The holders of Skilled Recognised Graduate (SC 476) visas affected by the Covid-19 pandemic will have their visas extended to 14 April 2024.
The Australian government has finally provided much-awaited relief to the 476 visa holders left in limbo due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
All those 476 visa holders affected by the pandemic will have their visas extended till 14 April 2024.
The secondary visa holders will also be included in the extension, and the change will commence retrospectively on 31 January 2022.
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The applicants will need to meet certain conditions and requirements for their visas to be extended.
The visa will be extended if:
a) the visa was granted on the basis that the person to whom it was granted satisfied the primary criteria for grant of the visa;
b) the person was outside Australia on a day to which all the following subparagraphs apply:
i. the day occurred on or before the original end date;
ii. the day occurred between 1 February 2020 and 14 December 2021;
iii. the visa was in effect on the day; and
c) the original end date occurs before 14 April 2024; and
d) the visa is not cancelled or on before the original end date.
This extension applies to all primary subclass 476 visa holders who were outside Australia at any time between 1 February 2020 and 14 December 2021 and applies even if the visa had already ceased or would have ceased before this amendment was made but not cancelled.
These changes apply for subclass 476 holders where the visa was granted before 31 January 2020 and did not cease to be in effect before 31 January 2020 or the visa is granted on or after 31 January 2020.
Read: Up to 20 months of wait for a visitor visa (600) leaves many applicants frustrated
Skilled Recognised Graduate (SC 476) visas allows recent engineering graduates to live, work or study in Australia for up to 18 months. You must have completed a degree or higher qualification from a specified institution within the past 2 years, and be under 31 years of age.
