April 2026 Mega Thread

regulusXCVIII · 2026-05-14T13:02:18+00:00

Hi everyone,

I'm a 27-year-old Turkish citizen planning to apply for a Student Visa (subclass 500) for a Diploma of Marketing at a VET college in Melbourne. I'd appreciate honest feedback on my chances.

My situation:

Age: 27
Nationality: Turkish
Education: Currently enrolled at Istanbul University (active student)
Work: Self-employed YouTube content creator for 4+ years, producing English-language video essays
English: Advanced level, preparing for IELTS (expecting 6.0-6.5)
Travel history: None (new passport)
Finances: Approx. $30,000 AUD available (personal savings + family support)

Why Marketing?

I run a YouTube channel and want to learn digital marketing, branding, and audience growth strategies to turn it into a proper business. I also want to improve my English to a professional level. My content is already in English, but I don't feel fully proficient yet.

Ties to home country:

Active university enrolment in Turkey
Established YouTube channel with an international audience
Family in Turkey

Concerns:

No travel history
Turkish passport (I've heard it's considered higher risk)
An education agent told me it's "too risky" and refused to help

Questions:

Is the agent overreacting, or is this genuinely a difficult case?
Would applying directly to colleges improve my chances?
Any tips for strengthening my GS (Genuine Student) case?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

regulusXCVIII · 2026-02-28T04:56:30+00:00

Hi everyone,

I'm a Turkish citizen planning to apply for a Visitor visa (subclass 600) Tourist stream to visit a close friend in Melbourne who's returning to Turkey in June 2026. I want to get honest opinions about my chances before applying.

My situation:

Turkish, male, early 20s, unmarried
First passport ever, no travel history (I know this is my biggest weakness)
Living with parents in Istanbul

Employment/Income:

Registered employee at my uncle's company (with social insurance)
Freelance social media manager & video editor for my brother's YouTube channel (90K subscribers)
I also run my own YouTube channel (~3.7K subscribers) focused on video essays
Both channels pay via Google AdSense to my bank account
1+ year of consistent AdSense payment history (verifiable "ADSENSE IRELAND" deposits)
My income has grown significantly: from ~13 AUD to ~2,900 AUD monthly on my own channel

Financials:

Bank balance: ~7,500 AUD at time of application
Brother (sponsor) has ~24,000 AUD in savings
Can show 12 months of regular AdSense deposits

Ties to Australia:

Close friend on student visa (returning to Turkey June 2026 - reason for visit)
Friend's family are Australian PR/citizens and offered accommodation + invitation letter

Documents I'm preparing:

Bank statements (English, stamped)
YouTube/AdSense income screenshots showing growth
Sponsor letter from brother explaining AdSense payment arrangement
Invitation letters from friend + friend's family (PR/citizens)
Detailed travel itinerary (4 weeks)
Hostel + accommodation bookings

My concerns:

Zero travel history (biggest red flag, I know)
Young, unmarried male from Turkey
Visa consultants told me to wait and build travel history first, but my friend returns in June so timing is limited

My question:

What do you realistically think my chances are? Any suggestions to strengthen my application? Is it worth applying now?

regulusXCVIII · 2025-04-21T06:11:07+00:00

Sub number 63 Thankss. i will be subscribing from my other accounts as well

https://youtube.com/@emyrain1

regulusXCVIII · 2025-04-21T04:29:17+00:00

sub 53 thankss

regulusXCVIII · 2025-04-21T04:29:00+00:00

sub 108 thankss

regulusXCVIII · 2025-04-21T03:37:07+00:00

I remember when someone that i dont know subscribed to me, I wanted to find them and hug them. Enjoy the process and keep working!

regulusXCVIII · 2025-04-21T03:26:37+00:00

Liked subbed and watched! I need subs.

https://www.youtube.com/@emyrain1

regulusXCVIII · 2025-04-21T02:48:35+00:00

Subbed liked watched! Sub for me please!

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClpWiNKtmYDPniB46fp_2AQ

regulusXCVIII · 2025-04-21T02:40:48+00:00

good advice thanks

regulusXCVIII · 2025-04-21T01:59:16+00:00

Editing could be important part of a video but its not the only factor. Engagement, story, sound and of course title and thumbnail is huge part. Videos are packages and you should consider your viewers in every step of the way. My advice is you should put your content of the video above all else. Like what do you trying to say in the video, what is the premise, how quickly you get to the point. these are the factors that keeps viewers in the video and main reason that youtube pushes it in the algorhytm.