Hi there,

I am desperate for some last minute advise. I really wish you could help me out here based on your knowledge. The situation is like this:

- My GF is trying to apply for a Skilled visa (subclass 485)

- She has just graduated (degree) last December

- Her student Visa expires on the 15th March this year.

- The only available IELTS test (which she has to take) is on the 14th of March

- She is back home in Hong Kong right now and will be taking the test in Hong Kong

My question is, can she apply for a Tourist visa to re-enter Australia and then using that Tourist visa(Substantive visa), can she apply for her Skilled visa then? We don't know what to do since her Student Visa is expiring before she can get her IELTS test results in Hong Kong (IELTS result will only be released 14 days after the 14th March and her Student visa expires on the 15th of March)

How likely is it that they will impose a "No further stay" condition on her Tourist Visa? Is it a 50/50 chance? Cause if they don't she can then apply for her skilled visa, correct?

Please advise guys, I would really appreciate it a lot.

Yes, I have spoken to immigration and no I have not seen an Agent yet because I don't know which ones are good.

Thanks in advance, I appreciate it.

Your's sincerely.

Moved to here.

You don't specify your girlfriends nationality.

What she is able to obtain can be very different between a Thai citizen and someone from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR).

A Hong Kong SAR passport holder can obtain an electronic travel authority (ETA) in the Territory, which has relatively few restrictions beyond the 3 month stay.

A Thai passport holder cannot get an ETA and will probably have the "No Further Stay" condition imposed on any visitors visa.

You probably should seek help from an agent to apply for the 465 visa.

If you are in Perth I can refer several good Migration Agents.

You don't specify your girlfriends nationality.

What she is able to obtain can be very different between a Thai citizen and someone from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR).

A Hong Kong SAR passport holder can obtain an electronic travel authority (ETA) in the Territory, which has relatively few restrictions beyond the 3 month stay.

A Thai passport holder cannot get an ETA and will probably have the "No Further Stay" condition imposed on any visitors visa.

You probably should seek help from an agent to apply for the 465 visa.

If you are in Perth I can refer several good Migration Agents.

Sorry, Chinese from Hong Kong SAR passport. I understand that but based on the circumstances do you think immigration would possibly not want her to be able to apply for another visa? I am located in Melbourne.

From what I understand she should have applied for a Bridging visa A, and then Bridging visa B to go back to Hong Kong for the test. But she's in Hong Kong now and I would like to know whether the Tourist Visa would work, rather than her flying back twice in a few weeks.

You don't specify your girlfriends nationality.

What she is able to obtain can be very different between a Thai citizen and someone from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR).

A Hong Kong SAR passport holder can obtain an electronic travel authority (ETA) in the Territory, which has relatively few restrictions beyond the 3 month stay.

A Thai passport holder cannot get an ETA and will probably have the "No Further Stay" condition imposed on any visitors visa.

You probably should seek help from an agent to apply for the 465 visa.

If you are in Perth I can refer several good Migration Agents.

Sorry, Chinese from Hong Kong SAR passport. I understand that but based on the circumstances do you think immigration would possibly not want her to be able to apply for another visa? I am located in Melbourne.

From what I understand she should have applied for a Bridging visa A, and then Bridging visa B to go back to Hong Kong for the test. But she's in Hong Kong now and I would like to know whether the Tourist Visa would work, rather than her flying back twice in a few weeks.

Very simple to obtain an ETA, for those qualified, unless you are on a warning list. Travel agents can issue them. Unlikely to be refused if she has not previously breached conditions, become a terrorist or a criminal.

I'm not an agent, and from the top of my head not familiar with the conditions. You can check elegibility here:

485

From what I can tell from a quick look at the web site, the requirement is that the applicant be in Australia when making the application. It doesn't specify you hold a particular visa at the time.

However, I would enquire at the High Commission first.

what did Immigration tell you?