Testimonials & Interviews

I would like to express my deepest gratitude to my agency, Pathway to Australia, especially to Karlo Joson, Xavier Uro, and the entire Pathway to Aus Visa Team, for their unwavering support and guidance throughout my journey.

From the very beginning of my application process to this incredible moment, you have been there every step of the way, ensuring that everything was handled with the utmost care and professionalism. Your dedication, patience, and encouragement gave me the confidence to pursue my dreams despite the challenges along the way. The expertise you brought to every detail of my application truly made all the difference, and I cannot thank you enough for going above and beyond to make this possible.

Today, I am overjoyed to share the wonderful news that my student visa has been granted! This milestone is not just a personal achievement but a testament to the hard work and commitment you have poured into helping me reach this goal. Words cannot fully express how grateful I am to have had such an incredible team by my side. Thank you for helping me take this life-changing step and for being a part of this journey that will shape my future.

I had an amazing experience with Pathway to Aus. Throughout the process, I faced several challenges, particularly with questions about documentation and timeframes. It was crucial to have knowledgeable professionals guiding me, and Pathway to Aus exceeded my expectations.

Their customer service stood out—it was excellent—and their pricing was very reasonable. I felt supported every step of the way, and their expertise made a complex process much smoother. I highly recommend Pathway to Aus to anyone navigating immigration processes. They truly make the journey manageable and stress-free!

I am deeply and forever grateful to the entire Pathway to Aus team, specially Sir Karlo Joson, Sir Xavier Uro and the Pathway to Aus Visa Team for believing in my aspirations and investing time and effort. Your dedication, expertise and unwavering support have been instrumental in turning my study abroad dreams into reality. Receiving my Australian student visa is a really dream come true, and I couldn’t have achieved it without your exceptional guidance.

From the initial consultation to the visa grant, your team demonstrated remarkable patience, explaining every step clearly, answering my countless questions and helped me prepare the necessary documents. This new path I’m embarking on is the result of your diligent efforts in helping me reach this amazing milestone. You’ve not only facilitated my academic journey but you also gave me courage and inspired me to chase my dreams fearlessly.

Your services exceeded my expectations. I’ll forever cherish your contribution in this amazing journey!

Today, after so many challenges, anxiety, and moments of doubt, I’m beyond grateful and proud to share that my student visa for Australia has been granted. This moment isn’t just about getting the visa; it’s a testament to resilience, to never giving up even when things seem impossible. This visa is not just a piece of paper; it’s a gateway to new opportunities, new experiences, and a new chapter in my academic journey. I am finally turning the page to a new chapter where I’m not defined by past rejections but by my persistence and belief in myself. I couldn’t have done it without the support of those who believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself. This is just the beginning, and I can’t wait to see where this journey takes me.

I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to Pathway to Aus and especially to my agent Karlo Joson, Xavier Uro, and the entire Pathway to Aus visa team. As I reflect on my journey throughout the student visa application process, I realize how much your support has meant to me. The doubts, anxiety, and questions I had seemed endless at times, but you were there every step of the way, guiding me and believing in my dream. Your guidance, support, and professionalism throughout my student visa application process have been truly invaluable. From answering all my questions to providing me with the right advice at every step, you’ve made what could have been a stressful experience so much easier. You didn’t just assist me with paperwork, you believed in me when I needed encouragement the most.

I’m incredibly thankful for your patience, attention to detail, and dedication to helping me achieve my dream of studying in Australia. Thanks to your hard work and commitment, I am now on the path to a new chapter of my life. Words can’t fully express how grateful I am for your belief in me and for helping me achieve what I once thought was impossible. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything.

I applied my visa (sponsor 186) with Pathway to Australia and I recommend the company to all my friends who are applying.

Nick and Mildred played a big role in this process and always kept me updated and answered my questions quickly. Thank you Pathway to Australia team, I wish the company success

Lindrick from France is currently studying wall and floor tiling at Entrepreneur Education on the Gold Coast. After exploring his options through Pathway to Aus, he chose a trade pathway that allows him to gain practical skills while opening up opportunities for his future.

