So having sorted out all you need to sort out from the previous post, all you gotta do now is wait and pray hard. After all, the Work and Holiday visa is extremely popular amongst young travellers.
Under the Malaysia/Australia Work and Holiday (WHV) program, 100 slots are allocated annually to Malaysians. This visa provides the opportunity to travel around Australia and work at the same time. Sounds pretty fantastic right? Until you realise that you will be competing with MILLIONS of other Malaysians.
Is there only 1 category of the Australian Work and Holiday visa?
There are essentially 2 streams in the Australian Work and Holiday program which are the subclass 417 and the subclass 462. Malaysians are only eligible for the subclass 462 visa (which is great! – a lil more on this next time).
Applications for the WHV are managed by VFS Global which is the appointed Australian Visa Application Centre by the Department of Home Affairs Australia. Since applications are lodged in person, the first step is securing the golden appointment. Hopefully the following steps will be able to help some of you in understanding the process in order to prepare better.
Securing an Appointment:
Step 1 :
Once the opening date and time is announced, have all your passport details ready with you so that you can easily key in the required details.
Step 2:
At least 10 minutes before the scheduled date and time, head onto the VFS Global website. Why? To prepare for what I will call your “fastest typing and clicking session ever”. Take note that you will need to create an account with them to be able to do so.
Step 3:
After logging in, select the “Schedule an Appointment” tab and select “Work and Holiday” from the drop down menu. Don’t worry if the option doesn’t appear right on the dot. It took a while for the option to be available to me when I applied last year.
Step 4:
Once the option is made available, time to put all your mad-typing skills to the test. Fill in all the details as FAST as you can while ensuring the accuracy of everything you’ve typed.
Step 5:
Select your preferred date and time and quickly confirm it. It should then proceed to confirm your details and provide you with a confirmation of your scheduled appointment.
Step 6:
If you have reached this stage, then, CONGRATULATIONS! The hardest part is now over! If you did not manage to secure an appointment, don’t worry, just try again next year =)
For those who successfully secured an appointment, it’s time to gather all the following items:
- Completed and signed the application form – Form 1208
- Your original passport and a photocopy of the biodata page
- Original Certificate of Good Conduct
- Photocopy of your degree (to meet both the education and English requirements)
- IELTS / PTE results slip (if you have taken any of these test and if your tertiary education was completed in languages other than English)
- Copies of your bank statements showing that you have AUD5,000 or equivalent.
- The confirmation slip of your scheduled appointment.
- Money or credit card to pay the application fee.
On the Appointment Day
On your scheduled appointment day, head over to the centre and wait. Bear in mind that you cannot enter the centre immediately and you’re required to wait at the corridor until your scheduled time. The officers there will then group you together with others who have selected the same date and time. When it’s time, you will be allowed into the office and be given a number.
When your number is called, head over to the counter, hand in all your documents to the officer and pay the fee (application fee + administrative processing fee) . You will then be asked to take a seat and wait for your picture and biometrics to be taken. Once they’ve taken your picture and biometrics, take your visa application receipt and you’re done!
The overall process was completed in about 45 minutes to an hour.
What happens after?
About 5 days after the day I lodged my application (inclusive of the lodgement date), I received an e-mail requesting me to undergo a health assessment for my visa application. You must do this within 14 days from the date that you received the e-mail. An attachment will be sent to you, so print it and bring it along when you go for your health assessment.
For the health assessment, you must do it with panel physicians recognised by the Australian government. A list will be provided in the e-mail so you can pick the one closest to you. Funny story, I was down with a cold when I went in for my health assessment because I just landed in KL about 3 hours before I went to the clinic! I was worried that I might not pass because my nose was completely blocked but I needed to do it that day because I was away for some time and needed to complete it within 14 days.
The health assessment is not very complicated and can be completed within half a day (woohoo!), with your results being sent directly to the Department. Oh, the doctor will not explain your results to you in detail, all I got was “everything looks good” and I was sent off.
Five days after my health assessment, I received my golden e-mail informing me that my Work and Holiday visa has been granted!
You will have 1 year to save money and plan your trip which is crucial unless you already have more than enough savings then start booking your tickets!!
Hopefully this post will be helpful to those planning to apply for the WHV.
Until next time, shine bright everyone!
