
Attention Subclass 188 Visa Holders: Here’s How to Extend Your Stay
A strategic solution for business owners and investors needing more time to qualify for permanent residency If you currently hold a Subclass 188 visa in
Personalised Guidance: Customised advice tailored to your academic interests and long-term career goals.
Strategic Course Selection: Expert recommendations of courses that maximise your eligibility for Australian permanent residency.
Comprehensive Support: End-to-end assistance covering course selection, application processes, visa procedures, and settlement guidance.
Integrated Expertise: As the education arm of Augustine & Co. Immigration Lawyers, we uniquely combine academic guidance with professional immigration expertise, ensuring your journey to Australia is seamless and successful.
As the dedicated education consultancy of Augustine & Co. Immigration Lawyers, we leverage extensive legal expertise to ensure your educational decisions align perfectly with immigration opportunities, significantly boosting your prospects for permanent residency.
With a strong track record, we excel in guiding students through even the most complex education pathways
Our clients commend us for our exceptional professionalism, high-quality representation, outstanding value, and prompt responsiveness
We address every question with transparency, ensuring every student is fully informed every step of the way
At Augustine & Co. Education Consultants, we don’t just help you choose a course — we help you plan a future. What sets us apart is our ability to connect the dots between your education today and your long-term goals in Australia
Choosing the right course or institution isn’t just about prestige — it’s about outcomes. With Australia’s skilled migration system becoming increasingly points- and occupation-based, the field of study you pursue can directly affect your eligibility for future visas.
We help you understand which qualifications are aligned with state nomination lists and priority occupation pathways.
You’ll get clear, current advice that considers PR-eligible degrees, regional study incentives, and post-study work rights.
This is especially valuable for international students looking to settle in Australia after graduation.
Most consultants only focus on admission. We go further. Our team is trained to assess your academic profile alongside visa requirements and post-study prospects. This means we offer:
Insights into institution reputation vs. migration viability
Guidance on regional campuses with migration benefits
Support for combining education with employer sponsorship pathways
This dual focus helps prevent the costly mistake of studying a course that leads nowhere in the migration process.
Build a rewarding career in Australia with in-demand teaching courses that meet the nation's skills shortage
Pursue qualifications in healthcare and nursing, a field with strong demand and excellent PR opportunities.
Explore engineering and technology courses that drive innovation and offer high employability.
Gain advanced IT skills to thrive in Australia's rapidly growing digital economy.
Master a trade skill that's in high demand across industries, paving your way to a stable career and residency
We have strong partnerships with highly ranked Australian Public Universities and Reputable Private Colleges, including:
Augustine & Co.’s most recent posts on key industry news, case studies and more.
A strategic solution for business owners and investors needing more time to qualify for permanent residency If you currently hold a Subclass 188 visa in
Australia continues to provide rewarding pathways for skilled migrants who choose to live and contribute to regional communities. One such opportunity is the Subclass 191
Introduction Australia’s skilled migration system continues to evolve in response to national workforce demands. Among the most vital pathways is the transition from the Subclass
Citizenship Application Fees Increasing from 1 July 2025
Effective 1 July 2025, Australian citizenship application fees will increase due to annual indexation aligned with the Consumer Price Index. Key updates include:
• Citizenship by Conferral (General Eligibility): Increasing from $560 to $575
• Citizenship by Descent: Rising from $360 to $370 for the first sibling; subsequent siblings remain at $150
• Citizenship by Conferral (No Test Required): Adjusting from $345 to $350
• Evidence of Australian Citizenship: Increasing from $275 to $280
Concession fees and exemptions remain available for eligible applicants.
If you’re planning to apply for Australian citizenship, consider submitting your application before 1 July 2025 to take advantage of the current fee structure.
#AustralianCitizenship #CitizenshipFees #ImmigrationUpdate #Australia #Augustineandco
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Key Updates on Employer-Sponsored Visas:
🗓️ Processing times for SC 482 SID visas have significantly increased from previous medians:
▪ Specialist Skills from 7 days to 39 days
▪ Core Skills from 21 days to 47 days
💼 SC 482 & SC 494 visa holders: You are not required to cease work with prospective sponsors while awaiting nomination approval, even after standard condition periods lapse (Conditions 8607(5) & 8608(5)).