He values the international environment at the school, where students from different backgrounds learn together, and highlights the supportive teachers and flexible structure that helps everyone progress at their own pace. The course runs for two years, includes both practical and theory training, and provides eligibility for the graduate visa upon completion.

Lindrick plans to stay in Australia after finishing his studies, gain experience in the industry, and eventually start his own business. With support from Pathway to Aus, he was able to choose the right course and take clear steps toward building a long term future in Australia.

Alisson from Brazil is currently studying carpentry at Academic Carpentry Campus on the Gold Coast after transitioning from his previous career as an electrician. After arriving in Australia, he noticed how different construction methods were compared to Brazil, which sparked his interest in learning how homes are built.

Since starting the course, Alisson has gained hands on experience through both his studies and real world work, including building on farms. He credits the training for helping him develop practical skills and confidence, making it easier to step into the workforce.

The course runs for two years, offers flexible monthly intakes, and provides eligibility for the graduate visa upon completion. With support from Pathway to Aus, Alisson was able to choose the right pathway and take clear steps toward building a long term future in Australia, where demand for skilled trades continues to grow.

Yala and Fabiana, students from Brazil, are currently studying Early Childhood Education at Imagine Education on the Gold Coast. Inspired by personal goals and a desire for career growth, they chose this pathway to gain practical skills and open new opportunities.

The course runs for two years, includes hands on placement, and allows them to apply for a graduate visa after completion. Yala, in particular, was motivated by her experience as a parent and sees the course as a way to both grow professionally and create a pathway toward staying in Australia long term.

With support from Pathway to Aus, they were able to choose the right course, understand the process, and take steps toward building their future. Their experience highlights how studying in Australia can open doors, provide real world experience, and create opportunities for long term migration.

Alex and Junith, a couple from the Philippines, are nearing the completion of their Diploma of Early Childhood Education in Australia. Alex is already working in the industry as a lead educator and gaining hands on experience, while Junith is currently working in hospitality and considering a future move into automotive mechanics.

They are planning to apply for the 485 graduate visa next, allowing them to stay in Australia and continue building their careers. With guidance from Pathway to Aus, they now have a clear pathway forward, including gaining local experience and working toward potential employer sponsorship in the future.

Sapphire, a former international student in Australia, shared her emotional journey of studying abroad while being in a long distance relationship. She struggled with homesickness and nearly gave up, especially during the long wait for her partner’s visa.

Her partner made a big sacrifice by leaving his career in the Philippines to join her in Australia. After about seven months of processing, his visa was finally granted just as she was close to returning home.

They are now together in Australia, with Sapphire on a student visa and her partner pursuing a Master’s in IT as the main applicant. She credits Pathway to Aus for guiding them through the process and helping make her journey smoother.

Her story highlights the emotional challenges of studying abroad, the uncertainty of visa processes, and how persistence and support can lead to a positive outcome.

He arrived in 2017 on an employer-sponsored visa, connected with Pathway to Aus in 2018, and followed a clear plan. In 2019, he started a 2 year cookery course, then moved onto a graduate visa to gain experience. After that, he secured a 482 sponsorship, which eventually led to his permanent residency.

He credits his success to trusting the guidance he received and sticking with one advisor instead of jumping between lawyers. He highlights the transparency and support he experienced throughout the process.

His advice is simple: trust the process, follow the guidance, and if you’re aiming for PR, Pathway to Aus is a solid choice.

Tania and Walison, a couple from Brazil, came to Australia on student visas. Wallace studied wall and floor tiling, gained work experience, and moved onto a graduate work visa. He completed the job ready program and obtained his skills assessment, but struggled to meet the English requirements for enough migration points.

They reached out for help as their visa was nearing expiry. A strategy was put in place where Tanya applied for a training visa, allowing them to stay longer. They were also advised to relocate to New South Wales to meet state nomination requirements.

