Student Visa Information

Student Visa Information CIEE Perth Programs, Fall 2011 BEFORE YOU START, you need to make sure that:  

you have a passport, and the passport has six months validity past your length of stay on Australia

You will not be able to apply for a visa until you have received your Confirmation of Enrollment (CoE). To receive your CoE make sure you have turned in the following:  online Unit Preference form  Offer of Acceptance – your Enrollment Officer will email this to you as a PDF attachment. This is issued by the university after they have received your application from CIEE and Unit Preference form. You will need to print this document, sign it, and return it to CIEE. Your CoE is produced by Murdoch University after they receive your Unit Preference online form and Offer of Acceptance. Your Enrollment Office will email this to you as a PDF attachment as soon as it’s received. Once you have your CoE you will follow the instructions to apply online (US passport holders) or by mail. For visa process FAQs please see page 3.

HOW TO APPLY ONLINE ONCE YOU HAVE YOUR CoE: Note that if you hold a US passport, you MUST apply online for your visa.  Navigate to the website: http://www.immi.gov.au/e_visa/students.htm This website includes information about how to apply, also where you can access the online application. You’ll scroll down and use the appropriate link for your “category” to apply. For most of you, you are applying “Outside Australia” for your “First Student Visa”.  Once you’re ready to apply, use the link: https://www.ecom.immi.gov.au/visas/app/uu?form=SOFF PAYMENT Students are responsible for the visa costs. As of August 2010, the visa application fee is AUD$550. You can double check the fees here: http://www.immi.gov.au/allforms/990i/students-visa-charges.htm You will find a currency converter here: http://www.immi.gov.au/allforms/990i/converter.htm IMPORTANT – Once you have completed your application; print out the e-mail that informs you that it has been received. This document contains your Transaction Reference Number, the only method you and DIAC have of identifying your application. Write this number down as well as printing it out, as this is the only way you can track the status of your application, and you may need to provide it to DIAC officials in the case of questions. To track the status of your application online, click here: https://www.ecom.immi.gov.au/inquiry/query/query.do?action=eVisa Once your visa is confirmed, you should receive an e-mail confirmation. Print out the confirmation e-mail from the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) for your personal records. Have it on your person or with your passport documentation when you arrive at immigration in Australia. You will not receive anything in the mail, so there is nothing added to your passport. Your confirmation email is your verification of a student visa.

HOW TO APPLY BY MAIL Please note that if you are a student at a U.S. institution but do not hold a U.S. passport, you may not be able to apply electronically. Please begin your application as soon as possible if you do not hold a U.S. passport, as this can be a long process.

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Should you not be eligible for the online process, you will need to apply for your visa using paper forms and submitting your application to the Embassy of Australia. These forms and full instructions are available from the DIAC website (www.immi.gov.au). Send your application to the Australian Embassy in Washington DC (address below), with a covering letter indicating your departure and return dates (indicate if you plan on traveling before or after the semester). Please keep in mind that visas are processed in order of student departure. Include your postal address, telephone number and e-mail address. It is recommended that you send your passport and visa application to the Embassy using a form of trackable mail, such as Federal Express or UPS. Embassy of Australia Student Visa Officer 1601 Massachusetts Avenue, NW Washington DC 20036 t 202.797.3000 • f 202.797.3100 These instructions have been compiled to assist you with your visa application. It is your responsibility to read all of the instructions and information that is provided by the immigration authorities (http://www.immi.gov.au/). CIEE is not liable in any way if DIAC changes the application.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS When will I receive my Offer of Acceptance? In order to receive your Offer of Acceptance from Murdoch University, you need to be a confirmed participant and have completed your Unit Preference survey for CIEE. Once your application has been processed, Murdoch will issue your offer letter and CIEE will send it to you by e-mail. CIEE will send you instructions on how to return your signed offer letter to CIEE. When can I apply for my student visa? You can apply for your student visa once you receive your CoE as long as it is no more than 4 months prior to the course start date as indicated on your CoE. You will receive your CoE via e-mail from CIEE, once Murdoch has received and processed your offer acceptance. The on-line student visa process typically takes 24 to 48 hours. In some rare cases, it can take up to two weeks. Who should I contact if I am having trouble applying for my student visa application? If you have your CoE, are applying online, and are OUTSIDE Australia, you can e-mail the Department of Immigration & Multicultural Affairs helpdesk at: [email protected]. Also, Australian Visa Information Services is a toll free number provided by the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs. This service provides assistance to clients in North America and the Caribbean with queries on visas, immigration and citizenship. Telephone: 1-888 990-8888 (Toll Free). Will I need a medical examination? A chest x-ray and / or medical examination may be required in certain circumstances. Usually these circumstances will be identified at the time you are making the application, and you will be informed of these medical requirements at that time. Occasionally circumstances will exist that require you to undertake a chest x-ray and / or medical examination that were not identified at the time of making the visa application. If this occurs you will be contacted by the Department of Immigration & Multicultural Affairs (DIAC). ALL APPLICANTS PLEASE NOTE: If you have traveled to a foreign country recently, you may be required to have a medical and/or chest x-ray before you will be granted your student visa. A list of at-risk countries and Australian health requirements for temporary entry in to Australia form (1163i) is downloadable at www.immi.gov.au/allforms/pdf/1163i.pdf. If you think that you might require medical exams, you should still start the online visa application process. Once you submit your application, the website will direct you to the correct forms and how to go about getting the x-rays. Also, if you are studying in Australia for TWO semesters -OR- if you have a pre-existing medical condition (e.g. depression) you may also be required to obtain a chest x-ray and/or medical report. Apply for your online visa ASAP, and after you have submitted your application, the website will direct you to the correct forms and information on the rest of the process. PG 2/3

Any students that fall in the above categories should allow for at least one month prior to your departure to process your student visa, so that you will have ample time to undergo any necessary medical exams. Where do I get the medical forms if asked to have them performed? If you are requested to have medicals performed, the forms will be provided to you automatically by the DIAC’s on-line system in PDF files. You need to download the files, print them out as they have codes specific to your record at the bottom, and have them filled out by a certified MD. If I am asked to submit a medical examination form or chest x-ray, where should I mail these documents? Embassy of Australia Student Visa Officer 1601 Massachusetts Avenue, NW Washington DC 20036 (202) 797-3147

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