Let’s Play Migration Trivia FAQs

I am a business sponsor about to employ someone on a SID 482 visa. He is including five family members on the application. Whilst we are extremely grateful to have him on our team, I have to pay all of the visa costs, including for him and his family.

TRUE or FALSE

FALSE – This is a common misconception.

The business is responsible for any government costs relating to the business nomination, including the Skilled Australian Fund (SAF) Levy and the Nomination charge.

However, any costs relating to the visa application, including the visa application charge (VAC) for both the individual and his family members, can be paid by the individual and his family.

This is consistent with all sponsored visa types, including the SID 482, the Training 407, the Regional Provisional 494 and Skilled Sponsored186 (TRT pathway).

I am currently sponsoring an employee on a 482 visa. She has been working for me for six months. We agreed that I would sponsor her for Permanent Residency (PR) after 2 years on a 186 visa via the TRT Pathway. She just advised me she has obtained a positive skills assessment and would like to now apply for PR, via the 186 Direct Entry (DE) pathway. I am concerned about how much money this will cost me not long after I already paid for her 482-visa application. However, she assures me, she can pay for most of the fees on this application herself.

TRUE or FALSE

TRUE – For the 186 Direct Entry (DE) pathway, the only legislated fee the sponsoring employer must pay is the $540 Nomination Charge (which may be waived in regional areas).
While the government expects employers to pay the SAF Levy, this is not legislated.
All other costs – including visa application charges and professional service fees – can be paid by the applicant.

I am currently on a student visa that expires in October 2025. I lodged my 482 visa application in April 2025, so now I’m on a Bridging visa.

TRUE or FALSE

FALSE – A Bridging visa becomes active when your current visa expires.

Although it’s automatically issued when you lodge a new visa application, it remains inactive until needed.

A Bridging visa’s purpose is to keep a visa applicant lawfully living in Australia whilst waiting for a new visa approval.  Therefore, if your new visa is approved before your current visa expires, the Bridging Visa would never come into effect.

If you’re on a Bridging Visa, do you have to follow the conditions of your previous visa until the new one is approved?

TRUE and FALSE

Generally TRUE – most visa holders must continue to comply with the conditions of their previous visa while on a Bridging Visa.

However, there are exceptions. If you lodge one of the following visa types, there are no work restrictions whilst on the Bridging Visa:

• Employer Sponsored visas (subclasses 186, 187, 494)
• General Skilled Migration (subclasses 189, 190, 491, 887)
• Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485)
• Onshore Partner and Parent visas

I have hired someone on a student visa, but they advised me they can only work 40 hours per fortnight until they finish their course.

TRUE and FALSE

FALSE – It’s true that student visa holders are limited to 40 hours per fortnight during semester, but they can work full time during official semester breaks.
This means you can schedule full-time hours during university holidays when needed.