After moving and continuing work there, Wallace received an invitation for the 190 state nominated visa with just 65 points. They withdrew the training visa, applied for the 190 visa, and were granted permanent residency within months.

The case highlights that migration is not always straightforward, planning matters, and even with setbacks, persistence can still lead to permanent residency.

At Pathway to Aus, every successful visa outcome represents more than just paperwork—it reflects the resilience, determination, and dreams of real students.

Johnrick originally submitted his student visa application in September 2023. Like many international students, he was eager to pursue education in Australia and build a pathway for his future. However, in March 2024, several months after his initial application, his student visa was refused—a major setback that could have discouraged even the most optimistic student.

But Johnrick didn’t give up. With the support of Pathway to Aus and our registered migration agents, he lodged an appeal with the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) and made the brave decision to continue studying while waiting for the outcome.

In April 2025, more than a year after his visa application was refused, the AAT contacted us requesting additional documentation and information to support Johnrick’s case. We worked closely with him to gather the necessary evidence—demonstrating his genuine intent to study, compliance with visa conditions, and ongoing commitment to his education.

By June 2025, the time had come for Johnrick’s tribunal hearing. Our team supported him through the process, ensuring his case was clearly presented and his goals for studying in Australia were well understood.

The result? Just a day after the hearing, in July 2025, Johnrick received the fantastic news: his student visa was approved.

But his journey in Australia is far from over.

We’ve already begun discussions about his next step which is applying for the Temporary Graduate Visa (subclass 485), which will allow him to live, study, and work in Australia temporarily after graduation. From there, we’ll continue working together to build a long-term migration plan tailored to his goals and skills.

Johnrick’s story is a powerful reminder that a visa refusal doesn’t have to be the end of the road. With the right support, guidance, and persistence, international students can still succeed even after major setbacks.

At Pathway to Aus, we’re proud to have helped Johnrick through each stage of the process from appealing his visa decision, to preparing for the tribunal hearing, and now planning for his post-study life in Australia.

Hi, I’m Bill from Imagine Education. We’ve been in the education space for over two decades, running colleges and over 50 childcare centres across Australia. In recent years, especially after COVID, staffing has become a real challenge — and that’s where Pathway to Aus has been a game-changer for us.

In this video, I sit down with Nick, a registered migration agent from Pathway to Aus, to talk about how they’ve helped us sponsor over 60 skilled staff through various visa pathways. From graduate visas to permanent residency options like the 482 and 186, their team has made the process seamless.

If you’re an employer thinking about sponsoring staff — or if you’re an international student aiming to work in childcare — you’ll want to hear how sponsorship has brought stability, loyalty, and long-term value to our centres.

Hi, I’m Jade and I’m originally from the UK. I moved to Australia with my partner and decided to study the Certificate III in Carpentry. It’s been an incredible journey—by October 2024, I was granted permanent residency here in Australia.

Right now, I’m working as a carpenter in the film industry on the Gold Coast, helping to build sets for all sorts of movies and TV shows that are shot locally. It’s creative, hands-on, and I absolutely love it.

When I finished my carpentry course, Pathway to Aus helped me apply for the Temporary Graduate Work Visa (subclass 485). That gave me 18 months to live and work in Australia with full work rights.

While on the 485 visa, I continued working as a carpenter, and with Pathway to Aus’ support, I signed up for the Job Ready Program through Trades Recognition Australia (TRA). After about 6 months—or 870 hours—on the tools, an assessor came out to my job site and confirmed that I was competent in the trade.

About a year later, after logging around 1,725 hours of work, I received my final skills assessment, which made me eligible to apply for skilled migration.

The next big step was submitting an Expression of Interest (EOI) through SkillSelect. With Pathway to Aus guiding me through it all, I was lucky enough to get invited to apply for the Skilled Independent Visa (subclass 189)—and I was able to include my partner in the application.

I’m incredibly grateful to be living and working in Australia doing something I’m passionate about, and I couldn’t have done it without the support of Pathway to Aus.

