How Do I Apply For A Visitor Visa 600 Extension To Stay In Australia?

Every year, thousands of people visit Australia for different purposes like tourism, business, or visiting family or friends. If you are one of them and not a citizen of New Zealand, you must obtain your Visitor Visa 600 to be eligible to enter this country. The Visa 600 is a temporary visa, and holders have to leave Australia once it expires. Though the usual validity of this visa is 3 months, business visitors can have the maximum validity of 12 months, in which they need to leave Australia after every 3 months.

However, emergencies may arise when a visitor finds it impossible to leave the country because of sudden restrictions (as happened in the case of the still-going COVID-19 pandemic). The only option left is applying for a 600 visa extension in those situations. This blog discusses all the essential details one must know regarding this extension.

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What Should You Know About Visitor Visa 600 Australia?

Before discussing the extension process, some basic facts are discussed regarding the Visitor Visa 600.

Holders of this visa are generally allowed to stay in Australia for 3 months. However, people coming for business purposes can have a maximum period of 12 months.
There are five streams under this visa – Tourist Stream (for visiting purpose only; both offshore and onshore application options available), Sponsored Family Stream (for visitors sponsored by a family member who is an Australian PR or citizen), Business Visitor Stream (for business people), Approved Destination Stream, and Frequent Traveller Stream (the last two are for Hong Kong passport-holders).
Like other Australian visas, you have to meet the basic eligibility criteria and fill out the application form for your Visa 600.
If you have previously held an Australian visa, you have to show that you have complied with all its conditions.
Other important eligibility criteria include having the adequate financial capacity to cover all the costs during your stay in Australia, holding the required health and character certifications and a health insurance coverage, valid for 12 months.
The Australian Subclass 600 Visa is different from the other visas in terms of one key benefit. While most other visas allow applicants to include their family members in the application, the 600 Visa does not. If you want to visit this beautiful country with your loved ones, they must lodge separate applications.

Also Read: Before Lodging Visitor Visa Australia – Check Eligibility, Financial requirement, Document Checklist

How to Apply For A Visitor Visa 600 Extension?

The stay extension you require in Australia on your 600 Visa may be for a period more than what is allowed. If such a situation arises, you must apply for a Visitor Visa 600 extension or extension for any other Australia visa. If you go for the second option, you can apply for visas like:

One thing to keep in mind is that your 600 Visa extension or another visa application will take several weeks or months to get processed. So, make sure you start planning early.

As a potential applicant, you must also remember that whether you will get your next visa will depend on your purpose for the extended stay and eligibility criteria.

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Procedures for Obtaining a 600 Visa Extension

Complete the following steps to make your 600 Visa extension application.

1. Decide how long you will stay in Australia

As we have stated, international visitors can stay for up to 3 months in Australia with their visitor visa. So, first, you have to decide how long you will stay here because it will impact your visa options. If you want to stay for more than 12 months, you will be required to apply for a visa extension.

2. Check how much your current visitor visa is valid for

Once your period of stay in Australia is decided, you must now check how much time you are left with. Migration experts typically advise making the application quite early for the extension. Make sure you have at least 3 weeks in your hand.

3. Choose the most suitable visa option

This is one of the most important points to keep in mind, especially if you want to apply for a completely new visa type for the period of extension. Make sure you have made your choice based on your situation. Otherwise, you may have to regret it later.

If you do not have enough funds, it will not be a good idea to go for a visitor visa extension simply because, as per Australian Immigration laws, tourist visa holders cannot find any job for an Australian company.

On the other hand, if your partner or a parent is an Australian permanent resident or citizen, choosing a student visa or work visa will be the best option.

4. Decide on your visa according to your situation

You should make your visa extension choice according to your situation. You may qualify for multiple visa options. Compared to partner visas, work and holiday visas involve fewer restrictions.

If money is not an issue for you, you can apply for the Tourist Visa 600 extension because it will be the simplest and cheapest option.

5. Check if there is any ‘no further stay’ condition attached to your current visitor visa

This is another important check you must carry out before applying for a visa extension. From the term, you can easily understand that this condition will not let you stay in Australia any further after your visa expires. However, this condition is usually imposed on cases like:

You coming from a country that the Australian Immigration considers as ineligible to allow a further stay.
Record of not remaining compliant with conditions attached to any previous Australian visa.

If this condition is imposed on your visa and you want to waive it due to the recent COVID-19 pandemic, you must provide a written request to the authority.

6. Gather all the necessary documents

Once you find no ‘no further stay’ condition on your Tourist Visa 600, you can now gather the necessary documents. Remember that you must submit the same documents you have provided at the time of the first application.

7. Go through a necessary medical examination

Once all the documents are gathered, you can take scanned copies of them to upload while making an online application. To make sure you have good health, you must undertake a medical check within 28 days of the application.

8. Wait for your visa outcome

As the entire procedure takes a significant period, you have to wait for some weeks to get your visa approved. If your current visa expires during this period, Australian Immigration will grant you a bridging visa.

Also Read: Visiting Australia: Know The Five Big Reasons

Cost of Visa Subclass 600 Extension in Australia

Before you start your Visitor Visa Australia extension, it is also important to understand the total cost. Currently, this fee is approximately $345, and remember that you have to pay this amount while applying for your Visa 600 application.

Get Professional Assistance From A Migration Agent Perth

The whole procedure will become smooth, and you can get the best visa outcome if you hire a registered immigration agent Perth. ISA Migrations have been providing top-notch services in this field for years. So, you may contact the representatives for any inquiry or professional assistance. They can assign you their best visa agent Perth and walk you through the process easily.

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