If you are waiting for your visa application to be processed and you wish to leave Australia while you wait, you can! As you may not already know, a bridging visa is a temporary visa we might grant you in certain circumstances. Bridging visas let you stay in Australia lawfully while your immigration status is resolved. And the type of bridging visa we might grant you depends on your circumstances.
While bridging visas let you remain in Australia lawfully, only a Bridging visa B (BVB) will let you leave and re-enter Australia while you wait for a decision.
You might be eligible for a BVB if any of the following circumstances apply to you:
- you hold a BVA or BVB
- you are awaiting a decision on an application that is not yet finally determined or is at judicial review
- you have a good reason for leaving and returning to Australia while you wait for the outcome of your visa application
A BVB lets you remain in Australia while we process your substantive visa application, or if you await a judicial or merits review.
It will also have a defined travel period. So, you can leave Australia and re-enter on a BVB within this defined travel period. If you are in Australia when the travel period ends and you need to travel outside Australia again, you can apply for another BVB.
When the Department determines the BVB travel period they will consider why you want to travel and the period of time it takes to likely make a decision on your substantive visa application
If you want to apply for a BVB, you will need to:
- provide evidence of your reason for travel outside Australia
- let the Department know when you intend to travel
As always, your visa grant notice will clearly define the travel period of your BVB if it is granted. Unfortunately, the Department can’t change or extend the BVB travel period after it is granted. You should consider applying for a BVB no more than 3 months and no less than 2 weeks before you want to travel.
Did you know that you can hold a substantive visa and a BVB at the same time? If you still hold a substantive visa that lets you leave Australia and return, but you think it might expire before you re-enter Australia, you might still choose to apply for a BVB and wait until it is granted before you travel. As long as you return to Australia within the BVB travel period, you can stay in Australia on the BVB while you wait for our decision on your visa application.
You will be notified of the specified travel period of the BVB in your visa grant notice if you are granted the visa. You can’t re-enter Australia on a BVB after the travel period ends. And, if you are outside Australia when the travel period ends, you will need to apply for and be granted another visa before you can re-enter. If you are in Australia when the travel period ends and you need to travel outside Australia again, you will need to apply for another BVB.
Your BVB ends if:
- you are granted the substantive visa you applied for
- you are granted another bridging visa
- the Department cancels your BVB or the substantive visa you held when you were granted the BVB
- you are outside Australia when the travel period ends
- you leave Australia after the travel period ends
Our Registered Migration Agents at Migration Centre of Australia have been in the migration industry for many years and have helped thousands of clients onshore and offshore. We are trained professionals in Australian Migration Law and we are trusted providers in the industry for our services. If you want to know more about traveling and applying for a Bridging Visa B (BVB), contact us today on (02) 4626 1002 or send us an email at info@migrationcentreofaustralia.com.au and one of my registered migration agents will be ready to help you.
