By definition, a bridging visa Australia is intended for use by people who are transitioning from using one kind of visa to another.
For instance, if your student visa has expired and you are applying for a work visa, the bridging visa allows you to stay in the country legally before your visa is approved.
However, this is not the only situation in which one needs to apply for a bridging visa. These visas will work for anyone whose substantive visa has expired and is waiting for the application of another substantive visa to be approved.
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When you have appealed a decision of visa refusal or cancellation and/or are requesting the intervention of ministers you will require the bridging visa.
Other people that can use these visas are those who are unlawfully in the country but are planning to leave the country voluntarily.
Types of Bridging Visas
According to the Home Affairs ministry and the laws of the nation, there are five types of bridging visas. They each have different restrictions and qualifications so the one to apply for depending on what you want.
The Bridging visa B (BVB) allows people to travel outside of Australia for a specified period of time while the substantive visa application is being processed.
A bridging visa C
(BVC) grants one a legal stay in Australia awaiting the processing of a substantive visa not held before. The bridging visa D (BVD) is given when your substantive visa expires as you plan on the next course of action.
This can be to leave the country or apply for a substantive visa. You cannot work using this visa. The Bridging Visa E (BVE) lets someone stay in Australia even after his or her substantive visa expires and is finalizing a matter with the immigration department.
Here is a detailed look at each of these bridging visa Australia types.
BVA and BVB
BVA is issued to a person who is in Australia and his or her substantive visa is valid but about to expire. The aim is to have a visa for a legal stay while awaiting the decision of immigration officers even after the expiry of the substantive visa.
If the substantive visa application is refused the BVA gives you 28 days stay after or within which you have to leave. With BVA, you can engage in studying or working depending on the substantive visa you had before.
On the other hand, BVB gives you permission to travel out of the country so if you need to travel outside the country during the bridging period this is the visa to get. Other than the travel authority, this bridging visa Australia works just like BVA.
The time within one can travel is, however, specified.
BVC
This visa is issued to people who have been in Australia and are yet to obtain a substantive visa. They are regarded as illegal immigrants. Apply for a substantive visa and the BVC will be granted if your application is viable.
While holding the BVC you cannot travel outside the country and if you do you cannot return. A BVC holder cannot apply for a BVB. BVC can be granted with or without the provision to work.
You need to prove that you will be in serious financial problems if this bridging visa Australia denies you the opportunity to work.
BVD and BVE
BVD is given to people who are lawfully in Australia but they are about to become unlawful, have made an application for a substantive visa but this was invalidated. This visa is valid for five days during which the holder needs to give a valid application for a substantive visa.
On the other hand, BVE is for people who are already considered to be in the country unlawfully. These are people whose substantive visas have already expired and applications for others denied or other reasons.
BVE has restrictions like regular reporting to the home affairs office and others. Another type of bridging visa to Australia is the BFV that is issued to people who are of interest to the Australian police.
These are people suspected to be involved in serious commonwealth crimes like sexual servitude and trafficking. This comes with a “no work” condition and is valid until the minister considers you no longer a person of interest or 30 days.
