Student Visa Success: Multiple Retakes & Overstaying
Case Summary
Student Visa Success Case: Multiple Course Retakes + Expired Visa + CoE Extension Refused + Overstay
Difficulty Level: ★★★★★
Case Overview:
L is an undergraduate student who had to retake several courses. During this period, L’s visa expired. Due to limited use of email back home, L didn’t notice the school’s prior notifications to arrange a visa renewal, and only realized a week after the visa expired.
L immediately applied to the school for a CoE extension, but the school sent an outdated CoE that did not reflect the actual situation. Without checking carefully, L submitted it to the immigration office, resulting in a visa grant period that still didn’t cover the course end date.
For the second renewal, L engaged an unreliable agent who lodged the application after the visa had expired. Since the first renewal had already used the 28-day Grace Period (see below for details), this case now counted as an overstay. Immigration issued a departure notice, with the departure deadline coinciding with L’s exams. If not handled properly, the semester would have been wasted.
How We Helped:
L approached HECT following a friend’s recommendation. After in-depth consultation and reviewing all communications with the school and immigration, we fully understood L’s situation. Through effective communication with the school’s Academic Manager, we secured an opportunity for L to sit for exams from outside the country, ensuring no further visa violations or overstay issues.
However, challenges continued. After receiving results, the school initially refused to extend L’s CoE due to poor academic performance. Our team promptly communicated multiple times with the school, explaining the reasons for past failures and providing a detailed study plan. By the afternoon of the same day, L received the updated CoE.
Once the CoE was in hand, HECT assisted L in submitting a student visa application. We prepared detailed supporting documents addressing L’s academic history, visa history, career plan, and eligibility for approval. Within one week of submission, the student visa was granted.
Congratulations again to L for obtaining the student visa! We also sincerely thank L for their trust and the adorable gift they sent — so kawaii!
HECT Reminder:
Always check your visa expiry date carefully and start your renewal at least 3 months in advance.
28-Day Grace Period: This period allows students whose visa has expired to lodge a student visa application within 28 days of expiry, for cases of oversight or incomplete documentation.
Important Notes:
One-time Use: The 28-day Grace Period can only be used once per student visa. If your visa expires again, contact HECT immediately.
Other Visa Types: The Grace Period applies only to student visa renewals. Other visa types (Tourist 600, Employer Sponsored 457, Graduate 485, etc.) do not have this provision.
If your visa has expired but is still within the 28-day Grace Period, contact HECT immediately. Our team will provide professional guidance and submit the application quickly. If the Grace Period has already been used and your visa has expired again, HECT can still assist with a legal and reasonable explanation to immigration.
