Highlights
- A migration counsellor says the new policy will fail to attract talent back to Australia as they may have already found jobs in their home countries.
- One student tells SBS Chinese the policy is “unfair” as it only applies to graduates offshore, rather than those who decided to stay and make the most of their “precious” work rights in Australia.
- International graduates whose visas have expired can apply for replacement visas from July 1, 2022
When Australia closed its borders at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, many international student graduates returned to their home countries, distraught over having to leave their lives behind, as well as the job prospects available.
Tobey Luo was one of them.
The Masters of Advertising graduate at Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) made the hard decision to pack up and leave for mainland China with nine months left on her temporary graduate (subclass 485) visa.
So, when the federal government announced last Thursday that a replacement visa will be provided for those stuck abroad, she welcomed the news.
Tobey Luo says she enjoyed the Australian lifestyle. Source: Tobey Luo
“Many people had their plans to stay and work in Australia disrupted by the pandemic,” Ms Luo says.
SBS Chinese understands that the new policy affects whose 485 visas have expired or are about to expire.
Applicants whose visas expired on after February 1, 2020 will be able to apply for a replacement visa and increase their length of stay from two to three years.
Federal Minister of Education Alan Tudge recently told SBS Hindi the renewal of expired visas will be free.
“If they [student graduates] have got a post-studies work rights visa, which has expired because they’ve been unable to get into the country, they’ll be able to get that renewed at no cost,” Mr Tudge said.
Graduates with expired visas will need to wait
Monash graduate Sherry Jiang left Australia in time for Chinese New Year celebrations in mainland China at the start of 2020 and has since found a stable job.
Her temporary graduate visa expired in October and the new policy means she's able to apply for a replacement.
Tobey worked as a marketing manager in Melbourne. Source: Tobey Luo
She says she was initially excited by the news before realising she wouldn't be able to apply for her visa until July 1 as it’s already expired.
The business graduate had planned to quit her job at the end of the year and return to Australia in February.
“Why do we need to wait until July?” she asks, the more than seven-month wait bewildering her.
Newstars Educational Immigration's migration counselor Kirk Yan says the government announcement provides “good” opportunities for many graduates.
However, he says not everyone will return to Australia despite the positive news.
Many people’s life plans have changed. They already have stable jobs in China and won’t be coming back to Australia again.
“There’s been a few tears of joy and a few tears of sorrow from some people [since the policy was announced],” says Mr Yan.
The pain and 'unfairness' of staying in Australia
VET graduate Greg Jin thought he was making the right decision by staying in Australia from the start of the pandemic.
Under pre-pandemic rules, students had to apply for the temporary graduate visa in Australia and within six months of their course completion.
Brisbane-based Mr Jin says the decision has cost him dearly.
He was unable to be back in mainland China for the funeral of his grandmother who raised him as a child, his sister’s wedding and the birth of her child.
He says graduates feel the new policy is biased as it only compensates graduates stuck abroad.
“This is very unfair to the people who chose to remain,” he tells SBS Chinese.
Mr Jin says even though he hasn't been home since March 2019, his decision to stay was simple.
“The 485 visa is really short, only one-and-a-half to two years. Even one to two months are precious so I couldn’t leave Australia [and waste those months remaining on the visa],” he says.
Greg Jin believes 485 visa holders who chose to stay in Australia during the pandemic have also paid a huge sacrifice. Source: Greg Jin
Mr Jin says he understands that many temporary graduate visa holders lost or forfeited their jobs when they returned home due to COVID-19 but wants people to know the hardship felt by those who stayed behind.
“During the pandemic, many people weren’t able to find jobs or get interviews.”
After advising visitor visa holders and international students to return to their home countries in April 2020, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison is now welcoming them back to restart international travel and support the nation’s economy.
But the news isn’t comfort to the ears of Mr Jin, who wants the immigration department to treat each visa holder on a case-by-case basis and extend visas for graduates who never left the nation’s shores.
“I understand that the workload would be enormous ... But it’s really unfair for those who stayed in Australia. If you’re going to compensate one group, you should compensate the other."
To read this story in Chinese click here.
485签证新政出台：被打乱的人生规划可否重拾？