Ralph and Beus, originally from Germany, recently secured their permanent residency in Australia with the help of Pathway to Aus. Beus, an Early Childhood Teacher, was fortunate to receive a skills assessment while still in Germany. Through a connection made by Pathway to Aus, she secured sponsorship from an Early Childhood provider and came to Australia on a 482 visa.

Once in Australia, they quickly submitted an Expression of Interest (EOI) for a General Skilled Migration visa (subclass 190). The biggest delay in the process was the medical examination, but Pathway to Aus helped them navigate the system efficiently. Ralph praised the agency’s strategic approach, which helped them gain extra points and increase their chances of visa approval.

Now that they have permanent residency, Beus has progressed to an educational leadership role and plans to pursue a master’s degree in research. Ralph and Beus highly recommend Pathway to Aus, calling them the best migration agent they worked with after trying six different agencies.

The video concludes with a strong endorsement of Pathway to Aus for anyone looking to study, work, or migrate to Australia.

Bruna, originally from Brazil, recently obtained permanent residency in Australia with the help of Pathway to Aus. She initially studied painting at Entrepreneur Education on the Gold Coast, where she attended both theoretical and practical classes. With no prior background in painting, she quickly adapted, learning everything from tools to surface preparation, and found a job in the industry within her first year.

Financially, Bruna arrived in Australia with only $1,000, planning to find a job within her first month—a goal she successfully achieved. After completing her studies, she applied for a Graduate Work Visa, which was approved the next day, allowing her to work in the industry and complete the Job Ready Program for her skills assessment.

With the help of Pathway to Aus, she efficiently submitted an Expression of Interest (EOI), and within just two months, she received an invitation for permanent residency. Throughout the process, Bruna emphasized that Pathway to Aus made everything stress-free, guiding her at every step.

Now that she has PR, Bruna is exploring a return to marketing while continuing part-time painting work. She highly recommends Pathway to Aus, saying she tells people about them all the time when asked about her success.

The video ends with a strong endorsement of Pathway to Aus for anyone looking to study or migrate to Australia.

Will came to Australia and studied carpentry at TAFE QLD. Upon graduating, PTA assisted Will to apply for the Temporary Graduate Work Visa (Subclass 485). This is an open work visa that allowed him to remain in Australia and live and work for 18 months with full work rights.

After approximately 1 year or 1725 hours working as a carpenter, Will was obtained his final skill assessment for migration purposes by TRA. The next step was to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI), through Skill Select and apply for a General Skilled Migration Visa. PTA Migration agent lodged an Expression of Interest requesting QLD State Nomination. Will was fortunate enough to receive the invite and apply for the Skilled Work Regional Visa – Subclass 491. This is an open 5 year work visa that converts to PR if you live and work in a regional area for 3 years and earn above $53,900.

In the future, he hopes to remain living and working on the Gold Coast, and set up his own building company.

Jad came to Aus from Lebanon to study boat building (Marine Craft Construction) at TAFE QLD on the Gold Coast.

Whilst undertaking the course, Jad was also fortunate enough to find paid work experience at a local boat building company throughout his studies. This allowed him to earn to support himself whilst he worked.

Upon graduating, PTA assisted Jad to apply for the graduate work visa (Subclass 485). Consequently a PTA Migration agent lodged an expression of interest requesting QLD State Nomination and Jad was fortunate enough to receive the invite and apply for the Skilled Work Regional Visa – Subclass 491. This is an open 5 year work visa that converts to PR if you live and work in a regional area for 3 years. Moving forward he hopes to remain living and working on the Gold Coast and become an Aus citizen.

In this video we meet Thalia. Thalia came to Australia from South Africa and studied to become a Civil Engineering Draftsperson at TAFE QLD in Brisbane. Thalia went straight into studying the course after graduating from high school.

Whilst undertaking the course, Thalia was also fortunate enough to find paid work experience at a local engineering company. This allowed her to earn to support herself whilst she studied. She was allowed to undertake 40 hours per fortnight of paid work and unlimited hours in school holidays.