✅ SC 186 visa update: Applicants no longer need two continuous years with the same employer. Employment periods between nomination lodgement and approval now count toward meeting employment requirements under clause 186.227.
📈 SC 407 Training Visa lodgements surged by 360%, but refusals are high. Providing substantial evidence is now critical to success.
#EmployerSponsoredVisa #Subclass482 #Subclass494 #Subclass186 #TrainingVisa #Subclass407 #ImmigrationUpdates #AustraliaVisa #VisaProcessing #AugustineAndCo #VisaAdvice #WorkVisaAustralia #ProfessionalGuidance #VisaClarification #immigrationlaw #immigrationlawyers
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📢 Skilled Visa Program Update | 2024–25 🇦🇺
The latest numbers are in —
🔹 Subclass 189 (Skilled Independent)
✅ 22,973 invitations issued — already exceeding the annual cap of 16,900.
👉 Strong demand, but no guarantee of future rounds this program year.
🔹 Subclass 190 (State Nominated)
📍 9,580 nominations so far — with over 23,000 places still available.
👉 States are moving slowly. Plenty of opportunities remain.
🔹 Subclass 491 (Skilled Regional)
📍 Only 5,143 nominations out of 33,000 places.
👉 The most underutilised visa — but could pick up sharply in coming months.
💡 Planning your skilled migration journey? Now’s the time to act.
📩 Get in touch for a professional assessment and expert assistance.
#AugustineAndCo #AustralianImmigration #SkilledMigration #Subclass189 #Subclass190 #Subclass491 #VisaUpdate #MigrationLawyers #Australia2025 #StateNomination #WorkInAustralia #immigrationlaw
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🌏 Queensland’s immigration landscape is evolving rapidly ahead of Brisbane hosting the 2032 Olympics.
Discover how this event is creating new skilled migration pathways and reshaping opportunities across Queensland.
👉 Link in bio for the full details.
#BrisbaneOlympics #SkilledMigration #QueenslandImmigration #Subclass190 #Subclass491 #EmployerNominationScheme #QueenslandJobs #AugustineAndCo
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Federal Budget 2025: Minimal Migration Announcements, but Key Commitments
Despite expectations, the Government did not reveal 2025–26 permanent migration program planning levels.
However, relevant measures include:
• Net overseas migration projected at 225,000 from 2027;
• Stable funding for Administrative Review Tribunal and migration-related legal matters;
• Ongoing funding for the resettlement of non-citizens with no right to remain in Australia;
• $925.2M allocated for a permanent Leaving Violence Program—available to all victims, including temporary visa holders;
At Augustine & Co., we continue to monitor budget implications for our clients and the broader migration landscape.
#FederalBudget2025 #MigrationLaw #ImmigrationUpdate #LegalInsights #AugustineAndCo
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Annual Indexation of Skilled Visa Income Thresholds – Effective 1 July 2025
From 1 July, skilled visa income thresholds will be adjusted in line with national wage growth.
This change reflects a continued focus on fair employment standards and a skilled migration system that supports, not undercuts, the Australian workforce.
At Augustine & Co., we act for corporations and individuals alike—navigating these updates within broader workforce and migration strategies.
#SkilledMigration #VisaUpdates #CSIT #SSIT #TSMIT #Subclass482 #Subclass186 #Subclass494 #Subclass187 #EmployerSponsorship #AustralianImmigration #MigrationLaw #AugustineAndCo #skillsindemand #SID
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🎄 Wishing you & yours a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, & a Prosperous New Year 2025! 🎁
From all of us at Augustine & Co., thank you for your trust and partnership throughout 2024.
Our office will be closed from 23 December 2024 and reopen on 7th January 2025. All email enquiries will be responded to in order of priority from 7 Jan onwards.
We wish you a joyous holiday season filled with celebration and meaningful moments. We look forward to continuing our journey together in the new year.
Warm regards,
The Team at Augustine & Co. Immigration Lawyers
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Key updates to the Subclass 485 Graduate Visa came into effect on 14 December 2024.
Stay informed on eligibility, application charges, and study requirements to navigate these changes smoothly.
#Subclass485 #GraduateVisaUpdates #VisaChanges #AustralianImmigration #StudyInAustralia #Augustineandco
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Get in touch with the team at Augustine & Co. with your preliminary enquiries.