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To stay lawful, individuals with visas about to expire but who would like to stay in Australia must apply for a visa extension.
Due to travel bans presently taking place across the world, many people are seeking a visa extension to stay in Australia. This includes Temporary Visa holders, such as those onshore in Melbourne who may not be able to safely return to their home country before their visa expires. If you are considering a visa extension, here’s what you need to know about your options to stay in Melbourne and apply for a new visa.
What to do if you need to stay in Australia
If your visa is about to expire but you cannot go back to your home country due to travel restrictions, you need to apply for a new visa to legally remain in Australia.
Getting Assistance on Visa Extension in Melbourne
If your visa is expiring in the next few months, you may wish to consider visa extension options to apply for a new visa and stay in Melbourne, Australia. Your eligibility for various visa options will depend on your individual circumstances, therefore it can help to seek professional advice.
To understand which visa options may be available to you to stay in Australia and how we can help, contact one of Interstaff’s registered Migration Agents to arrange a ‘Zero-contact’ Skype or telephone consultation.
A discounted consultation fee may be available if your visa is expiring in the coming months and you have been impacted by the COVID-19 travel bans.
Simply get in touch at [email protected] or contact our Melbourne office on 03 8319 0902.
What if my visa is expiring?
If your visa is expiring soon, it is common to think you may need a visa extension, but in Australia, extending your stay involves applying for a new visa. Generally, a person can apply for a Visitor Visa which will allow you to stay in Australia for 3, 6 or 12 months, depending on your circumstances.
Alternatively, other available options depend on your eligibility for various family, partner, student or work visa options. If you apply for a new visa, you will often be granted a Bridging Visa. This allows you to lawfully stay in Australia while your application for the new visa is being assessed.
The Government has also introduced the 408 COVID-19 Visa for people with no visa options – ie, those who cannot depart Australia due to the COVID-19 crisis and hold a visa that is expiring in less than 28 days (or did not expire over 28 days ago). It may also be available to visa holders working in critical sectors. As with all visas, substantial evidence is required to support your application.
What if my visa has a ‘No Further Stay’ Condition (8503, 8534 or 8535)?
Usually, there are very limited circumstances available to stay in Australia if a person’s visa grant notice has a ‘No Further Stay’ Condition (8503, 8534 or 8535). However, the good news is the Government is accepting applications for waivers of this condition to assist those impacted by the immediate travel bans. If you have a ‘No Further Stay’ Condition on your visa, you will first need to request a waiver for the condition before you can apply for a new visa.
Visa Extension Melbourne
If your visa is due to expire, you may wish to consider visa extension options to apply for a new visa and stay in Australia. To have your eligibility assessed and discuss any questions you may have about your application requirements, simply contact one of Interstaff’s registered Migration Agents to arrange a Skype or telephone consultation.
About Interstaff
Operating since 1988, Interstaff specialises in comprehensive immigration services including visa advice throughout all stages of the visa application process. Our leading visa agents have been providing visa extension Melbourne services to help individuals and businesses obtain a wide range of visas including temporary and permanent work visas, partner visas, student visas and tourist visas. Our registered migration agents have also successfully handled visa refusal and visa cancellation cases
As per Australian Law, our migration agents are registered with the Office of Migration Agents Registration Authority (OMARA) and practice under the Code of Conduct (the governing body for the Australian migration industry). In addition to our team being qualified professionals, our visa agents stay abreast of Australia’s migration industry news, rules, regulations and procedures, and we keep our clients advised of any potential impacts to their application.
“On behalf of my family and I, we would like to thank the staff at Interstaff for working around the clock to achieve our goal of Permanent Residency. They are a great team of professionals and handled our case with very high standards. We greatly appreciate it – thank you!”
Michael & Violet, Permanent Residence Visa