[GeorginaS]

Hello!

I was looking for help in regards to travelling whilst applying for a Partner Visa 820.

I applied for the temporary partner visa (820) onshore on February 5th 2018. I am currently on a Student visa which expires August 30th 2018. I was sent a Bridging Visa A which is to come into effect on August 30th when my student visa expires.

With that in mind, I was wondering if anyone could help in regards to what I need to do to travel.

I am currently engaged to my partner and we are getting married in Bali. Due to this we need to travel for 6 days there to meet our Wedding planner and organise the venue etc. We have booked the flights already and are looking to travel in June - 4 months after my visa application was submitted.

Now, I am aware I am able to travel unconditionally on my Student Visa. However, I would like some assurance that my visa won't be granted whilst I am away - such as a Bridging Visa B would.

Do I still apply for a BVB even though my BVA won't come into effect until August? Would the BVB still put a hold on my visa application whilst I am away - even though I will still be on a student visa?

Any help you can provide would be really appreciated!

Thanks

Georgina

 

[Skybluebrewer]

You go by the conditions of the visa you're currently on. So if the visa you're currently allows you to leave and reenter Australia, then you're fine to do so. The BVA conditions (including no travel) won't apply until the BVA is in effect.

If they could grant an 820 while you're offshore, it wouldn't have the requirement to be onshore for grant.

 

[paulhand]

You can travel on your student visa until it expires, your partner visa won't (and can't) be granted when you are offshore. You can also apply for a BVB, but that's unnecessary in your case if you will be back before the student visa expires and the BVA kicks in.

Travelling overseas does not put a hold on processing your application, it just means that the visa can't be granted until you return.

 

[GeorginaS]

If they could grant an 820 while you're offshore, it wouldn't have the requirement to be onshore for grant.

Thank you for the information. Just a point I wanted to clarify. I am aware that it cannot be granted unless I am in the country. However, I was wondering if there was a way to ensure that the department is aware that I am out of the country so that the visa is not issued and then subsequently cancelled. Like how I am assuming the BVB works, they allow you to leave and thus it won't be granted until you are back in Australia.

I was just concerned that if I left on the student visa, they wouldn't be aware of this fact and thus if it was granted I wouldn't be onshore.

I hope that makes sense

Thank you for your help!

 

[Skybluebrewer]

Thank you for the information. Just a point I wanted to clarify. I am aware that it cannot be granted unless I am in the country. However, I was wondering if there was a way to ensure that the department is aware that I am out of the country so that the visa is not issued and then subsequently cancelled. Like how I am assuming the BVB works, they allow you to leave and thus it won't be granted until you are back in Australia.

I was just concerned that if I left on the student visa, they wouldn't be aware of this fact and thus if it was granted I wouldn't be onshore.

I hope that makes sense

Thank you for your help!

"You must tell us if you want to travel outside Australia.

You can travel outside Australia and return if your current temporary visa lets you. If you hold a Visitor visa, eVisitor or ETA your period of stay will recommence when you return to Australia. This means you will not be granted a Bridging Visa A until the period of stay ends on your visa (usually about three months).

You cannot travel outside Australia and return if you hold a Bridging visa A (BVA). If you want to travel out of Australia and re-enter, apply for a Bridging visa B (BVB)."

If you want to read the exact wording from the 820/801 website.

When I would travel, I would simply upload a document stating my intentions to travel with dates and contact information while away. They'll know you're offshore anyway because of your passport.