r/AusVisa

As an Australian myself I’m so disappointed on the rude and unhelpful individuals posting on this reddit thread. There is no need to tell people they are complaining too much, or shouldn’t have booked their flights before getting their visas or that they just need to sit tight and be patient, they already know these things and this is not helpful. If people are asking genuine questions only respond if you have a genuine answer! Keep the rude, snide comments to yourself.

Hello, I’m a PhD student and I’m hoping you might be able to shed some light on my situation, as I’m honestly quite confused and worried about how the new rules affect me.

I was granted my student visa last year, and I still have around two and half years left to complete my PhD. When I originally applied for my visa, I declared my wife as my spouse/dependent, so she was disclosed in my application from the beginning. However, with the new changes and the apparent elimination of subsequent entrant applications, I’m now unsure what options are available for her to join me.

I would really appreciate any advice you may have on what the safest and most realistic pathway would be. In particular, would it be possible for me to go offshore and have my wife apply for a visa using the same CoE that I’m currently studying under, or would that be considered too risky given the recent changes?

I’m also not sure how applying for another visa works while I still hold a valid student visa. Would applying for a new visa affect or cancel my current visa in any way, or can I apply while remaining on my existing visa?

Another option I was wondering about is whether my wife could potentially come to Australia on a visitor visa (or another temporary visa) and stay with me for a period of time while I finish my PhD. Is that something that could realistically work, and are there any concerns or limitations we should be aware of with that approach?

I’m mainly trying to understand what options we have before making any decisions that could affect my current visa or my PhD.

Thank you.

25/26FY granted visa to 190/491/186(assume 100% approved nominations are converted because 494 grant data missing) is published DA 26/06/00293 (https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/foi/files/data-request-2026/da-260600293-document-released.PDF), and here are some popular occupations with 0 remaining 189 places in 26/27FY, meaning they won't ever receive an 189 invitation in the future:

BTW, those occupations are basically the TOP 10 occupations with the most EOIs, except ECT and nurse

Unit group	190 granted	491 granted	186 nom. approved	Total	Ceiling	Over by
3513 Chefs	856	927	1,708	3,491	604	+2,887
2613 Software & Apps Programmers	1,254	494	~1,339	~3,087	912	~+2,175
2332 Civil Engineering Professionals	993	~552	494	~2,039	745	~+1,294
2611 ICT Business & Systems Analysts	793	362	585	1,740	500	+1,240
2211 Accountants	563	955	732	2,250	1,039	+1,211
2335 Industrial, Mech & Production Eng	387	334	398	1,119	500	+619
2339 Other Engineering Professionals	~296	~245	~264	~805	500	~+305
2333 Electrical Engineers	271	191	190	652	500	+152

Also

Unit group	190	491	186 nom.	Total	Ceiling	Over by
2212 Auditors, Company Secretaries & Corporate Treasurers	~168	~129	~423	~720	500	~+220
2631 Computer Network Professionals	~213	~176	240	~629	500	~+129
3122 Civil Engineering Draftspersons & Technicians	267	189	148	604	500	+104

if assume not 100% 186 nomination conversion

Unit group	Ceiling	190+491	186 nom.	Over u/100**%**	Over u/80**%**	Over u/60**%**	Break-even
3513 Chefs	604	1,783	1,708	+2,887	+2,545	+2,204	Over even without 186
2613 Software & Apps Programmers	912	1,748	~1,339	+2,175	+1,907	+1,639	Over even without 186
2332 Civil Engineering Prof.	745	~1,545	494	+1,294	+1,195	+1,096	Over even without 186
2611 ICT Business & Systems Analysts	500	1,155	585	+1,240	+1,123	+1,006	Over even without 186
2211 Accountants	1,039	1,518	732	+1,211	+1,065	+918	Over even without 186
2335 Industrial, Mech & Production Eng	500	721	398	+619	+539	+460	Over even without 186
2339 Other Engineering Prof.	500	~541	~264	+305	+252	+199	Over even without 186
2212 Auditors, Co. Secretaries & Treasurers	500	~297	~423	+220	+135	+51	Over if ≥48% convert
2333 Electrical Engineers	500	462	190	+152	+114	+76	Over if ≥20% convert
2631 Computer Network Professionals	500	~389	240	+129	+81	+33	Over if ≥46% convert
3122 Civil Eng Draftspersons & Techs	500	456	148	+104	+74	+45	Over if ≥30% convert

Hi everyone,
I’m an Indian international student currently on a subclass 500 Student visa in Australia. I’m looking for advice or experiences from anyone who has studied two courses concurrently at different AQF levels.
My situation:
My Student visa was granted in November 2024 based on my Master of Information Technology (AQF Level 9).
I’m still enrolled in my original Master’s degree, which I expect to complete in November/December 2026.
My Student visa is valid until March 2027.
In July 2026, I additionally enrolled in a Certificate III in Carpentry (AQF Level 3) at a separate CRICOS-registered institution.
The Carpentry course has its own CoE and is expected to finish around July 2027.
I have not transferred from or discontinued my Master’s degree. Both courses are separate, concurrent enrolments.
I intend to apply for the subclass 485 Post-Higher Education Work stream in January 2027, based solely on my completed Master’s degree.
My questions:
Is holding two concurrent CoEs at different AQF levels permitted under Student visa condition 8202, provided I continue studying my original Master’s degree?
After completing my Master’s in December 2026, could continuing the lower-level Certificate III while my subclass 500 remains valid create any visa compliance issues?
Can I lodge my subclass 485 application while my Certificate III remains ongoing and its CoE is active?
Would I need to complete, withdraw from, or cancel my Certificate III enrolment before applying for or being granted the 485?
Has anyone been in a similar situation and successfully obtained their 485? Did the additional qualification cause any complications?
Would voluntarily withdrawing from the secondary Certificate III affect my 485 eligibility in any way?
I’m particularly interested in firsthand experiences, advice received directly from Home Affairs or registered migration agents, and any relevant official regulations.
I understand that immigration matters require professional advice, but I’d appreciate hearing from anyone who has dealt with a similar situation.
Thanks in advance!

Hoping for some advice here!

I applied for my 417 Working Holiday Visa using my Irish passport on September 1st. I haven’t booked any flights yet or handed in my notice, but I’d really like to be in Sydney before December so I can experience the Australian summer and I don’t enjoy Christmas at home.

My plan is to take around two months off work when I arrive, as I’ve saved a decent amount of money and have family in Sydney that I can stay with. I’m currently in a good job, but I’m really unhappy with my environment. I don’t enjoy my job, most of my friends have left the country and family life isn’t so great.

The sensible thing seems to be waiting until my visa is granted before handing in my notice, especially as I have a one-month notice period. However, I was already planning to travel to Bali beforehand to break up the journey, so I’m considering booking a flight to Bali and seeing what happens with the visa while I’m there.

By the time I’d get to Sydney, it would be about 81 days since I submitted my visa application. If the visa still hasn’t been granted by then, I could potentially extend my trip in Bali as I have enough savings, or possibly enter Australia on a tourist visa while waiting.

What would you do in this situation? PS rang immigration office and a few visa agencies and all confirmed it’s ok to enter on tourist visa while waiting for the >!417!<