Melbourne is one of the perfect place to live in Australia, It is a city well rooted in its past, it has some fabulous structural design and offers its residents a very high quality of life. In 2004 it was ranked as the second best city in the world for expatriates to live in by the Economist Intelligence Unit.

Unlike in Sydney, in Melbourne the climate is moderate. People lives are calmer, the atmosphere is laid back, arty and sophisticated, and on top of all of these positives, the employment landscape in the city is varied and healthy and the learning standards are exceptionally high. All of these factors add up to make Melbourne a predominantly interesting vision for many who are moving to live in Australia.

Most of the business persons like to live closer to the suburb, which is why to cut the expenses for their commute and also the time. Melbourne city indeed is made up of the the central business district (CBD), out from which all suburbs seem to flow. Consider examining the likes of the City of Melbourne, Docklands, City of Port Philip and Yarra, and then looking more closely at the different communities therein if you too want to be located in the inner-city suburbs

The most exciting part with Melbourne is that it really does have something for everyone, people just need to spend time exploring the city and its suburbs and surroundings to make sure you get the very best out of it. If you’re emigrating to Australia and Melbourne is your destination, we would strongly advise you to rent a property for a maximum of three months and spend all that time getting to know the city. So if you’re planning to travel in Australia, apply now your holiday visa to Australia.

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Let your situation professionally assessed. Consult with us, please do not hesitate to contact us via telephone, video chat, email, fax or in person. You can discuss subjects such as Australian immigration, visas, lifestyle, employment and general settlement hints and tips relevant to your personal circumstances.

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Some Australian visas required the lodging of an Assurance of Support (AoS). This is a legal commitment by a person to repay the Australian Government certain welfare paid to the migrant during their AoS period. This does not necessarily have to come from the visa sponsor.

The AoS requirement must be met prior to the grant of the visa application. The assurer must provide a refundable fund with the Commonwealth Bank of Australia. The amount should be able to cover support for the principal applicant as well as any dependent family members. This assures that person applying to migrate will not have to rely on social welfare payments.

In 2004, Centrelink assumed responsibility for the assessment of AoS applications. The bond is held for the duration of the AoS Period as described in the Australian visa application requirements. For permanent Contributory Parent visa, for instance, the AoS period runs for 10 years from the date the permanent visa was granted (for onshore applications) or from the date of arrival into Australia (offshore applications). For this visa type, the AoS bond is $10,000 for the main applicant and $4000 per secondary adult applicant.

For all other Australia visa types, the AoS period is usually for two years. Australia visa types that require AoS include family stream visa categories such as parent, aged parent, contributory parent, contributory aged parent, aged dependent relative and remaining relative. It is only applicable for adult applicants over 18 years of age. For this visa category, the two-year bond of $5,000 is required for the principal applicant and $2000 for secondary adult applicants.

AoS is no longer required for the skilled stream Australian visa. This rule has changed in September 1, 2007. However, the AoS is still applicable for any pending applications filed the said they that have yet to reach a decision by January 1, 2008.

About National Visas:

Let your situation professionally assessed. Consult with us, please do not hesitate to contact us via telephone, video chat, email, fax or in person. You can discuss subjects such as Australian immigration, visas, lifestyle, employment and general settlement hints and tips relevant to your personal circumstances.

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If you’re planning to take up study courses in Australia, you should prepare yourself for life as an international student. If this is your first time in college or in an Australia university, it may be a more difficult adjustment. First, you will have to learn to adjust to college life. Second, you will also need to learn to cope with life in a different country.

People often call this big adjustment period “culture shock”. You will be exposed to a different culture, a different pace of life, a different style of learning and a different lifestyle all together. This may make you end up feeling lonely, home sick and unhappy. At some point, you may even question your decision to study in Australia.

Here are some tips to make your life easier as an international student in an Australian university:

• Get in touch with the international students office. Some Australian universities offer these types of services to help you understand how things work in Australia. From the transport system to telephony, they can answer questions you may have about life in Australia.
• Join the school’s orientation program. Most Australian educational providers will set up an orientation program for newly enrolled international students. This happens before the classes commence, so plan your trip earlier than the scheduled start of the semester.
• Get involved in campus activities. This is a great way to make new friends and to understand the campus culture better. Choose activities that you already have experience with to make the adjustment easier.
• Talk to people. Don’t limit yourself to school activities. Go outside and shop. You will find that most Australians are friendly and its easy to strike a conversation with them.
• Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. The number one reason that could hold you back from easily adjusting to a new environment is fear. Even if your English proficiency is not at a professional level, don’t be afraid to use the language.
• Be adventurous. If you’ve never been on public transport, try the bus. Learn the routes and the schedules by checking information on the internet. You’ll find yourself learning more about the culture and the people with something as simple as a bus ride.

About National Visas:

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Before you leave your home country to take study courses in Australia, you need to prepare for your long-term trip. Depending on your course of study, your term in an Australian college or university could be anywhere from three months to four years. As such, you need to put your affairs in order before flying off to Australia.

First thing to consider is your insurance coverage. If you are on a student visa, you will be required to get Overseas Student Health Cover of OSHC. You might also want to consider getting additional medical insurance for services not covered by OSHC.

As you will be traveling with some major items, you should also consider getting travel insurance. This protects and your possessions while in flight. If you intend to work in Australia, check also if your policy covers your overseas work.

Next on your check list should be your references. As you are an international student, looking for accommodation and a car may not easy if you don’t have the proper paperwork to back your claims. If you are planning to purchase a car, get a no claims letter from your car insurance company. This would help you save on car insurance once you get to Australia.

If you plan on renting a place, you should also consider getting reference letters form previous landlords.

