What is a Bridging Visa?
If you are not an Australian citizen then you must hold a current and valid visa to maintain your lawful status in Australia. If your visa expires or is cancelled and you remain in Australia you will become an unlawful non-Citizen. Any future visa application will be affected if you ever remain in Australia without a visa even if you overstay accidentally. The law requires that unlawful non-citizens can be detained by DIBP Officers.
Bridging Visas Australia – Why do I need one?
A Bridging Visa provides temporary lawful status in Australia in particular circumstances:
- While waiting for the grant or refusal of a substantive visa
- Waiting for the outcome of a review of a decision
- While making arrangements for departure from Australia
- Bridging Visas are only available to onshore applicants
Some unlawful non-citizens will be able to regularise their status by applying for a substantive visa without leaving Australia. If you apply for a substantive visa then a Bridging Visa will usually be granted whilst your application is processed. However there are only a few classes of substantive visas which can be granted to an unlawful non-citizen and in most cases this usually depends on how long it has been since they held a substantive visa. In addition they will be restricted if they have had a visa application refused or a visa cancelled since arriving in Australia or if their last substantive visa had a ‘no further stay’ condition attached. If the unlawful non-citizen is in detention then they have limited time in which to apply for a substantive visa other than a bridging or protection visa.
Bridging Visas Australia – we can help
If the Department for Immigration and Border Protection is satisfied that an eligible non-citizen satisfies the criteria for a Bridging Visa then a Bridging Visa may be granted for a specific period or until a specified event happens.
If your visa has or is about to expire then you need a Bridging Visa to remain lawfully in Australia, contact us promptly to start your Bridging visa application. As time is of the essence with regard to BV’s BlueRoo Visas will manage your BV application as a matter of priority.