Rotem is a previous PTA student and client who has successfully went from student visa to graduate work visa to lodging his PR application in roughly 3.5 years.

Rotem came to Aus with his wife from Israel to study boat building (Marine Craft Construction) at TAFE QLD on the Gold Coast.

Whilst undertaking the course, Rotem was required to undertake 400 hours of vocational placement where he would gain industry experience.

Close to 4 years after first beginning his studies in Aus, Rotem and his family were then granted their Permanent Visa (Skilled Nominated (State Sponsored) Subclass 190 visa to Australia. After one year on the PR visa, Rotem and family can look at becoming Australian citizens.

Ian is a previous PTA student and client who has successfully went from student visa to graduate work visa to lodging his PR application in roughly 3 years.

Throughout his studies Ian was fortunate enough to find paid work experience at the boat builder where he did his vocational placement. On the student visa Ian could work 40 hours per fortnight and unlimited hours during school holidays. This allowed Ian to earn money to partially support himself during his stay.
Because boat building is on the Medium and Long-Term Strategic Skills List, upon graduating, we were able to apply for an 18 month temporary graduate visa for Ian. We then passed a provisional skills assessment and entered into the Job Ready Program run by Trades Recognition Australia. As part of the Job Ready Program Ian undertook a minimum of 1725 hours of full time work as a boat builder. After we lodged Ian’s EOI, we received an nomination to apply for the visa in only 2 days!

Sveta is a past international student from Russia. She came out to Australia to study English. However after studying English for a year, she realised she loved the country and decided to stay on and study Commercial Cookery and Diploma of Hospitality at Holmes College on The Gold Coast. She graduated in July 2017. Pathway to Aus then successfully helped Sveta apply for and was granted her Temporary Graduate Work Visa (Subclass 485) in September 2017

She is now working her way through the Job Ready Program and will hopefully receive the equivalent of her full skills assessment as a chef and apply for General Skilled Migration next year.

Mohit is a client of Pathway to Aus who we have helped successfully transition from Student Visa to Graduate Visa to Employer Sponsored TSS (Subclass 482 Visa). He now works in the international education industry working as education management on The Gold Coast.

The Graduate visa was a very simple process and went through easily. It was when it came to applying for the TSS employer sponsored visa where it became tricky. Generally speaking in order to be employed on the TSS visa as an education manager NEC you would need to have 5 years post qualification work experience. This was requested by immigration after lodgment. However PTA migration agents were able to successfully argue that in specific circumstances these 5 years experience could be waived as the occupation is highly specialised. After a lot of explanatory evidence provided, the case officer decided in our favour and granted Mohit the visa!

Jason was originally an Indian national and came to Australia to study commercial cookery in Brisbane. Before coming to Australia, Jason had no professional work experience or education as a chef.

Whilst undertaking the course, Jason was also fortunate enough to find paid work experience at local restaurants. This allowed him to earn to support himself whilst he studied. Upon graduating, PTA assisted him to apply for the Temporary Graduate Work Visa (Subclass 485). This is an open work visa that allowed him to remain in Australia and live and work for 24 months with full work rights.

On his 485 visa, Jason undertook the Job Ready Program where he had to work as a chef for 12 months. This allowed him to gain a full skill assessment which allows him to apply for different General Skilled Migration Visas.

The next step was to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI), through Skill Select and apply for a General Skilled Migration Visa. Jason was fortunate enough to be invited for the Skilled Independent – Subclass 189.

In the future, he wants to continue to work as a chef and become an Australian citizen.

Meet John from the UK. John initially came to Australia to study the Cert III in Carpentry. Prior to coming to Australia he was working as a fireman with no previous carpentry work experience. After studying, John moved on the a Temporary Graduate Work Visa (Subclass 485). This allowed him to live and work in Australia for 2 years upon completion of his study. Pathway to Aus then assisted him to move onto a Training Visa (Subclass 407), before applying for the Permanent Employer Sponsored Visa (Subclass 186). John and his family and now permanent residents of Australia and will soon apply for citizenship.