If you want to learn about a Bridging Visa E or how to get one, you’ve come to the right place. This short-term visa is key to Australia’s immigration system. It gives legal status to people in certain situations. Whether you study abroad, work on a sponsored job, or face changes to your visa, knowing about the Bridging Visa E can make a big difference to your time in Australia.

bridging visa e

This guide breaks down all you need to know about the Bridging Visa E subclass 050. You’ll find out what this visa means, who can apply for it, and what rights and limits it brings. We’ll also show you how to apply, explain when the visa ends, and talk about possible re-entry bans. Once you finish reading, you’ll get a solid grasp of the Bridging Visa E and how it might fit your case in Australia.

Bridging Visa E Overview

A Bridging Visa E (BVE) gives you legal status to stay in Australia while you deal with your immigration issues. It helps people who don’t have a valid visa or are working out their visa problems. The BVE keeps you on the right side of the law as you plan to leave Australia or finish up your immigration matters.

You might need a BVE if you’re waiting to hear about your visa application asking for a review of a visa decision, or getting ready to leave Australia. It acts as a safety net giving you legal status during this in-between time.

Subclass 050 vs Subclass 051

The Bridging Visa E has two types: Subclass 050 and Subclass 051. Both have similar goals, but they apply to different cases:

  1. Subclass 050: You can get this if you’ve stayed longer than your visa allowed, your visa was canceled, or you’re appealing a visa denial or cancellation. Most people who need a BVE get this type.
  2. Subclass 051: This one’s just for people in immigration detention who’ve asked for a Protection visa.

Both types are short-term and you can get them while you’re in Australia. The main difference is the situation that leads to each one.

Key features

The Bridging Visa E has several important traits:

  1. Legal stay: This lets you stay in Australia while you sort out your immigration issues or get ready to leave the country.
  2. Work rights: You can’t work on a BVE in most cases. But if you can show you’re in financial trouble and need to work, you might get a new BVE that allows you to work.
  3. Travel restrictions: A BVE doesn’t let you travel outside Australia. If you leave, your visa ends right away, and you can’t come back.
  4. Family inclusion: You might be able to add family members to your visa application, but they need to meet the same requirements as you do.
  5. Duration: Your BVE stays in effect until a set date or event happens. This could be when your visa application gets settled or when you leave Australia.

Keep in mind, a BVE gives you legal status, but it doesn’t come with many extra rights. It’s a short-term fix to give you time to figure out your immigration situation or plan your departure from Australia.

Eligibility Criteria

To apply for a Bridging Visa E (BVE), you must meet certain requirements. These criteria differ for subclass 050 and 051. Let’s break down the eligibility requirements for each subclass and talk about the health and character factors.

Requirements for Subclass 050

You can apply for a Bridging Visa E subclass 050 if you fit into one of these groups:

  1. You’re staying in Australia without legal permission.
  2. You have a BVE (050) when you apply.
  3. You have a BVD (041) at the time of your application for this visa.

To boost your chances of approval, you should:

  • Plan your departure from Australia, like buying a plane ticket.
  • Submit an application for a main visa (any visa that’s not a bridging visa or entry permit).
  • Ask for a merits or judicial review if you’re challenging a decision about your visa.

When you apply, you need to give:

  • Your passport and ID papers (or proof you’re getting a new passport if yours isn’t valid).
  • Proof of good character (if they ask for it).
  • Fingerprints and passport photos (if they’re needed).
  • Form 956A or 956 if someone’s helping you apply.

You might also need to hand in:

  • Copies of your visa application (if you’re waiting to hear back).
  • Records of your AAT appeal (if you’ve asked for one).
  • Papers about judicial review proceedings.
  • Requests from the Ministry to step in (if this applies to you).
  • The date you’re leaving Australia and where you’re going.
  • A flight ticket showing where you plan to go.

Requirements for Subclass 051

You can get a Bridging Visa E subclass 051 if:

  1. You don’t have immigration clearance.
  2. Someone told the Department of Foreign Affairs you arrived within 45 days.
  3. You fit one of these situations:
    • You asked for a protection visa and are waiting to hear back.
    • They said no to your protection visa, so you asked for another look or went to court.
    • You’re stuck in immigration detention.

To ask for subclass 051, you need to fill out form 1005 and send in the papers they want.

Health and Character Stuff

To get a Bridging Visa E, you must be a good person, according to the Department of Home Affairs. This means:

  • Submitting police certificates or other documents to prove good character if asked.
  • Meeting the character requirements set out in Section 501 of the Migration Act 1958.

If your situation changes after you apply, let the department know in writing. This could affect their decision or lead them to cancel your visa.

You can’t apply for a Bridging Visa E if you weren’t immigration cleared when you arrived in Australia. The same goes if you’ve had a BVE before that was cancelled because of criminal behaviour.

Rights and Restrictions

When you have a Bridging Visa E (BVE), you can stay in Australia while you handle your immigration issues or get ready to leave the country. But this visa has strict limits and few rights. You need to know these to follow Australian laws and rules.

Work Rights

In most cases, a BVE doesn’t let you work in Australia. But if you’re struggling with money and can show you need to work, you might get a new BVE that allows you to work. The Department of Home Affairs will look at your situation before they give you this permission.

As an employer, you should check your bridging visa employees’ work conditions often. The Home Affairs VEVO service can tell you what work rules apply to your employee’s bridging visa. If your business has many foreign workers, you might find the vSure work rights app useful.

