Student Visa Expiry

1. Migration Agent · turn 1

   Good morning, Mr Wang. My name is Jason, and I’m a registered migration agent. I understand that you’ve come to see me because your student visa is going to expire shortly. Is that right?

   早安，王先生。我叫Jason，是一名註冊移民代理。我知道您今天來見我，是因為學生簽證即將到期。對嗎？

2. Mr Wang · turn 2

   是的，你好。我現在非常擔心。我已經畢業兩個月了，下個月我的學生簽證就要到期了。我想一直留在澳洲工作和生活，但是我讀的專業現在不能用來申請技術移民，而且我也一直找不到工作。我真的不想這麼快就回國。

   Yes, hello. I’m extremely worried at the moment. I graduated two months ago, and my student visa will expire next month. I want to remain in Australia to work and live, but my field of study can no longer be used to apply for skilled migration, and I haven’t been able to find a job. I genuinely don’t want to return to China so soon.

3. Migration Agent · turn 3

   Don’t worry, Mr Wang. I’ll go through your circumstances with you and explain what options may be available. But first, could you tell me a little more about your educational background and the exact expiry date of your student visa?

   不用擔心，王先生。我會和您逐項了解情況，並解釋可能有哪些選擇。不過，首先可以請您再說明一下教育背景，以及學生簽證的確切到期日期嗎？

4. Mr Wang · turn 4

   希望你真的能幫到我。我是在新南威爾士大學讀建築學的，5月27日畢業。至於學生簽證，我記得是下個月到期，具體日期我不太確定。

   I hope you can genuinely help me. I studied architecture at the University of New South Wales and graduated on 27 May. As for my student visa, I remember that it expires next month, but I’m not certain of the exact date.

5. Migration Agent · turn 5

   Let me have a look at your file. Yes, your student visa expires on 18 September. I can also see that the occupation you were planning to nominate is no longer on the relevant skilled occupation list. That means some of the skilled migration pathways you may previously have considered are no longer available to you.

   讓我查看一下您的檔案。是的，您的學生簽證在9月18日到期。我也看到您原本計劃提名的職業已不在相關技術職業清單上。這表示您以前可能考慮過的部分技術移民途徑已不再適用。

6. Mr Wang · turn 6

   其實我剛來澳洲讀書的時候，建築相關的職業還在技術移民的職業清單上，可是去年7月政策改了之後，就被移出去了。我現在真的很為難。本來畢業後就很難找到相關工作，沒有工作經驗的話，申請工作簽證或者其他簽證就更困難了。除了技術移民之外，我還有其他辦法可以留在澳洲嗎？

   When I first came to Australia to study, architecture-related occupations were still on the skilled migration occupation list. However, after the policy changed last July, they were removed. I’m now in a genuinely difficult position. It was already hard to find relevant work after graduation, and without work experience, applying for a work visa or another visa becomes even more difficult. Apart from skilled migration, are there any other ways for me to remain in Australia?

7. Migration Agent · turn 7

   There may be several options, but we need to look carefully at your eligibility. One option you could consider is further study in an area related to an occupation that is currently in demand. For example, you might consider a TAFE qualification in a trade such as welding, bricklaying or wall and floor tiling. Completing an appropriate qualification may improve your employment prospects and could potentially provide a pathway towards permanent residency, depending on the migration requirements in place when you graduate.

   可能有幾個選擇，但我們需要仔細審視您是否符合資格。其中一個可以考慮的選擇，是在目前有需求的職業相關領域繼續進修。例如，您可以考慮修讀焊接、砌磚或牆面及地面鋪磚等技工類TAFE資格。 完成合適的資格可能改善您的就業前景，並可能提供通往永久居留的途徑，但這取決於您畢業時適用的移民要求。

8. Mr Wang · turn 8

   這些工作在中國都被認為是比較低等、沒甚麼前途的職業，收入也不高。要是我一輩子都做這些工作，根本賺不了多少錢。而且如果我的親戚朋友知道我大學畢業之後跑去學砌磚或者焊接，可能還會被人嘲笑。我父母肯定也不會同意的。

   In China, these jobs are considered relatively low-status occupations with little future and low incomes. If I did this kind of work for the rest of my life, I wouldn’t earn much money at all. Also, if my relatives and friends learnt that I went to study bricklaying or welding after graduating from university, they might ridicule me. My parents certainly wouldn’t agree either.

