Temporary Relaxation of Working Hours for Student Visa Holders 2022

A piece of good news has just been announced by the Australian Government for international students. Students who hold Student Visa 500 have been granted a temporary relaxation of working hours. The Australian Government has taken this step due to workforce shortages in the country. This temporary relaxation of the Student Visa work hour limit is for all sectors of the economy.

This policy applies to all current students and new students who want to start a job before their course begins. So, according to this rule, international students can work before their course starts. They can work for more than 40 hours per fortnight in any sector of the Australian economy. This policy is also for secondary applicants.

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Temporary Relaxation of Working Hours

The Australian Government will review this temporary arrangement in April 2022. If you’re an international student, you can get a refund of your visa application fee. Though, it’s possible only if you hold visa 500 and travel to Australia between 19 January and 19 March 2022. You can apply for a refund until the 31st of December 2022.

The visa application fee will be refunded to a student visa holder traveling to Australia between 19 January and 19 March 2022.

Latest Updates for Students

There’ll be a flexible work schedule for student visa holders in Australia. However, students must keep a balance between their studies and work commitments. They’re advised to maintain their course enrollment even if there’s a temporary relaxation of working hours. It’s necessary for students to maintain satisfactory course progress and attendance.

Student visa holders who fail to satisfy their course progress or cancel their enrolment may be in violation of their visa terms. You can apply for the Covid-19 Pandemic visa 408 if you are employed in a critical sector and have completed your course.

You can lodge an application for visa 408 90 days before the expiration of your Student Visa. To assist you with the Covid-19 Pandemic Visa application, feel free to book a consultation with us.

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Australian Immigration News 2022! | Full Time Working Hours for International Students.

Updates for Employers

All employers must obey the Australian workplace laws and policies. According to the Australian workplace law, all international students and workers have the same rights as other workers.

While these measures are in effect, Home Affairs and Australian Border Force will exercise their discretion under s116(1)(b) of the Migration Act 1958. The purpose of this is not to cancel the visas of students who work for more than 40 hours per fortnight for your organization.

Same rights for international students and employees as other employees under the Australian workplace law.

Student visa holders will not be investigated for any potential offence under s235 of the Migration Act 1958. This might be related to the hours worked by a 500 visa holder in breach of their visa conditions.

Moreover, Home Affairs and Australian Border Force will not refer any third-party labor-hire companies as an employer to be inspected for any potential offence under s245AC of the Migration Act 1958. This policy might allow students to work in breach of their visa conditions.

Who can you get a temporary relaxation of working hours?

People with a student visa can’t work more than 40 hours every two weeks (8105 condition- work rights). But now, there are some exceptions to the rules that will only last for a short time.

The following conditions allows temporary relaxation of working hours:

Being employed by a licensed aged care provider or a Commonwealth-funded aged care provider with a RACS identification number or a NAPS identification number
Employing a company that is registered with the National Disability Insurance Scheme
You’re enrolled in a course about health care, and you’re helping fight COVID-19 as health officials told you to.
Employed in the farming industry.
Working in the travel and hospitality industry.
In a grocery store or related distribution centre located in a COVID-19 lockdown area for the duration of the lockdown.

Conclusion

The Australian Government has temporarily relaxed the working hours for Student Visa holders. This temporary arrangement is for overseas employees and students in Australia. The temporary relaxation of working hours will allow them to work for more than 40 hours per fortnight.

Overseas workers will have the same rights under the Australian workplace as other employees. Student visa holders will also get a refund of their visa application fee. The decision of work hour extension has been made to support the Covid-19 recovery in Australia.

Nasir Nawaz

I’m Nasir Nawaz. I’m a registered migration consultant in Australia. I am based in Sydney. I’ve studied Master of Laws at the University of New South Wales. I’m providing immigration services for several years.

Consult with me for legal advice on Australian visas to permanently live, study, and work in Australia.