Travel Limitations

A BVE has a big limit: you can’t travel outside Australia. If you leave the country with a BVE, your visa will end right away, and you won’t be able to come back to Australia. Keep this in mind when you think about any trips.

Family Inclusion

You can add family members to your BVE application. Remember, they must also meet the visa’s eligibility requirements. This means each family member needs to satisfy the same criteria as the main applicant.

Besides these key points, keep these important things in mind while you have a BVE:

  1. You must obey all Australian laws and rules.
  2. Tell the Department of Home Affairs within 28 days if your address, contact info, or passport details change.
  3. Get health insurance, as BVE holders can’t access Medicare in Australia.
  4. Follow any specific conditions attached to your visa.

A BVE lets you stay in Australia, but it doesn’t give you many extra rights. It’s a short-term fix to give you time to sort out your immigration status or get ready to leave Australia.

Bridging Visa E Application Process

How to apply

You can apply for a Bridging Visa E (BVE) in two ways: online or on paper. Most people prefer the online method for subclass 050 applications. To apply online, you’ll need to use the ImmiAccount platform to submit your application. This process makes it quicker to submit and easier to check your application status.

If you’d rather apply on paper, you’ll need to complete the bridging visa form and mail or email it. It’s essential to send your application to the closest Australian visa office, as they might ask you to come in for an interview. When you email your application, be sure to check the Immigration Department’s website to find the right email address for your area.

Required documents

To make sure your application goes through, you must include these documents:

  1. Passport and identity documents: Send a copy of your passport’s bio page and any other relevant papers. If you don’t have a valid passport, show proof that you’ve started to get a new one.
  2. Proof of good moral character: You might not need to submit this when you apply. The Immigration Office will let you know if they need these papers after you’ve sent in your application.
  3. Fingerprints and passport photos: The department will tell you if you need to visit one of their offices to give these.
  4. Form 956A or 956: Include this if someone is helping you with your application.

Based on your situation, you might also need to submit:

  • Copies of your visa application (if you’re waiting to hear back)
  • Records of your tribunal appeal (if you’ve asked for an AAT review)
  • Papers from judicial review proceedings
  • Requests for intervention from the Ministry (if they apply to you)
  • The date you plan to leave Australia and where you’re heading
  • Your flight ticket showing where you’re going

How long does the process take?

The Department of Home Affairs doesn’t give a set time for processing Bridging Visa E applications. But they try to handle your application as fast as they can. To speed things up, it’s key to give them all the information they need when you apply. The more complete and correct your application is, the quicker they’re likely to process it.

Make sure you keep your ImmiAccount up to date and check it often to see if you need to provide more info or if there’s any news about your application. This hands-on approach can make the process go more and maybe even faster.

Visa Cessation and Re-entry Bans

Circumstances that can end your visa

Your Bridging Visa E (BVE) can end in different ways. If you got your BVE on or after November 19, 2016 when it stops working depends on why you got it in the first place. Let’s say you asked for a substantive visa. In that case, your BVE will stop either when you get that visa or 35 days after they make a decision about your application. If someone’s looking over your citizenship decision again, your BVE will finish 28 days after they’re done with the court review, or if you drop it, or if they throw it out.

When you’re held in criminal detention, your BVE stops when you get out without conditions, finish your sentence, or receive parole. Remember that officials might cancel your visa if you break its rules, don’t meet character standards, or lie on your application.

Re-entry ban effects

If you exit Australia with a BVE that you got more than 28 days after your main visa ran out, you could face a three-year re-entry ban. This ban also called an exclusion period, stops you from getting certain visas to travel to, enter, or stay in Australia for up to three years.

Re-entry bans have their basis in different Public Interest Criteria (PIC) and Special Return Criteria (SRC). PIC 4013 and 4014 both result in a three-year ban, while SRC 5002 leads to a 12-month ban. SRC 5001 stands out as the most severe, as it can lead to a lifelong ban from Australia.

Exceptions and waivers

Re-entry bans carry weight, but exceptions and possibilities to waive them exist. The ban doesn’t affect you if you hold dual citizenship, if you’re married to or depend on an Australian citizen or permanent resident, or if you parent a child under 18 in Australia. Also, if you seek a refugee and humanitarian visa, the ban might not apply to you.

In certain situations, the Department of Home Affairs might waive an exclusion period. This can occur when compelling circumstances affect Australia’s interests or when compassionate reasons involve an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen. Keep in mind that waivers aren’t guaranteed and are examined.

Re-entry bans impact temporary visa applications, but your immigration history could still play a role in future visa decisions. Always follow your visa conditions to avoid these serious consequences.

Apply your Bridging visa E with ease

The Bridging Visa E plays a key part in Australia’s immigration system, offering a way out to those facing visa issues. It gives legal status to people in certain situations, letting them stay in Australia while they figure out their immigration problems or get ready to leave. This visa has an influence on different parts of life in Australia, such as work rights, travel limits, and bringing family members along.

Knowing about the Bridging Visa E helps you deal with the tricky parts of coming to Australia. This visa has its own set of rules about who can get it, how to apply, what you can and can’t do, and possible bans on coming back. If you understand these things, you can make smart choices about staying in Australia and follow the country’s rules for visitors. In the end, the Bridging Visa E gives people a short-term fix letting them sort out their status or plan to leave Australia.

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