5 Important Facts To Know About Bridging Visa Australia

You may have come across the term bridging visa at one point or the other while waiting for your actual visa. But only a few are aware of what a bridging visa Australia means, or what may be needed in order to acquire it. In this article, you can get in-depth knowledge about what bridging visas and their various types along with the important facts that you need to keep in mind pertaining to such types of visas.

Important News: Immigration Policies Affected By Some Notable Visa Changes Occurring from January 2021

What are Bridging Visas?

The bridging visa is a great way to legally stay in Australia while you may be facing some kind of immigration matters related to another visa that may be pending onshore. However, it is important to remember that there are only specific circumstances under which a bridging visa may be issued and it cannot be issued to all. In fact, the bridging visa is not a substitute for an actual visa. It simply means a visa with which you can regulate your immigration status in Australia.

Types of Bridging Visas

It has to be understood that depending upon the status and the situation of an immigrant in Australia, the types of bridging visas may also differ.

In all, there are five different types of Bridging visas. They are:

• Bridging Visa A (BVA): The Bridging Visa A Subclass 010 which falls in to the Visa 010 subclass is issued automatically as soon as a person applies for another visa before the expiry of the present visa on which they came to Australia. In such cases all the terms of the previous visa is generally applied to the bridging visa till the new visa arrives.
  
• Bridging Visa B (BVB): This type of bridging visa is only applicable to those who are holding the Bridging Visa A. By Bridging visa 020 they can temporarily go out of Australia for a limited term.
  
• Bridging Visa C (BVC): Bridging Visa C is available to those who have put in multiple visa applications onshore. In such cases, however you may not be permitted to work or you may not be able to go out of Australia.
  
• Bridging Visa D (BVD):  The Bridging visa D which falls into the sub class 040 and 041 are the type of visa that allows you to stay in Australia when your Bridging Visa E has been applied for. To be eligible for bridging visa D your existing visa must be expiring within the next three working days.
  
• Bridging Visa E (BVE): The bridging visa E is applicable to those who have overstayed their specified period in visa or the unlawful people who have had their visas cancelled, or those who have had immigration detention. It neither allows you to work nor leave the Australian territory. In fact once you hold this class of visa it is likely that you may be banned from returning to Australia again.

Immigration agents are of the opinion that BVA and BVC are the best kinds of Bridging Visas that one can hold in order to prolong their stay in Australia, before the arrival of the actual visa.

Also, Read: 10 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Bridging Visa C

Important Facts Pertaining to the Bridging Visas

Though the Immigration agents often face a demand for Bridging visas, it is important for a person who applies for such visa to understand the full implication of the term. In order to ease your understanding, here are lists of five most important points related to the Bridging Visas that have been pointed out by the experts:

1. Bridging visas are not for the long term

The first and the most important point that one needs to bear in mind regarding the Bridging visas are that they are just a temporary visa, issued for the brief interim period between two visas. As such they are not alternative to or do not fall under the category of Substantive visas. It only allows the holder to stay in the Australian territory only for the period till the matters related to immigration has been sorted. In fact these kind of visas are not to be applied for in general but they are rather issued automatically by the authority. However bridging visas are 100% lawful so the period will be counted with the four years that are required for lawful citizenship.

2. The type of bridging visa issued depends upon your situation

As you are already aware that there are different subclasses within the bridging visa, they are issued depending upon your situation as evaluated by the authorities. However, the restrictions in relation to the subclass A visas will depend upon the original visa.

3. Travel restrictions on BVA visa

The BVA visa has certain restrictions on them and as such, you may not be able to travel out of Australia until you are granted a BVB visa. The application for this can be done online.

Also Read: Exquisite Your Partner’s Stay With Bridging Visa B Australia

4. Travel Ban attached to BVE visa

The BVE visas have travel bans attached to them and once you go out of Australian territory you may not be allowed to re-enter again. The ban period ranges from around 3- 10 years and must be avoided.

5. Restrictions attached to the bridging visas

One needs to understand that though the bridging visas are totally legal there are certain restrictions attached to it, especially related to that of work. However, with the BVA visa you have the permission to continue at your workplace. For the other type of visa holders, you may be permitted to work only after you have proved your financial hardship to the authorities.

Choosing the bridging visa experts

Handling the issues related to bridging visa all by oneself may be very difficult and you will need some kind of professional help. In that regard, ISA Migration will be the best choice. With years of experience and the highest quality of service, they are now regarded as the leading Migration Agent Perth.