Covid19 FAQs - For Visitor and Bridging Visas

For Visitor Visa:

Q. What can I do if I am a visitor visa holder and I cannot go home to my home country?

  • The visitor visa holder should maintain a valid visa and engage with the health system when needed.
  • In order for the visitor visa holders to maintain their lawful status, they need to apply for a new visa before their current visa expires. If they are holding a visitor visa with “No Further Stay” condition (e.g. 8503, 8534 and 8535), they can request a waiver that can allow them to lodge a new visa application.

 

For Bridging Visa Holder:

Q. What is a bridging visa?

  • Bridging visa allows you to stay in Australia after your current visa expires, and while your new visa application is being processed.

Q. I am a Bridging visa holder but need some temporary support. Is there any available?

  • Status Resolution Support Services (SRSS) provides support for certain non-citizens who are in the Australian community temporarily while their immigration status is being determined. The SRSS program provides short-term, tailored support to individuals who are unable to support themselves while they engage with the Department of Home Affairs to resolve their immigration status. It is not an ongoing welfare entitlement.
  • People who are actively engaged with the Department to resolve their immigration status and need assistance to overcome barriers to that resolution, may be eligible to be provided with short term support in order to resolve that barrier.
  • Individuals on a bridging visa with work rights, and who have the capacity to work, are expected to support themselves while their immigration status is being resolved.
  • During the COVID-19 period, applications for support under SRSS will be assessed on a case by-case basis.

Q. I am a Bridging visa holder. Am I able to work?

  • Your work rights will depend on the conditions on your Bridging Visa. It is indicated in the grant letter. You can check if you have work restriction using the Visa Entitlement Verification Online Service (VEVO).
  • If the bridging visa does not allow you to work or has work restriction, you can apply for another Bridging visa that lets you work. This is only available in some circumstances and you will usually have to demonstrate that you are in financial hardship.

Q. What should I do if my bridging visa expires on a specific date?

  • If you want to stay in Australia beyond your visa expiry date, you must apply for another visa.

Q. I am a Bridging Visa holder and want to depart Australia. What should I do?

  • The Department’s Status Resolution Service can assist eligible individuals wishing to depart from Australia (where this is currently possible). The Department contracts the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and Serco (Homeward) as service providers to facilitate its voluntary return and reintegration programs.

Returns assistance may be available and may provide an eligible recipient with one, or any combination of assistance, including:

                - independent returns counselling

- plane ticket o assistance to obtain travel documents

- reception assistance in country of return

- travel assistance to final destination

To be considered eligible for returns assistance, you must:

- be a non-citizen;

- not hold a visa that permits re-entry to Australia;

- elect to voluntarily return to a country-of-origin or a country where you have a right of   entry and stay; and

- demonstrate you are unable to self-fund their return.

Q. What should I do if my visa has expired?

  • If your visa has expired within 28 days, you need to apply for a Bridging visa E (BVE) immediately in order to become lawful. A BVE is a short-term visa that lets you remain lawful while you make arrangements to leave Australia.
  • If your visa expired more than 28 days ago, you can contact the Status Resolution Service (SRS) for assistance to resolve your immigration status.

 

If you are unable to depart Australia due to the Covid-19 pandemic and you wants to extend your stay. Click here for more information. 

Should you require assistance on your visa matter, contact us at 03 99997964.

Source: Department of Home Affairs

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