INSTRUCTIONS TO OBTAIN A STUDENT VISA FOR SECONDARY SCHOOL EXCHANGE STUDENTS
You can apply for a secondary school exchange student visa if you have been accepted into a formerly-registered secondary exchange program (e.g. Rotary International, Youth with a Mission, AFS) Your original passport will be couriered to the Australian Embassy, Berlin for security checking and a visa label. You should apply for your visa at least 8 weeks prior to your proposed travel date. See our Terms of Service for full details of limitations of service, refund policy, and disclaimer of liability in relation to your visa application. You should not finalise your flight arrangements until your visa has been granted and your passport returned to you. You must be outside of Australia when your visa application is decided. We incur no liability for financial loss or otherwise if visa processing is delayed or refused. Secondary School Exchange student visas are valid for the length of your exchange only with a maximum stay period of 12 months. You must be outside Australia at time of applicant and at time of grant.
Citizens of the following countries can apply for a student visa as a secondary exchange student at our office:
Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong SAR, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Kuwait, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Macau (SAR), Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Peru, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom (British Citizen), USA, Vatican City, Venezuela.
Please send the following documents to AITS, Postfach 457, CH-3800 Interlaken: Completed Form 157A: Application for a student visa. Please use the most up to date version of Form 157A available
from our website www.aits.ch. Attach a passport-sized photograph to Form 157A Complete all relevant parts of Form 157A. If the visa applicant is under 18 years of age, ensure the following sections of Form 157A are completed and signed: - Q 41 financial declaration signed by at least one parent or person with legal custody - Q 57 – 64 accommodation/welfare arrangements completed and declaration at Q64 signed by both parents or persons with legal custody - Q 65 – 66 custody arrangements completed and declaration at Q66 signed by both parents or persons with legal custody - Q 74 final declaration signed by both parents or persons with legal custody Single parents must provide evidence that they have sole custody.
Completed Form 956: Appointment of Agent
Please complete Part A – Applicant Details and sign Declaration at Part K, Q21. If you are under 18 years of age, both parents or persons with legal custody will need to sign Declaration at Part K.
Acceptance Advice of Secondary Exchange Student: (from your school/educational institution in Australia or exchange
organisation). The Acceptance Advice form is evidence that you have been accepted into a formerly-registered secondary exchange program. Details of the Acceptance Advice form cannot be amended by hand after signature by the Australian Exchange organisation. – Details at Part A and Part B of the Acceptance Advice form must be completed. The Australian Exchange organisation must sign and date the declaration. - Declaration at Part C of the Acceptance Advice form must be signed by both parents or persons with legal custody of students under 18 years of age.
Evidence of Overseas Student Health Insurance (OSHC) separate evidence issued by the Australian OSHC provider
must be included in addition to confirmation of payment of OSHC on Acceptance Advice form.
Proof of payment
Please provide proof of payment our non-refundable service charge of Sfr 300.- (PC 60-357890-1). We are unable to commence preparation of your application without proof of payment. PAYMENT BY CREDIT CARD IS NOT ACCEPTED.
Your original passport
Your passport must be valid for the length of your intended stay in Australia plus at least 6 months. Your passport must have at least one blank page. Please ensure that the passport has been signed by the passport holder.
Australian Immigration and Trade Services Ltd Liability Co Postfach 457, CH 3800 Interlaken Tel: +41 33 826 00 26 Fax:+41 33 826 00 27 info@aits.ch / www.aits.ch
Applicants under 18 years of age
Copy of birth certificate (multiple language version including English preferable) plus copies of bio-data pages of passports of both parents are required. If only one parent has sole custody, certified copy of document awarding custody to that parent and/or divorce decree if custody is address in the divorce decree. Evidence of custody rulings must not be older than 1 year. If documents are older than one year, they must be re-endorsed by the authority that issued them. A signed statement from non-custodial parent consenting to minor student’s stay in Australia together with copy of non-custodial parent’s passport will facilitate speedier processing of a minor’s visa application. If one parent is deceased, copy of death certificate is required.
A copy of your flight details
Your travel agent needs to confirm your arrival and departure date to/from Australia. The maximum duration of your secondary exchange program is 12 months. The exchange organisation will nominate dates for which they will be responsible for the welfare of applicants under the age of 18. A student under 18 years of age cannot arrive in Australia before the welfare period start date nominated in the Acceptance Advice form. A student under 18 years of age must depart Australia by the welfare period end date nominated in the Acceptance Advice form.
Stamped, self-addressed envelope: for the return of your passport. (PTT registered mail tariff is Sfr 5.-). Health Examination
Please refer to Health Requirements link on our website Health requirement for temporary entry to Australia Form 1163i to see if your nationality and the nature or duration of your visit requires you to undergo health testing with a panel doctor. Additional health assessments may be required if you answer “yes” to any question regarding a health condition in the visa application form. Regardless of your citizenship, if you have spent more than 3 consecutive months in the last 5 years in another country, the higher risk level applies. Additional health assessments will be required for medium or higher risk applicants who intend to enter a classroom environment for more than 3 months or are likely to enter a health care or hospital environment whilst in Australia. Should you have any queries, please contact AITS.
Australian Immigration and Trade Services Ltd Liability Co Postfach 457, CH 3800 Interlaken Tel: +41 33 826 00 26 Fax:+41 33 826 00 27 info@aits.ch / www.aits.ch