B sure you can return — for Bridging visa C holders
Can I travel overseas on a Bridging visa C?
Some of you have asked about leaving Australia while waiting for your application for a skilled migration visa to be processed. This is our third blog post about bridging visas and how they affect your ability to travel overseas and return to Australia.
We have already talked about what to do if you hold a Bridging visa A (rather than a substantive visa) and want to travel.
We also spoke about how a Bridging visa B is the best option for people wanting to leave Australia and return.
This time, we’re talking about what to do if you hold a Bridging visa C and you have applied for a skilled migration visa in Australia.
If you hold a Bridging visa C
The Bridging visa C only allows you to remain in Australia. It has no travel facility and will cease immediately if you leave Australia, even if you also hold a substantive visa allowing you to travel.
If you only hold a Bridging visa C, we recommend you remain in Australia until your substantive visa application is decided—this is because you are not eligible for the travel bridging visa, the Bridging visa B.
If you have an urgent need to travel overseas, you should contact us to discuss your options before departing.
More information on bridging visas in relation to general skilled migration applications is on our website.
B sure you can return – more information
Bridging visas and your application for skilled migration
Some of you have asked about leaving Australia while waiting for a visa application to be processed. This is the second post for people who have lodged an application for a skilled migration visa in Australia, but who would like to go overseas while their skilled migration visa application is being processed.
We have already talked about what to do if you hold a Bridging visa A (rather than a substantive visa) and want to travel .
This time, we’re talking about what to do if you hold another substantive visa, such as a Student or a Skilled - Graduate visa and you have applied onshore for a skilled migration visa.
If you hold another substantive visa that hasn’t expired and allows you to return to Australia.
Your Bridging visa A ceases when you leave Australia. If you decide to travel on another substantive visa without first applying for and being granted a Bridging visa B, you may not remember to apply for a replacement Bridging visa A on your return. You therefore risk becoming unlawful after you return to Australia when your substantive visa ceases.
Also, while you may be able to return to Australia on the same or a different substantive visa, and apply for a replacement Bridging visa A, you will then have to abide by the conditions of that visa until it ceases, including any work limitations. For example, if you return on a Student visa, your work entitlements will revert to those of a student — 20 hours per week.
However, when you hold a Bridging visa B, you won’t have to worry about getting another visa while overseas to return to Australia when or if your substantive visa ceases. If you return to Australia on a Bridging visa B, you will remain lawful even after your substantive visa ceases.
Depending on your situation, a Bridging visa B can be granted with a travel period of up to 12 months and will let you depart and re-enter Australia as often as you wish within that time.
Be sure you can return. Investigate the Bridging visa B before you leave.
More detail on Bridging visas in relation to general skilled migration applications, including how to apply for a Bridging visa B, is on our website.
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Post script:
We have kept this post open longer than usual, as we are receiving many questions about the Bridging visa posts. We’ll be providing more information on Bridging visas on the website in the near future.
Please remember that this blog is not a forum to ask about your specific case – if you have a question about your own situation, particularly if it is urgent, your best option is to contact us through the correct channels http://www.immi.gov.au/contacts/visa-enquiries/professionals.htm .
Thank you for participating.
B sure you can return — for Bridging visa A holders
Bridging visas and your application for skilled migration
Some of you have asked about leaving Australia while waiting for your skilled migration visa applications to be processed.
This information is in the acknowledgment letter that you received when you made your application. However, it’s worth noting again the best way to maintain your work and study entitlements, and to ensure you remain lawful.
If you hold a Bridging visa A
If you hold a Bridging Visa A and want to leave Australia, you should apply for a Bridging Visa B before you leave.
This is because a Bridging visa A (which you may hold as a result of applying onshore for another substantive visa) will cease when you leave Australia— even if you hold another visa that allows you to travel and return to Australia.
If you apply for and are granted a Bridging visa B, it won’t cease when you leave Australia. However, it will cease if you remain overseas beyond the travel period expiry date. When you are granted a Bridging visa B, it ceases your Bridging visa A.
Depending on your situation, a Bridging visa B can be granted with a travel period of up to 12 months, and will let you depart and re-enter Australia as often as you wish within that time.
You must return to Australia before your Bridging visa B ceases. If you don’t, you need to apply for and be granted another substantive visa to allow you to return to Australia. You would need to meet the separate requirements for this visa for it to be granted. If you can’t, you will have to remain outside of Australia until your skilled visa application is ready to be decided.
If you are notified that your skilled visa application is ready for grant while you are away, you’ll have at most 28 days to organise your return to Australia. So if your Bridging visa B has ceased and you don’t hold a substantive visa to return to Australia, contact your nearest overseas office for more information about your options.
Next time, we’ll be talking about why the Bridging visa B is great for people whose substantive visa is still valid.
Until then, be sure you can return—investigate the Bridging visa B before you leave.
More information about bridging visas in relation to general skilled migration applications, including how to apply, is on our website .
