DIY your BVB – How to get travel rights on your bridging visa

I am regularly asked “How can I get a bridging B visa for myself?”

A bridging A visa does not come with international travel rights (if you leave, you don’t have permission to return). In that case, you need to get a bridging B visa before traveling overseas, so that you have a right of re-entry to Australia.

If you hold a bridging visa C, D, E, F or R you cannot apply for a BVB. It’s simply not possible.

How to DIY a BVB application:

• Apply at least 4-6 weeks before you are due to travel. It can take Immigration days or weeks to grant a BVB. Immigration can be slow to respond sometimes (especially around Christmas and Easter).
• Before you start, know that Immigration will require you to give them a document proving that you have a “substantial” reason to travel. A holiday is usually not considered a “substantial” reason. Here are some examples of substantial reasons: family wedding/funeral/significant birthday, visit a sick relative, visit an elderly relative or a new baby, visit family you have been separated from for years, legal affairs overseas you have to deal with, attending a work-related conference or event, visiting clients or business associates on behalf of your employer, etc). A letter from your employer stating that you need to travel for work reasons is usually accepted (travel dates and reasons must be given).
• If someone else lodged your visa application, you must first “import” that visa application into your own ImmiAccount, then you can apply for a bridging visa in there. Steps:
  • If you don’t have an ImmiAccount, you can make one here: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-support/applying-online-or-on-paper/online/create-your-immiaccount
  • Login to ImmiAccount
  • “Import” your application – see the picture below!
  • Your visa application’s “transaction reference number” (TRN) will be listed on the acknowledgement letter issued when your visa application was lodged (if we lodged your visa application, you will have received a copy of that letter from us on the day of lodgement, via email). It will also be on the receipt.
  • Once your application is imported, click “view details” then click “bridging visa” then click “apply for a bridging visa”. Obviously, you want the one “To seek permission to travel outside of Australia”.
  • When you are completing the form, list your email address as the contact point so Immigration email the BVB grant letter directly to you.

If you want our help, the cost is about $800 in most cases, including the government charge. We will need the document showing your reason for overseas travel, and your dates of leave/return.

Once it is granted, read the bridging visa carefully, and make sure you return to Australia before it expires!

Important – if you are a client of Welch Law and you ‘import’ your visa application so you can DIY a BVB, do not interfere with the primary visa application (the one we did for you). We do not take responsibility for the consequences if you upload documents or communicate with Immigration without first consulting us.

Safe travels!