9. Migration Agent · turn 9

   Mr Wang, I understand your concern, but I would encourage you not to be biased against these occupations. In Australia, skilled trades are generally well respected, and qualified tradespeople can earn a reasonable income. The occupations I’ve mentioned are currently included on relevant skilled occupation lists and are in demand in parts of Australia. Depending on your qualifications, work experience and other eligibility requirements, they may also provide pathways through skilled migration or employer sponsorship.

   王先生，我明白您的擔憂，但我鼓勵您不要對這些職業存有偏見。在澳洲，技術行業一般受到尊重，而具備資格的技工可以獲得合理收入。 我所提到的職業目前列在相關技術職業清單上，並在澳洲部分地區有需求。視乎您的資格、工作經驗和其他資格要求，它們也可能提供技術移民或僱主擔保的途徑。

10. Mr Wang · turn 10

    是這樣啊，那我明白了。可能澳洲跟中國對這些職業的看法真的不太一樣。不過，未來幾年移民政策還會不會有變化？這些職業該不會很快又被移出職業清單吧？我最擔心的就是花了兩三年重新讀書，畢業的時候政策又變了。

    I see. I understand now. Australia and China may genuinely view these occupations quite differently. However, will migration policy change again over the next few years? Could these occupations soon be removed from the occupation list? My greatest concern is spending another two or three years studying only for the policy to change again by the time I graduate.

11. Migration Agent · turn 11

    At this stage, I can tell you that these occupations are still in high demand. However, I cannot guarantee that there won’t be any changes. Australia’s migration program and skilled occupation lists are reviewed from time to time, and occupations may be added or removed depending on government policy and labour-market needs. You should therefore understand that we cannot guarantee your future eligibility for permanent residency, nor can we be responsible for future government changes to the occupation lists.

    現階段，我可以告訴您這些職業仍然有很高需求。不過，我不能保證不會有任何變化。澳洲的移民計劃和技術職業清單會不時接受檢討，政府可能按照政策和勞動市場需要加入或移除職業。 因此，您應該明白，我們不能保證您日後符合永久居留資格，也不能為政府將來對職業清單所作的變更負責。

12. Mr Wang · turn 12

    那確實有點冒險。萬一我重新讀完一個課程，最後還是不能移民，那我不但浪費了幾年時間，還要再付一大筆學費。有沒有甚麼方法可以降低這個風險？

    That certainly involves some risk. If I complete another course but ultimately still can’t migrate, I will not only have wasted several years but will also have paid another large amount in tuition fees. Is there any way to reduce this risk?

13. Migration Agent · turn 13

    The best approach is not to choose a course solely for migration purposes. You should consider whether the occupation genuinely suits you and whether you would be willing to work in that field even if migration requirements changed. Before enrolling, we can also look at the current visa requirements, whether the occupation requires a skills assessment, what work experience may be required and whether there are opportunities for state or territory nomination.

    最好的做法是不要純粹為了移民而選擇課程。您應該考慮該職業是否真正適合自己，以及即使移民要求有所改變，您是否仍願意在該領域工作。 報讀課程前，我們也可以查看目前的簽證要求、該職業是否需要技能評估、可能需要哪些工作經驗，以及有沒有州或領地提名的機會。

14. Mr Wang · turn 14

    你剛才提到技能評估。是不是只要我完成 TAFE 的課程，就可以直接通過技能評估，然後申請永久居留？

    You just mentioned a skills assessment. Does completing a TAFE course mean that I can automatically pass the skills assessment and then apply for permanent residency?

