COVID-19, Travel Ban & What This Means For Your Visa
                     Southern Stone
Migration & Education Services 
Australia
COVID-19, Travel Ban & What This Means For 
Your Visa
The situation relating to COVID-19 in Australia is unfolding daily 
and as we wake up each day to more draconian measures aimed 
at curbing the spread of the COVID-19, our hearts go out to all our 
industry partners, colleagues, clients in the many industries 
absolutely devastated by the pandemic and our students and their 
parents, especially those whose study plans have been totally 
disrupted.
This is a global pandemic and one the whole world 
needs to fight against with our combined efforts. Make 
no doubts, we will get through this and come back 
stronger and more united and our tourism, education 
and hospitality sectors will experience extraordinary 
rebound once we contain the situation.
         Move To Online Consulation
At Southern Stone, we have been highly vigilant over the past few 
weeks with ensuring that our office premises is sanitised regularly 
and having hand sanitisers for our clients when they come in. 
However, from today, for the safety of our clients and our staff, we 
will cease face to face contact with our clients and offer 
consultations via phone or Skype/WhatsApp instead.
Please contact us if you wish to schedule a consultation.
      Visas Options
Given the travel ban enacted across the globe, many visa holders 
Australia find themselves in a situation where they are unable to 
return to their home country due to health and safety concerns.
We urge these clients in the following situation to contact us to 
discuss their options moving forward. We have staff ready to 
assist you with lodging onshore visitor visa extensions.
            Visitor Visas Expiring
Many are now in Australia visiting loved one and do not want 
to leave Australia due to safety concerns. Please contact us if 
you are a visitor visa holder and want to extend your stay in 
Australia, our team will be able to handle these cases very 
quickly for you to maintain your lawful stay in Australia.
Student Visas Expiring
If you are currently a student in Australia and your visa is 
expiring soon, you may have several options, i.e., extend your 
student visa, apply for a graduate visa, apply for visitor visa or 
if you have an Australian partner, you may apply for a partner 
visa. Contact us now to discuss your options.
Partner Visa Applications
For visa holders in Australia who has an Australian partner, 
many are eligible to apply for permanent residency via the 
Partner Visa pathway.Please contact us if this applies to 
you and you want to discuss your eligibility.
Skilled Migration
Many recent graduates are affected by the COVID-19 and given that 
skilled migration in Australia is now managed via the Expression of 
Interest system, there will be uncertainty with invitation rounds. For 
many, especially those with graduate visas nearing expiry, please 
contact us as soon as possible to discuss possible options.
Offshore Applications
Whilst many temporary visas applications are affected by the travel ban, 
we still urge applicants who are overseas and wish to apply for permanent 
visas or other provisional visa that have a long processing time to contact 
us ASAP to discuss visa options, subclasses which are currently unaffected 
by the COVID-19 to lodge offshore include:
• Offshore Child Visas
• Offshore Prospective Marriage and Partner Visas
• Offshore Parent Visas
• Offshore Employer Sponsored Visas
• Offshore Skilled Migration
• Offshore Business Visas – opportune time for business visa applicants 
to take advantage of record low exchange rates and record low share 
prices, especially subclass 188c visa applicants.
Contact Us
 Suite 12, 241-243 Blackburn Road Mount Waverley VIC 3149
1300 188 999
[email protected]
www.southernstone.com.au