Are you already staying in Australia and your visa is going to expire soon? To avoid living illegally in the country, apply for the extension visa. Among all the extension visas, the bridging visa is the perfect to stay longer in Australia. However, the visa comes with some conditions. If you are going to apply for the bridging visa you need to know what the visa is.
A bridging visa to Australia is a type of visa that can be useful for international students who come abroad to study in Australia. You need to know more about what a bridging visa is and the types; you also need to know when you require them.
You may have heard about a work visa, student visa, post-study work visa, and many other types of visa. However, most people may not be familiar with a bridging visa, and international students must know about this visa. In this guide, you will learn important things about a bridging visa. Keep scrolling to know everything about bridging visa that will guide your way while applying for one.
What Is Bridging Visa Australia?
Similar to the name, a bridging visa in Australia helps to serve as a connection or bridge. Filling the gap between the latest visa you are applying for and your expired visa. A Bridging visa can help you stay legally in Australia if your main visa has expired and you are waiting to receive your next visa. This visa allows you to stay and work for a short time period until a decision on your substantive visa comes.
You can apply for the visa to stay and if you don’t have funds to stay longer, you can start work for a short time with a bridging visa.
When Will You Be Required to Have a Bridging Visa?
You will only be eligible to stay in a foreign land if you have a valid visa. The law in Australia or any other country does not permit you to stay in the country without having a valid visa. It doesn’t matter the length of time you have been staying in the country or if you possessed a legal visa some days before.
In Australia, if you do not have a valid visa, you might be detained by the government. They can send you back from the country. In the result, you will be charged the costs that will be involved in sending you back to your home country from Australia. If you leave Australia without having a visa, maybe you will not get any approval on the upcoming visas you are going to apply.
When you have a visa, you need to know the expiry date and your duties, rights, and legal status in the country. A bridging visa can assist you in staying in Australia after your current visa has expired. It can give you the authority to stay in Australia till you receive a new visa. If you live unlawfully in Australia, you must apply for a bridging visa.
What Types of Bridging Visas Are There in Australia?
There are various types of bridging visas that you can find in Australia, but there are four common visas that you should know. They are Bridging Visa A, Bridging Visa B, Bridging Visa C, and Bridging Visa E. You can choose from either of these visas based on your eligibility and the purpose of your stay. When you do not possess a substantive visa, you can take the help of a bridging visa. The four common bridging visas are explained in detail to make things easier for you:
Bridging Visa A (Subclass 010):
The main purpose of this visa subclass 010 is to provide you with an alternate visa in times like when your current visa has expired. If you are waiting to receive another substantive visa, this visa is for you. You can work in Australia under this visa if you meet the requirements. However, you will not be able to return back to Australia under this visa; for this, you will need to have a substantive visa. This visa is free of cost and the processing times depend on how well you have submitted your documents. This type of visa will end after you leave Australia, and there is no way to extend this visa.
Bridging Visa B (Subclass 020):
You can apply for this visa after your current substantive visa has expired and you are waiting to receive a new one. You can work in Australia under this visa and enjoy rights similar to Bridging Visa A work rights. Under this type of bridging visa, you can travel to and from Australia under relevant time periods.
The cost of this visa is around AUD 165. You could work in Australia under this visa only if your previous substantive visa allowed you to work in this country. If you want to travel under this visa, you need to provide relevant documents to the concerned authorities and state the reason for your traveling. Another important thing is that you need to be in Australia when applying for this visa.
Bridging Visa C (Subclass 030):
Similar to a bridging visa 010, you can use this visa if your current visa has expired and you have already applied for another visa. You can also apply for this bridging visa if you are waiting on a decision on a judicial review for a visa. You can work in Australia under this visa, but there are some conditions that you need to meet.
The important thing to remember is that you will not be allowed to come back to Australia under this visa. The cost for this visa is free, similar to the bridging A visa. You need to be in Australia when you apply for this visa. Also, you can only work under this visa if your previous substantive visa allows you to do so.
Bridging Visa E (Subclass 050):
This is another bridging visa that is similar to visa 010. You can use this visa to fix your immigration status in Australia and to reside lawfully in Australia before you leave this country. You can also apply for this visa while waiting to receive your new substantive visa.
You can work under this visa based on your visa grant; you need to refer to it to know if you are eligible to work. If you are not granted the right to work under this visa, you cannot work under any circumstances. You need to be in Australia when you are granted this visa, and the cost of this visa is free.
Final Words:
As you know what a bridging visa is, you can apply for any type of bridging visa. You can choose among the bridging visa A subclass 010, bridging visa B subclass 020, bridging visa C subclass 030, and bridging visa E subclass 050. This is a visa that people use when they live illegally in Australia. You can apply for one of these visas and easily extend your stay in Australia.
You can contact a reputed migration agent Perth to know more about this visa and for help related to the visa. The migration agents are experts in providing hassle free consultation for the customers. They can help you with the visa document list, application form, and many other via related queries.
You also might like to read this: Why You Should Choose Visa Subclass 600 To Travel To Australia?