With the outbreak of COVID-19, many visa holders are stuck in Australia, visitors were planning to leave Australia cannot depart Australia due to the travel restrictions in place both in Australia and in their destination country, students who have completed their studies and were planning on leaving Australia before their visa expiry and cannot depart Australia before their visa expires, TSS 482 / 457 visa /WHV holders who have been stood down and have lost their jobs and cannot find a new employer within 60 days but cannot depart Australia before their visa expires.
Bridging visas generally allow you to stay in Australia after your current substantive visa ceases and while your new substantive visa application is being processed.
I have a Bridging visa A, B or C
Bridging visas A, B and C allow you to stay in Australia after your current visa expires, and while your new visa application is being processed.
Working rights on Bridging visas
You may be allowed to work in Australia depending on your Bridging visa conditions.
You can check by:
- using the VEVO service, or
- accessing your visa conditions through your ImmiAccount.
If you are in a difficult financial situation and your Bridging visa does not let you work, or has restrictions on working, you can apply for a Bridging visa A that lets you work. However, you will need to show that you are in a difficult financial situation.
If you do not meet the requirements for work, and you are still eligible for a Bridging visa, we will grant you a new Bridging visa with the same conditions that were on your previous Bridging visa.
You will not be granted a new Bridging visa that lets you work if:
- your current Bridging visa A was granted to you because you have applied for judicial review of the decision made on your original visa application, or
- you have applied for a protection visa.
Expiring Bridging visas
If you want to stay in Australia beyond your visa expiry date, you must apply for another visa.
Status Resolution Service
The Status Resolution Service (SRS) program can provide you with temporary support.
You may be eligible for support if you are:
- without a visa and living in Australia
- an illegal maritime arrival (IMA) and have lodged a valid Temporary Protection Visa (TPV) or Safe Haven Enterprise Visa (SHEV) application
- a non-IMA and have lodged a valid protection visa application
- a holder of a Bridging Visa E (BVE)
- facing significant barriers that are impacting on your ability to resolve your immigration status.
I have a Bridging visa E
This temporary visa allows you to stay in Australia while you:
- make arrangements to leave
- finalise your immigration matter
- wait for an immigration decision.
Working rights
You may be allowed to work in Australia depending on your Bridging visa conditions.
You can check by:
- using the VEVO service, or
- accessing your visa conditions through your ImmiAccount.
Expiring Bridging visas
If you want to stay in Australia beyond your visa expiry date, you must apply for another visa.
My visa has expired
Expired inside 28 days
If your visa has expired, you need to apply for a Bridging visa E (BVE) immediately in order to become lawful. A BVE is a short-term visa that lets you remain lawful while you make arrangements to leave Australia.
If you want to stay longer in Australia, you must apply for a new visa. Your circumstances will determine your visa options and what you must do to remain lawful while you apply for a new visa. There may be restrictions on applying for further visas while you are in Australia. You may consider applying to remain in Australia as a visitor unless you are eligible to work, study or join family in Australia.
Some services relating to the visa application process may be impacted by COVID-19 and a range of services we rely on (such as medical checks and biometric collection) are increasingly unavailable. Applicants will be given additional time to complete checks and provide the requested information.
Expired over 28 days ago
If your visa expired more than 28 days ago, please contact the Status Resolution Service (SRS) for assistance to resolve your immigration status.
If you would like a comprehensive consultation which includes assessing you for other temporary and permanent visa options (Skilled visas, Employer Sponsored, Partner, etc.) as well, we recommend our standard 45 minute to 1 hour consultation which can be scheduled here:
https://visaenvoy.as.me/video (45 min- $160)
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