15. Migration Agent · turn 15

    Not necessarily. Completing a qualification does not automatically mean that you will pass a skills assessment or qualify for permanent residency. Different occupations have different assessing authorities and requirements. You may need relevant employment experience, workplace training or other evidence of your skills. You would also have to satisfy the requirements of the particular visa subclass you apply for, which may include English-language requirements, age limits, health and character requirements, and in some cases a points test or nomination.

    不一定。完成一項資格並不表示您會自動通過技能評估或符合永久居留資格。不同職業有不同的評估機構和要求。您可能需要相關工作經驗、職場培訓或其他技能證明。 您也必須符合所申請特定簽證類別的要求，當中可能包括英語要求、年齡限制、健康和品格要求，以及在某些情況下的計分測試或提名。

16. Mr Wang · turn 16

    原來還有這麼多條件。我以前一直以為只要讀一個移民專業，畢業之後就差不多可以拿到永久居留。那如果我現在決定再讀一個課程，我的學生簽證下個月就到期了，時間還來得及嗎？

    I didn’t realise there were so many conditions. I always thought that, as long as I studied a migration-related course, I would more or less be able to obtain permanent residency after graduation. If I now decide to study another course, will there be enough time given that my student visa expires next month?

17. Migration Agent · turn 17

    That is something we need to deal with promptly. If you decide to undertake further study, you would generally need to obtain an offer from an education provider and satisfy the requirements for another student visa. You must also make sure that you remain lawfully in Australia while any new application is being dealt with. I would strongly recommend that you make a decision well before your current visa expires rather than leaving it until the last few days.

    這是我們需要迅速處理的事情。如果您決定繼續進修，一般需要先取得教育機構的錄取通知，並符合另一份學生簽證的要求。您也必須確保在任何新申請處理期間合法留在澳洲。 我強烈建議您在現有簽證到期前預留充足時間作出決定，不要拖到最後幾天。

18. Mr Wang · turn 18

    明白了。我不想因為錯過期限而變成非法居留。那我先回去仔細考慮一下你今天提到的幾個專業，也跟父母商量一下。雖然他們可能很難接受我去做藍領工作，但如果收入和就業前景真的不錯，我也願意認真考慮。

    I understand. I don’t want to become an unlawful non-citizen because I missed a deadline. I’ll go home and carefully consider the fields you mentioned today and discuss them with my parents. Although they may find it difficult to accept me entering a blue-collar occupation, I’m willing to consider it seriously if the income and employment prospects are genuinely good.

19. Migration Agent · turn 19

    That sounds sensible. I’ll give you some information about the study and migration pathways we’ve discussed today. Take some time to consider your career interests, the course fees and the employment prospects rather than making your decision purely on the basis of permanent residency. Once you’ve narrowed down your options, make another appointment with me and we can review the visa requirements and your circumstances in more detail.

    這聽起來很明智。我會給您一些有關今天所討論升學和移民途徑的資料。請花時間考慮自己的職業興趣、課程費用和就業前景，不要純粹以永久居留為依據作出決定。 縮小選擇範圍後，請再與我預約，我們可以更詳細地審視簽證要求和您的情況。

20. Mr Wang · turn 20

    好的，謝謝你。今天至少讓我知道除了回國之外，我還有其他選擇。我回去考慮清楚之後再跟你聯絡。

    All right. Thank you. At least today I’ve learnt that I have options other than returning to China. I’ll consider everything carefully and contact you again.

21. Migration Agent · turn 21

    You’re welcome, Mr Wang. Just remember to keep an eye on the expiry date of your current visa. If you decide to lodge another visa application, make sure you seek advice early enough to avoid any problems with your immigration status.

    不客氣，王先生。請記得留意現有簽證的到期日期。如果您決定提交另一份簽證申請，務必及早尋求意見，以免移民身分出現任何問題。

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