澳大利亚留学网消息，　从2008年10月27日起，在澳洲境内申请485毕业生临居签证的申请人必须持有合格的雅思成绩（专业类职业单项不低于6.0，技工类不低于5.0）. 这和目前要求的申请人在递交申请只需要递交预定了IELTS考试的收据的规定是截然不同的。 请注意，在2008年10月27日或以后递交485签证的申请人必须在递交签证申请时出示其达到相关英语水平要求的材料。 没有照做的申请人可能会无法达到签证申请要求，签证申请可能会被拒绝。

据了解，在澳大利亚报名雅思考试要等3-4个月，所以晚了就要错过申请485签证的关键机会，特别是签证要过期的同学．

另外，因为雅思是2年有效，所以请广大留学网会员，提早预定雅思考试，以免届时毕业因为没有雅思成绩，无法及时提交485申请．　

例外：

持有下列国家护照的申请人不需要在申请时提供英语水平证明材料。
　　•加拿大
　　•新西兰
　　•爱尔兰共和国
　　•英国
　　•美国

澳大利亚留学网首席顾问　黄文勇

Changes to Skilled – Graduate (subclass 485) visa – effective 27 October 2008

Changes relating to the provision of evidence of English language ability for the Skilled – Graduate (Subclass 485) visa are being introduced from 27 October 2008.  People who have made an application for a Skilled – Graduate (Subclass 485) visa before 27 October 2008 will not be affected by the changes.

People lodging an application for a Skilled – Graduate (subclass 485) on or after 27 October 2008 must provide evidence at the time they lodge their application that they have met the relevant English language standard. 

The standard for professionals, para-professionals and managerial occupations is ‘competent’ English (a score of at least six (6) on each of the four (4) components of the International English Language Test Scheme (IELTS) test or equivalent standard in a specified test). 

For people who nominate an occupation in the Major Group IV in the Australian Standard Classification of Occupations, the standard is ‘vocational’ English (a score of at least five (5) on each of the four (4) components of the IELTS test).

IELTS test results must be no more than two (2) years old at the time of application.

This is a departure from the current regulations which allow an applicant to apply having only booked an English language test.  Please note that from 27 October 2008, applicants will need to provide evidence of English language ability when lodging their application.  Failure to do so may result in applicants being unable to satisfy the criteria for this visa, and this application may be refused.
Exception:
Applicants who hold an eligible passport from one of the following specified countres are not required to submit evidence of their English language ability:

• Canada
• New Zealand
• Republic of Ireland
• United Kingdom (UK)
• United States of America (USA).