Bridging Visa B
A Bridging Visa B (BVB) allows a person who is the holder of a BVA or BVB visa to travel outside & re-enter Australia for a specified period, until either –
- Their substantive visa application is finally determined, or
- Their Merits Review by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) is completed, or
- Their judicial review proceedings are completed
Bridging Visa B applications must be made within specified time periods. Unlike BVAs, there is no provision in law to allow for the auto-grant of BVBs.
Criteria to be met by BVB applicants :
- You must hold a valid passport
- You must be in Australia when you apply & at the time of visa grant
- Each applicant, including each family member, must satisfy the primary criteria of this visa independently.
- You can be of any age to apply for this visa
- You must be the holder of a BVA or BVB at the time of visa application
- You must wish to leave & re-enter Australia during the processing of your substantive visa application or during judicial review proceedings
- You must satisfy the Department that your reasons for wishing to travel are “Substantial” & that you have a “genuine need to travel”
- You must have & maintain adequate health insurance for the whole of your stay in Australia
- You must meet the Character Requirement
- Your return to Australia must not be contrary to public interest
Rights of BVB applicants :
- You can include family members in your application
- Most BVBs are multiple-entry visas
- You can travel outside Australia as many times as you want until your BVB ceases or the travel period on the visa has expired
- You can stay in Australia until your substantive visa application is finally determined
- If the BVB was granted in association with a judicial review, then you can stay in Australia until the judicial review proceedings are completed
Who should apply, when you should apply, the criteria that each applicant has to meet, the “Forms” you can use to apply, whether you should apply online or on paper, the visa application charge payable & for whom, the visa conditions that can be imposed on your BVB, when & what can cause your BVB to cease to be in effect and whether you must choose to explore the “merits review” option if your BVB is refused, are all matters that require a thorough understanding of the Bridging visa program.
In order to retain their legal immigration status continuously, it is very important that all BVB applicants be aware of the circumstances, dates or periods applicable to commencement & cessation of a Bridging Visa B.
To know if you are eligible to apply for a BVB or some other Bridging visa in accordance with the Migration Act & Regulations, contact us so that we can help you retain your legal immigration status in Australia.
