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Bridging Visa B application - just a little experience sharing

89K views 65 replies 37 participants last post by  erksoon 
#1 ·
Hi all,

I need to return to my home country next month for less than two weeks to visit my family and handle some errands, so I went to the immigration office in Sydney (Lee Street) yesterday to apply for a Bridging Visa B.

The officer at the counter said they no longer approve/reject BVB on the spot, thus they no longer accept payment by debit card at the counter as well. She added that it would take 1-2 working days for other officers at the back office to review one's application for a BVB. (This is contrary to what I read from this forum - about being granted a BVB on the spot - so I thought I might just share this with people who intend to apply for a BVB.)

Just about two hours ago, I received an email from the immigration department, saying that they have granted a BVB to me with immediate effect. So the officer was right in that it would take only 1-2 working days.

A positive surprise is that they gave me a multiple-entry BVB that can be used for travelling within 6 months from today. I am really happy because that means I don't have to pay for another $140 if I intended to travel out of Australia again before May 2014. FIY, I did not write anything special in my application form. I just filled in the form normally stating that I am visiting my family and to handle some errands.

Just like BVA, the BVB gives me full working rights without restrictions, and it is valid until a decision is made on my application for Partner Visa 820.

Just a little sharing with those of you who have questions about BVB.
 
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#2 ·
This is the second BVB we've heard of recently with a six-month multiple entry condition. Interesting! I wonder if they're going to be giving these out more given the long processing times onshore now. Congrats!
 
#3 ·
Thanks heaps for sharing, I was planning a 7 hour trip to Sydney to apply in person for a BVB but if I can't even get it granted on the spot then there's not much point. So you've saved me time and money - thank you!
I'm hoping these longer BVBs are becoming the standard now - fingers crossed I'm as lucky as you!
Did you supply any evidence with your application?
 
#5 ·
Hi adm6,

I'm glad this post is helpful to you. And yes, please don't spend the money travelling so far to Sydney. Just apply maybe at least 3 weeks before your intended departure date - that gives you 1 week to make sure your form reach them, and another two weeks as the latest timeframe you should apply.

No evidence is needed in the application. Just fill in Form 1006 (no changes in Nov, just use the same old form designed in July this year - you can see at the bottom of the form pages), and make sure your payment method is NOT by debit card.

Good luck! :)
 
#6 ·
I was actually planning to apply 3 months before, as I want to be able to organise my trip and book flights but don't really want to do that until I get the BVB granted. I hope they don't grant it effective immediately if I do that though!
 
#7 ·
It is probably old news for everyone. I applied BVB in person in May 2012 and was granted the visa on the spot with 6 months multiple-entry. I don't know whether that was because It was urgent for me to go overseas or they were just nicer back then. In the end, I didn't even need the BVB because the 820 visa was granted two days before I left aus I paid $120 for nothing lol
 
#8 ·
hi ccpro,

It was too bad the $120 was wasted. It would be strange to say that I don't want to get my 820 that early but I really hope my $140 won't be wasted. LOL

I submitted my application for 820 in early October, so the officer at the counter told me she was very sure that I would not get my 820 anytime soon.
 
#10 ·
Hi Guys,

It's good that most of you who posted got a 6mth BVB.

I applied for mine on 30/Aug/2013 (Friday), didn't get it on the spot.
The officer at the DIAC said I should receive the approval within the same day by email. I waited till 3/Sept/2013 (Tuesday), but still no email came in notifying me of the BVB approval.

So, i called DIAC and the customer care consultant told me that it's been approved in the system. She activated my VEVO for me and told me to check the status in VEVO. So i checked the status on VEVO and true, its been approved. However, no email was sent notifying me of the BVB approval (as informed to me during application). And my BVB was only valid for 3mths effective from application date.

*Note: i was told by DIAC that if BVB is applied within 2 weeks of intended travel date, they will approve it almost immediately(or within 1-2days).
And application within 2 weeks of intended travel date is more desirable for DIAC.
I went in to DIAC to apply for my BVB in Mid August, but they sent me home and told me to submit my application end of Aug when it's just within 2 weeks of my intended travel date.
**Not sure if this rule still applies now(since things change often), but that's what happened to me. So, just thought of sharing my BVB application experience with you guys :cool:
 
#11 ·
Does anyone know if bridging visa Bs are always granted 'effective immediately' ie. am I best off to wait until as close to the time I want to travel as possible in order to be able to remain out of the country for longer, or can I apply anytime within the 3 months prior to my trip and request the bridging visa becomes effective from the day or week I want to leave?
 
#12 ·
Thank you for sharing!

I'm surprised they've decided to no longer grant on the spot, though. I posted a while ago I was concerned what would happen if a family member ended up in hospital back home and I had to go back right away to still be able to see them - and the fact that they no longer do immediate grants under any circumstances is a little disheartening. The only reason I would need a BVB is if a loved one back home had an accident or sudden problem of sorts, which would require fast action.

But it is good to know they still mostly grant within 24 to 48 hours - that is something to keep in mind if such an a thing ever occurred.
 
#13 ·
I always wonder the same Nelly, we live out in the country and takes long enough to get to a city in order to get to an international airport, without having to first take a trip to the Immigration office to get a BVB granted - doesn't make it easy to get on the next available flight home in an emergency. Surely they'd make an allowance in that situation though and grant one on the spot, say if you were flying out later that day.
 
