They said it was impossible. Four years later, I’m holding my permanent residency grant letter with tears in my eyes.”
Raj’s Journey: How One Student Turned AUD $46,000 and Unwavering Determination Into Australian Permanent Residency
Brisbane, Australia – April 12, 2025
Raj still remembers the weight of his backpack as he stepped into Brisbane Airport in January 2021. Inside were his belongings, his educational certificates, and something more precious a dream four years in the making. Today, that dream is reality. His permanent residency has been granted.
“I won’t lie to you,” Raj says, his voice catching with emotion. “There were nights I questioned everything. Nights I counted every dollar, wondering if I could make it. Moments I almost gave up. But something kept pushing me forward the vision of calling Australia home.”
This is his story. Every dollar spent. Every challenge faced. Every victory won. This is proof that with the right strategy, unwavering persistence, and yes some sacrifice the student-to-PR pathway is not just possible. It’s achievable.
The Beginning: A Calculated Risk (January 2021)
“Everyone thought I was crazy for choosing carpentry over IT. But I did my research. I knew something they didn’t.”
At 24, Raj made a decision that would define his future. While his friends pursued popular degrees in business and technology, he chose a different path carpentry. Not because it was easy, but because it was strategic.
“I spent three months researching before I even applied,” Raj explains. “I discovered carpentry was on the MLTSSL Australia’s skilled occupation list. Queensland was actively nominating tradespeople. Brisbane counted as regional for migration, giving me extra points. Everything aligned perfectly.”
His Investment:
- Course fees: AUD $18,000
- Student visa: AUD $1,600
- Savings for living expenses: AUD $25,000
- English test: AUD $400
“AUD $45,000. That was everything my family had saved for years. My parents mortgaged our house in India for this. The pressure was enormous.”
But Raj had a plan. He enrolled in Certificate III and IV in Carpentry at a CRICOS-registered TAFE, ensuring his course met the critical two-year requirement for the Temporary Graduate visa. From day one, he worked with a registered migration agent an investment that would prove invaluable.
The Smart Move: “My migration agent cost AUD $8,000 over four years. My cousin tried doing it alone, made one mistake, and got refused. That mistake cost him everything. Professional guidance isn’t optional it’s essential.”
The Grind: Building the Foundation (2021-2023)
“People see the success. They don’t see the 5am mornings, the shared bedroom with three other students, the countless hours studying while exhausted from work.”
Life as an international student wasn’t glamorous. Raj lived in a shared house, splitting a small bedroom with two other students. He worked part-time at a hardware store, earning AUD $18,000 annually while juggling full-time TAFE studies.
Annual living costs: AUD $31,000. His earnings: AUD $18,000-$20,000. His family covered the gap, but Raj felt every dollar’s weight.
“My mother would call, asking if I was eating enough. I’d lie and say yes, while eating instant noodles for the third night in a row. But I was building something bigger than myself. That dream kept me going.”
The Critical Moment: The 485 Visa Race
November 2022. Raj completed his Certificate IV. The clock started ticking he had only six months to lodge his Temporary Graduate (485) visa application.
“I remember the panic. One delay, one missing document, and I could lose everything.”
He moved with military precision:
- Took his PTE Academic test within 10 days
- Booked health examination immediately
- Applied for police clearances from Australia and India
- Purchased 18-month health insurance
- Lodged his application January 10, 2023 well before the deadline
The Wait: “Those two months waiting for the 485 decision were torture. Every email notification made my heart race. Every day felt like a year.”
March 2023. 485 Visa Granted. 18 months of work rights in Australia. The pathway to PR was open.
“I cried when I got the grant email. Standing in that tiny shared bedroom, reading ‘GRANTED’ on my screen I knew my sacrifice was worth it.”
The Make-or-Break Year: Job Ready Program (2023-2024)
“Two weeks after my 485 grant, I was on a construction site in my steel-cap boots, building my future one nail at a time.”
The Job Ready Program four stages standing between Raj and his skills assessment. Four stages that would determine if his PR dream lived or died.
