The Subclass 485 Temporary Graduate visa allows international students to remain in Australia after completing their studies. But what happens when a student has completed two separate qualifications that combined meet the study requirements, and the online form doesn’t accommodate this situation?
The Question
A client studied a Post Graduate Certificate in Business Administration for 1 year at Kaplan Business School, and then a 1 year Masters of Business Administration at Kaplan Business School. Essentially, studying 2 years to get the MBA split into two qualifications with two completion letters and two CoEs. The Masters was a 2 year course, for which the Letter of Completion shows that 24 credit points (1 Year) were from the Grad Cert Study. The online form doesn’t include the Grad Cert in the options on the drop down menu. How should this be lodged?
The Answer
When the online form doesn’t allow you to properly list combined qualifications (like a Graduate Certificate that feeds into a Masters), the solution is to submit a report to Technical Support through ImmiAccount.
The Technical Support Solution
In this case, Technical Support confirmed it may be a glitch and gave permission to submit a paper application using Form 1409.
The Paper Application Process
The Form 1409 and some time of application documents can be submitted by email to the Department.
Once received, the Department will open up the application on ImmiAccount to allow uploading of the rest of the documents.
The email submission date will be taken as the date of receipt, ensuring the application is deemed valid.
Why This Matters
This situation commonly arises when students complete articulated pathways where one qualification leads into another. The online system may not always accommodate these legitimate study arrangements.
Key Takeaways
When online forms don’t accommodate combined qualifications for a 485 visa application, contact Technical Support through ImmiAccount. They may authorize a paper application via Form 1409, with the email submission date being recorded as the valid application date. This ensures applicants aren’t disadvantaged by technical limitations in the online system.
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Reviewed by VisaTasker Migration Services
MARA Registered Migration Agent · MARN 2318017
This article is written and reviewed by VisaTasker Migration Services, a MARA-registered migration agency based in Australia. As registered agents, we are bound by the Migration Agents Code of Conduct and required to provide accurate, up-to-date advice based on Australian migration legislation. Information is reviewed against the latest Department of Home Affairs policy.
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