If you already started to apply for a visa in Australia, you probably know that it’s not the easiest thing to do. In fact, navigating the visa process can be quite challenging, especially if you’re doing it for the first time. Add that to the stress of moving your entire life to a new country, and for sure, you’re always left wondering if you made the right life choices.
Good thing, you can already ask help from professionals who know exactly how to take you through a long and tedious process. The question is—can you already be in Australia while your visa is still being processed? The answer is yes. You just need to apply for a Bridging visa B. It is crucial to know the following:
- A Bridging visa B is essentially a type of temporary visa that allows you to leave and go back to the country legally within a specified timeframe while your formal visa is still being processed. This is the only visa that gives you travel rights even when your substantive visa application is still pending.
- A Bridging visa is only issued to foreigners who need to travel internationally while their visa is still being processed. Now, you can work in the country using this visa as long as the visa that you’re applying for covers employment.
- You can apply for a Bridging visa for your entire family as long as they are proven to be members of your family unit. They will have the same travel rights as you until you receive your formal visas to live and work in the country.
- The duration of a Bridging visa will be determined by the Department of Home Affairs, but it can be valid for up to three months only.
- You and your family members need to be in the country to apply for a Bridging visa. You’ll need to pay AUD185 per person, and you need to meet all the qualifications to be granted this type of visa. For instance, you need to have a valid reason for leaving and returning to the country while waiting for your visa application. Or your visa application may still be under judicial review, and you already need to leave Australia for an important trip.
Australia’s Bridging Visa B (BVB) is a temporary visa that allows individuals to leave and re-enter Australia while they await a decision on another substantive visa application. Unlike the Bridging Visa A, which doesn’t permit international travel, the BVB is essential for visa holders needing to travel abroad during the processing period.
To be eligible, applicants must already hold a Bridging Visa A or B and have a valid reason for travel, such as family emergencies or essential business. Importantly, you must apply for the BVB while you are still in Australia, and the visa must be granted before departure.
The BVB includes a travel period, which specifies the time you are allowed to be outside Australia. If you don’t return before this period expires, you may not be allowed back into Australia on the same visa. The visa also continues to provide lawful status in Australia while your main visa application is being assessed.
Planning ahead is crucial. The BVB processing time can vary, and supporting documents must be clear and well-prepared. If you need to travel temporarily while awaiting a new visa, the Bridging Visa B is your best legal option to maintain your immigration status.
Now if you want to apply for a Bridging visa, you can start by getting in touch with our team.