If you’re on a student visa that allows you to take on a temporary job, you should also prepare your work references.

Next, make sure all your records are complete. Make copies of important academic records that your chosen Australian school might ask for before the commencement of your course. While they usually ask for this before your enrollment, it is better to have them prepared in case the Australia school follows a different process.

Bank records for the last six months are good to have if you plan on purchasing big items or renting anything.

Don’t forget to bring your medical records and prescriptions. If you regularly see an orthodontist, you might want to keep your dental records handy as well.

Finally, make sure you are financially covered. Keep cash handy and prepare as much as $3000 in bank drafts or travelers checks.

About National Visas:

Let your situation professionally assessed. Consult with us, please do not hesitate to contact us via telephone, video chat, email, fax or in person. You can discuss subjects such as Australian immigration, visas, lifestyle, employment and general settlement hints and tips relevant to your personal circumstances.

Want to know more? Visit us and let us guide you on your Australian Visa.

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Studying in an Australian university or college is an exciting experience. If you have the opportunity to go to Australia before you select your future school, you should try visiting different campuses. Doing so would let you know if the university really is a fit for you.

The best time to visit the campus is when study courses in Australia are in session. Go in the middle of the day or late in the morning. Try to talk to some students to see how much they like it there. Some would even allow you to sit in a class and talk to faculty members. To make the experience as memorable as possible, you can even take your own photos of the Australian university.

Here are some questions you should ask when visiting Australian universities:

• What kind of academic and extracurricular facilities do they have? How large is the library? Are the labs up-to-date?

• What kind of support services do they have (ie counseling, tutoring, career planning, etc.)?

• How big is the campus?

• Are there residential accommodation or places where you can live close to the school?

• Are there clubs, organizations, fraternities or sororities you can join?

• Does it feel safe inside the campus and in the surrounding areas?

• What kind of professors do they have?

• What kind of teaching techniques to the professors employ?

• Do the students generally look happy?

• Is the school accredited?

• What are the most popular academic programs offered?

• Can I afford the tuition?

• Are there scholarships, deferred payments, financial aids offered?

• Are there jobs available on-campus?

Finally, you need to ask yourself: Is this really the Australian university I want to study in?

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If you’re already set on taking up study courses in Australia and you’ve even begun the application process for a student visa, then it’s about time to select your educational institution. When choosing your Australian college or university, you might want to keep the following tips in mind:

1. Determine what you want to do and how you want to proceed in life before you start choosing your college. If it makes the choice easier, make a list of your strengths and weakness. This will help you determine which courses are suitable for your skills.
2. Read up on the colleges you are choosing from. A lot of Australian universities offer brochures or materials that let you find out more about what kind of courses are offered and what kind of culture they have in that particular school.
3. If you already have an Australian visitor visa, why not take a look at the different Australian colleges and university. A visit to the campus would give you a better understanding of what they offer.
4. Don’t just go with what’s familiar. A lot of students pick their Australian university based on the school’s popularity. Do not make the mistake of equating quality of education with name recognition.
5. Find out the costs and plan out how you intend to pay. Education costs money, but it does not necessarily mean that you should automatically rule out Australian colleges because it may be expensive. You can always look into financial aid or scholarships.
6. Discuss your choice with other people. Choosing an Australian college is a big responsibility, it will affect your future. Do not be afraid to open a discussion with your family or people who know you best. They may have some very useful advice.
7. Since you are moving to another country to study, you might as well take location into consideration. Think about the environment you are used to and how much change and challenge you are willing to take on. You need to consider that there is a big difference between schools in the suburbs and those in city centres.
8. Extra-curricular activities should also be considered. If you love sports or events, find a college that focuses on these disciplines and offers a well-rounded education.
9. If you already know what major you want to take, this can also help you decide on which Australian college to select. Some colleges have a stronger major program than other. If you plan on being a doctor, find out which ones have a good pre-med program. If you are not yet decided on what to take up, a school that offers several choices may be your best bet.
10. When all is said and done, the last thing to do is to trust your instinct. Finding that perfect fit with a particular Australian college may not come as easy as you think. If you have a chance to visit the college that you are considering, this is best done before filing your application.

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If you’re an international student with an Australian visa, most educational institutions will require you to pay your tuition fee up-front. Having the financial capacity to pay for your education is actually one of the requirements for your visa application.

As such, it is best to prepare early. For foundations studies such as university entrance, preparatory school or bridging education, you should prepare between AU$9,000 to AU$14,000 per year. Australian schools such as secondary school, would cost you about AU$6,000 to AU$13,000 per year. While primary and junior secondary schools cost around AU$5,000 to AU$11,000 annually.

For undergraduate degree such as a Bachelor Degree in arts, business, economics or law, you should prepare anywhere between AU$10,000 to AU$13,500 per year. Australian universities typically charge between AU$11,000 to AU$16,000 per year for laboratory-based Bachelor Degrees such as those in the science and engineering courses.

For your post graduate education in Australian colleges, a graduate certificate would cost around AU$9,000 to AU$16,000 a year. Meanwhile, a master’s degree and doctoral degrees, usually have fees ranging between AU$11,000 to AU$18,500 per year.

Vocational education would cost about AU$5,500 to AU$18,000. This is for Certificates I, II, III and IV, diploma and advanced diploma courses. Finally for English language training, the fees vary greatly depending on the course and duration of study. It can cost as little as AU$3,500 to as much as AU$13,500.

These fees still dependent on the units and courses you are taking and in which Australian universities. They are, at best, a representation of the ball park figure. You will need to pad those amounts to include living expenses.

About National Visas:
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To apply for a Student Visa you must meet the following Australian student visa requirements.