#14 ·
Hi all,

I need to return to my home country next month for less than two weeks to visit my family and handle some errands, so I went to the immigration office in Sydney (Lee Street) yesterday to apply for a Bridging Visa B.

The officer at the counter said they no longer approve/reject BVB on the spot, thus they no longer accept payment by debit card at the counter as well. She added that it would take 1-2 working days for other officers at the back office to review one's application for a BVB. (This is contrary to what I read from this forum - about being granted a BVB on the spot - so I thought I might just share this with people who intend to apply for a BVB.)

Just about two hours ago, I received an email from the immigration department, saying that they have granted a BVB to me with immediate effect. So the officer was right in that it would take only 1-2 working days.

A positive surprise is that they gave me a multiple-entry BVB that can be used for travelling within 6 months from today. I am really happy because that means I don't have to pay for another $140 if I intended to travel out of Australia again before May 2014. FIY, I did not write anything special in my application form. I just filled in the form normally stating that I am visiting my family and to handle some errands.

Just like BVA, the BVB gives me full working rights without restrictions, and it is valid until a decision is made on my application for Partner Visa 820.

Just a little sharing with those of you who have questions about BVB.
Hey

I applied for my bvb via post and sent it to the lee street office... did you apply by mail after you visited the office? So stressed that i wont have it in time, i fly on 11/04
 
#16 ·
I've just been granted 7 months BVB. I sent a cover letter with my application explaining my reasons. As long as you aren't likely to be granted your substantive visa while you're away you should be fine
 
#18 ·
Yes by post. I applied 4-5 weeks before but they generally don't grant until 2 weeks before your departure date, as I discovered because I hassled them after a couple of weeks wondering what was taking so long and was told applications are processed in order of soonest travel date. So really no benefit to applying early.
 
#19 ·
Sorry to bump this old thread up, but I'm going overseas at the end of August for my wedding (!!!). I was going to apply for the BVB now, but should I just wait until August or closer to the end of July? Does anyone know if the processing times for BVB are still the same (i.e. they won't approve you until two weeks before going anyway?). I guess I'd feel better just getting it in soon, but I'm not sure if it'll drive me crazy waiting or what, haha.

Also, I'm a bit confused as to what happens when I come back. Do I need to contact the immigration office? Do I stay on the BVB until my 820 visa is granted?
 
#20 ·
Hey

I applied like a month before I went away and they approved it in 4 days. If I were you I'd just apply now so it's done, and hopefully they will approve it sooner, but even if they approve it 2 weeks before thats still plenty of time.

When your BVB is approved you will get an expiry date of this BVB that it detailed in the confirmation letter. Mine was multi entry for 6 months so I applied for it in May and it expired in October, when I would have had to call and have my BVA reinstated. However my 820 was approved nearly as soon as I got back from my trip so my BVA was never reinstated.

Its pretty simple and easy to get :)
 
#22 ·
There's some debate as to whether it's necessary to reinstate your BVA when you come back to the country - I would do it, just in case. I for one would be concerned that I'd somehow forget my BVB's expiration date if my 820 hadn't been granted and I'd find myself without a bridging visa.
 
#23 ·
Hi all, I don't think one should reinstate their BVA after being granted a BVB. When I received my BVB in November last year, the grant letter said the BVB would be valid until you have a decision on your Partner Visa application. It also explicitly stated that "This Bridging Visa B replaces the previous Bridging Visa A" granted. You also have full rights to work on a BVB, just like BVA. The only thing that will expire is the date you must return to Australia. So for example, if your BVB was granted on 22 May and the last day you must return to Australia on this visa is 22 November, then you must return before 22 November, and continue to stay in Australia on this BVB until a decision is made on your partner visa application. You don't need to reinstate any visa, nothing. That's my experience.
 
#24 ·
Mrs. Z, I understand where you're coming from, but I've read migration agents say you need to reapply for the BVA before the BVB expires, so personally, I wouldn't take a chance.
 
#25 ·
Here you go, Mark Northam's advice on this topic from this post:

Many people return on a BV-B and leave the BV-B in place, however we usually recommend people re-apply for the BV-A upon return - note that you'll probably have to lodge this by post or online as if you try this at DIBP they have been known to turn people away.

The issue is that if you have a BV-A, that makes applying for your next BV-B easier. Also, the BV-A is the proper bridging visa to be on if you are onshore in Australia and not planning to depart in the immediate future.

Hope this helps -

Best,

Mark Northam
 
#26 ·
Hey,

I'm currently on a bridging visa A but want to head out of the country. Obviously I need to sort out a bridging visa B. I just have a few queries.
My friend is heading over to Australia at the end of this year and we want to head to Fiji for a holiday. I'm worried they will decline my application as this is not really a legitimate reason to leave Australia. Also how long do they take to approve? I've been advised it might not get approved until a week before I want to leave the country.
 
#27 ·
They're approving them for pretty much any reason (including holidays) these days given the insane wait times, so I wouldn't worry about that. I think you're probably right that it might just be a week or two before you leave that you'll hear (in fact I think I've read that they want you to APPLY just two weeks before you leave... let someone else confirm or deny that, though), but I wouldn't worry. I haven't heard of one being denied for something like this, so I doubt you need to worry about that.
 
#29 ·
Most people do book in advance.
 
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