway, it is not automatic and you'll probably
need to supply the Immigration Department with
new documentation.
International
Students
are allowed to have one month in Australia after
they finish their courses (and the Visa will
expire as soon as the course ends). To re-new
the student Visa, the person in question will
have to be enrolled in another course and supply
the Immigration Department with all
documentation requested, including the cost of
the new Visa.
Note: The Officers at the Immigration Department are very nice people and
are ready to help you with any orientation
regarding your Visa situation in Australia. The
only thing they don't want is for you to stay
Illegal in Australia (neither we). So, if you
have any concerns about your Visa situation,
they are the best people to consult. The only
thing you can not do is to overstay your Visa,
or ....Hasta la Vista Baby!
Some tips: As said above the Immigration Officers are the best people to
inquire about Visa situation and most of them
will help you to stay longer in Australia
legally, but they are very busy workers. So,
before you drop at the Department, it is good
idea to ring them first (phone: 131881) to ask
basic questions, and only after you know what
have to be done and how, them you appoint the
interview. For example, You can download a form
from their website, instead to wait in a line
just for that. Wednesday the Immigration
Department is open only half of the day.
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Some
people may have difficulties to talk with the
Immigration Officer.
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