Stage 1 (March-August 2023): Six months working under a qualified tradesperson. “My supervisor, Dave, was tough but fair. He knew my story, knew what was at stake. He pushed me to be excellent, not just good enough.”
Stage 2 (September 2023): Workplace assessment day. A TRA-approved assessor watching every cut, every measurement, every safety check.
“My hands were shaking. One mistake could fail me. But I channelled all that nervous energy into focus. When the assessor said ‘PASS,’ I nearly collapsed with relief.”
Cost: AUD $1,200. Worth: Priceless.
Stage 3 (March 2024): Twelve months of documented work experience. Detailed logs. Supervisor reports. Project evidence.
The Crisis That Almost Ended Everything
Mid-2023. Queensland construction slowed. Raj’s employer called him in.
“We might need to reduce your hours.”
“I felt my world collapsing. Reduced hours meant my Job Ready Program timeline would extend. My 485 visa expired September 2024. If I couldn’t complete the program in time, everything EVERYTHING would fall apart.”
Raj’s Move: “I asked for a meeting with my boss. I showed him my timeline, explained what was at risk, proved my value to the company. I even offered to accept temporary pay reduction to stay full-time.”
It worked. His employer not only kept him full-time but became his biggest advocate, providing glowing references that would later strengthen his PR application.
March 2024: Positive skills assessment received. Valid for 3 years. Total Job Ready Program cost: AUD $3,200.
“Holding that skills assessment certificate, knowing I was now officially recognized as a qualified carpenter in Australia that was the moment I knew PR wasn’t just a dream anymore. It was inevitable.”
The Final Push: Battling the Points System (November 2024 – April 2025)
“I had the qualifications, the experience, the determination. But the points system didn’t care about any of that.”
November 2024. Skills assessment: Raj submitted his Expression of Interest for Queensland state nomination (Subclass 190).
His Points:
- Age (27): 30 points
- English (Competent): 0 points
- Australian employment: 5 points
- Australian study: 5 points
- Regional study: 5 points
Total: 45 points.
Required: 65 points minimum. Queensland’s competitive threshold for carpentry: 70+ points.
“I was 20 points short. TWENTY. After everything I’d sacrificed, I was 20 points away from my dream.”
Fill the PR point calculator and check are you eligible for the General skilled Visa.
The Transformation: Three Months That Changed Everything
His migration agent gave it to him straight: “Improve your English to Proficient level. That’s 10 points. With Queensland nomination adding 5, you’ll have 60 points just enough.”
“I was terrified. My English was okay for daily conversation, but Proficient level? That meant scoring 7.0+ in EVERY section of the PTE test. I’d never scored that high in my life.”
Three months of dedication:
- PTE practice tests every morning at 6am before work
- Online coaching sessions twice weekly
- Speaking practice with native speakers
- Listening exercises during his commute
- Writing practice every night
Investment: Time, sweat, and AUD $425 for the test.
December 2024 PTE Results: Reading 70, Listening 71, Speaking 72, Writing 68. Overall: 70. Proficient English achieved.
“When I saw those scores, I actually screamed. My housemates thought something terrible had happened. Something terrible HAD happened my impossible dream just became possible.”
New Points Score: 55 points + 5 (state nomination) = 60 points. ELIGIBLE.
The Victory: January – April 2025
December 20, 2024: Queensland nomination application lodged.
January 5, 2025: The email arrived at 2:47 PM. Subject: “Your Queensland State Nomination.”
“My hands shook so badly I could barely open it. APPROVED. Queensland had nominated me. I was going to apply for permanent residency.”
January 8, 2025: Subclass 190 visa application lodged. Complete checklist:
- Queensland nomination ✓
- TRA skills assessment ✓
- Proficient English ✓
- 12+ months employment evidence ✓
- Employer references ✓
- Health examinations ✓
- Police clearances ✓
Cost: AUD $10,045 (including visa fee, health exams, documents, agent fees).
The Waiting Game: January. February. March. Every day checking ImmiAccount obsessively. Every email causing heart palpitations.
March 2025: Request for additional employment evidence. Raj provided everything within 48 hours.
