Me and my boyfriend are in Australia on a student visa. This visa expires at the end of November 2007. We want to apply for residency but when can we start applying for it????? And also how long would it take to come?

Please can anyone tell me

Thanks Kerry x

hey kerry,

i think you need to wait until you've got your qualifications (for assessment purposes) and then you can submit your application.

I think that when you put in a PR application form they switch you over on to a temp visa so that you can remain onshore until they reach a decision...

as for how long it takes - dunno!!!

good luck

Hi Kerry, just to mention, Scott has family here, mum and dad, brothers and sister.
And are permanent residents, and hopefully will be citizens when Scott finishes Uni.
Denise xx

Depends on the kinda course and your work experience/nominated occupation if you are suitable for PR, but you will have to pass a suitable skills assessment and other criteria to get residency from a student visa. the main PR visas you're looking at are the 880,881 and 882 (881 and 882 you need a relative to sponser, and 882 is easiest if you have a rellie in a designated area, as there is no points test for this visa).
if you can't get any of these you might look at the temp skilled indep regional visa 495 but you need have to have completed at least 2 years of post secondary study in Oz and have completed the course before you can apply.
I would strongly advise you to get professional help to get the right time of application as I believe this is crucial but I think once you have completed the course you can apply electronically for a 880/1/2 visa and make a declaration that your skill assessment, police checks medicals have been applied for. This usually results in you being granted a bridging A visa. However if you have any doubt about passing the skill assessment or other requirements apply first for a temp 6 month 497 visa to give yourselves time to get the skill assessment and if possible apply for your 497 at least 2 weeks prior to the expiry of your current student visa to ensure you don't become illegal

I know my student visa did not expire until the March following the end of my course the previous December. I think this is so if I wanted to apply for PR then it gave me time. Usually if you apply for a different visa to the one you are on they give you a bridging visa whilst the case is decided

I was chatting to a migration agent a couple of weeks back and she told me in this situation, the visa takes up to 6 months.

However, I have a workmate who was in this situation (her course completed 2 years ago). She had the police checks and medicals done and all the paperwork completed just prior to completing her course so as soon as the results were released she had everything ready to go. Sent the whole lot off and had her passport back with PR in 2 weeks!

...... the 497 visa is a 6 month temporary visa for overseas students who need additional time in Australia to obtain the necessary documents for a skilled application