So, you are planning on enrolling in a VET course, or are already doing one, and are wondering whether two years is enough time to apply for your visa… you’ve come to the right place! Enrolling in a VET course is a common part of a pathway to permanent migration, but does it always pay off? Two years may seem like a lifetime, but if you don’t use it wisely it can be gone in the blink of an eye and you may find yourself applying for yet another student visa. Keep reading to find out how to make your two years a smooth and stressless glide towards your skilled visa.
Ask yourself: Where am I in my journey?
First of all, you need to think about where you are in your migration journey and what is in your control. If you haven’t started your VET course yet, you need to decide which is best for your strategy, and then get started on your Skills Assessment and English Test. You have no influence on when the state will open for nominations or unexpected changes, so being ready is key! As with everything in migration, application approval time frames vary and your friend’s experience is not necessarily going to be yours, so don’t leave anything until the last minute.
Where am I going?
Two years may seem like a long time, but with so much of this journey out of your control, you don’t want to waste any of it! Let’s have a look at the story of our imaginary friend, Ana; a story we have seen many times.
Meet Ana - Case Study
Ana moved to a regional area back in March 2021 and quickly began a VET course relevant to her profession. In June she began preparing her skills assessment by collecting and translating all the necessary documents from her home country. Ana had worked in several relevant jobs in her home country, and requested letters from all of them. Some took quite a while to get back to her, testing her patience. After a few months of perseverance, Ana submitted her completed application and her Skills Assessment was approved in December 2021.
Ana felt her English level was okay, but knew she wouldn’t get the score she needed on the test, so she began studying hard in January 2022, letting the new year motivate her! Unfortunately, Ana didn’t achieve the score she was hoping for the first time she took the test, even though she had felt confident in her abilities. Despite feeling disheartened and disappointed, Ana knows how important it is not to waste time, so she takes the test again as soon as she feels ready and achieves the score she needs in July 2022. Congrats, Ana!
Our friend is now ready to apply for state nomination but (sigh!) another setback… the state is not open for nominations! Ana continues to study and work whilst waiting, for what feels like an eternity until, in October 2022, state nominations open. Ana already has all her documentation ready to go and she applies straight away. In February 2023, cutting it close, Ana receives her nomination. Phew! Now she can submit her Skilled Visa application before her 2-year VET course ends and breathe a long-awaited sigh of relief!
How will I get there?
What we can learn from Ana’s imagined story is that whilst two years may seem like forever, you cannot waste a minute of it. We have all heard those miraculous stories where visa journeys are exceedingly short and pain-free, and these may make you feel like the whole process will be a breeze… but most of the time this is not the case! Our imagined yet realistic friend Ana managed to apply for her skilled visa just in time, even though she was well prepared months in advance. Your journey may turn out to be just like Ana’s, or it could be completely different! Time frames in migration can be unpredictable and unexpected events can pop up out of nowhere. With so much of the process out of your control, what is important is to control what you can, and don’t delay!
At 4Migration we want your journey to be as stress-free as possible, and we know that preparation is the key. You don’t need to feel overwhelmed by all the steps involved, you just need to break them down and get those boxes ticked as soon, and as best, as you can. At 4Migration we work with each of our clients on an individual basis to help you get from where you are to where you want to be, find out how - click here.