April 12, 2025, 9:23 AM: The email subject read: “IMMI Grant Notification.”
“I was on a construction site. I saw the notification. I knew what it meant. I asked my supervisor if I could take five minutes. I walked to a quiet corner, opened the email, and read: ‘Your application has been APPROVED for grant of the visa.'”
“I called my parents. My mother answered. I could barely speak through tears. ‘Mummy, I got it. I’m a permanent resident.’ She cried. My father cried. I cried. Four years of sacrifice, doubt, fear, persistence all worth it for that one sentence.”
The Investment: What It Really Cost
Total Spent: AUD $46,338
- Education: AUD $20,000
- 485 Visa pathway: AUD $7,268
- PR application: AUD $11,070
- Migration agent: AUD $8,000
“Nearly fifty thousand dollars. Every cent earned through part-time work, family support, and careful budgeting. But I didn’t buy a visa I bought a future. And that future is priceless.”
The Lessons: What Raj Wants Every Student to Know
- “Research isn’t optional it’s everything.” “I spent three months researching before choosing my course. That research made the difference between success and wasting four years and AUD $50,000.”
- “English proficiency will make or break you.” “Those 10 points from improving my English that was the difference between PR and failure. Invest in your English. It’s not just points; it’s your future.”
- “Get professional help. Immediately.” “My migration agent cost AUD $8,000. Worth every cent. One mistake can destroy everything. Don’t risk it.”
- “Build real relationships with employers.” “My boss could have reduced my hours. Instead, he supported my dream because I’d proven my value and communicated openly. Treat employers as partners in your journey.”
- “The 485 visa is your golden ticket don’t waste one day.” “You get 18-24 months. Use it wisely. Start your skills assessment immediately. Build work experience. Improve your points. Don’t wait.”
- “Budget for reality, not fantasy.” “I thought AUD $45,000 would be enough. The real cost was closer to AUD $50,000. Budget 20% more than you think you need.”
- “Document EVERYTHING.” “Every payslip. Every employer letter. Every piece of evidence. I kept a folder from day one. When I needed proof, I had it instantly.”
- “When you want to quit, remember why you started.” “There were dark moments. Moments I wanted to give up and go home. In those moments, I’d remember: I came here to build a better future. That dream was bigger than any temporary difficulty.”
Today: Living the Dream
Raj now earns AUD $72,000 annually as a qualified carpenter. He has Medicare. He can sponsor his parents. He’s planning to start his own carpentry business in 2026. He’s on track for Australian citizenship in 2028.
“People see my success and think I was lucky. Luck had nothing to do with it. It was research, strategy, sacrifice, persistence, and refusing to accept failure.”
His message to aspiring students:
“If you’re reading this wondering if the student-to-PR pathway is still possible in 2025 yes. It absolutely is. But it requires:
- Strategic planning from day one
- Financial commitment (budget AUD $50,000 minimum)
- Unwavering persistence when things get hard
- Continuous improvement (especially English)
- Professional guidance (don’t go alone)
- Document discipline (evidence wins visas)
The pathway is longer now. Harder now. More expensive now. But it’s still there. And if you want it badly enough, if you’re willing to sacrifice short-term comfort for long-term security, if you can stay focused when others give up you can do this.
I did it. You can too.”
Your Turn: Start Your Journey Today
Resources:
- Department of Home Affairs: homeaffairs.gov.au
- MARA Agent Search: mara.gov.au
- Skills Assessment: tradesrecognitionaustralia.gov.au
- English Tests: pearsonpte.com | ielts.org
Raj’s final words:
“Four years ago, I was a scared 24-year-old with a dream and AUD $45,000 in savings. Today, I’m a permanent resident with unlimited opportunity. The journey was brutal. The sacrifices were real. The doubts were constant.
But every morning I wake up in my adopted country, working a job I love, building the future I always dreamed of and I know every tear, every dollar, every sleepless night was worth it.
Your journey starts today book your consultation now. Make it count. Australia is waiting.”
🎯 The PR pathway is still open. The question is: Are you ready to walk it?
