World of Embassy

Visas generally allow for multiple entries for a twelve month period. For the same processing fee of US$24, or CAN$30, you can apply for a visa valid for four years (or the life of your passport if this is less than four years). You will then not have to reapply for a visa each year you wish to visit Australia in the next four years.

Student Visa
Australia has become a major exporter of education at all levels, from primary school to tertiary education. Many people come here from overseas to take advantage of our excellent trade and vocational colleges, also the academic qualifications gained through universities and post-graduate courses.

In the 2000 -2001 period, 146,577 visas were granted to overseas students, a 23% increase on the previous year. The major source countries were the Peoples' Republic of China (8,886 visas granted), United States (7,426), Malaysia (6,236), Indonesia (6,070) and Hong Kong (5,740). In the undergraduate sector there was a 47% increase in offshore (overseas) visa grants to a total of 38,555 students coming here to study.

Secondary exchange school students
To apply for a secondary exchange school visa, your child must be enrolled in a school that is formally registered to take part in the secondary exchange program. An official Acceptance Advice of Secondary Exchange Student (AASES) form must accompany the visa application. The AASES form is available from schools who have been authorised by their State or Territory Education Department.

For this application the visa itself costs only AUD$410, but you will be required to provide proof to the Australian Immigration Department that you can pay for your child to study in Australia, also their living expenses and medical insurance. There are regulations about health, even children as young as eleven will now require an X-ray.

Working holiday
Working Holiday Visas are for young people to travel around Australia, see the sights and take an extended holiday for 12 months. To help with costs, short-term paid work is allowed during your holiday.

Working Holiday Visas accounted for 76,500 visitors to Australia in 2000-2001 and 85,200 during 2001-2002. These visas are becoming increasingly popular. During 2001-2002, 40,946 Working Holiday visitors came from the UK (nearly half the quota) 10,799 from Ireland, 9,755 from Japan, 5,869 from Germany, 5,729 from Canada and 4,659 from the Netherlands.

Children's (Child) Migration Visa

This visa is for Australian citizens or legal residents to bring their children (or a child), either natural-born, step or adopted, to Australia. Or the visa can be applied for in Australia if the child is already here. Children need to be under 18 years of age. If they are older, they must be still fully dependent on their parents, as students or because of a disability.

This visa costs AUD$1,210 for an application outside Australia, and AUD$1,795 if the children are already in Australia. If your application fails this processing fee is not refundable. With children involved, this can be a devastating ruling for the family.

Business Visa
Business Migrants come under the Skilled Migrants Stream, but there are so many special provisions for them that Australia Immigration Visa Services place them under separate categories.

It's worth looking at the statistics to see where migrants came from, and where they settled in Australia. These are the top ten countries of origin: Indonesia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Africa, Malaysia, United Kingdom, Singapore, South Korea, Kenya and the United States of America.

40% of Business Migrants settled in NSW.
17% in Queensland.
16.5% in West Australia.
14% in Victoria.
Settlement in the other States and Territories was minimal.