The Immigration and Community Protection Policy Division of the Department of Home Affairs (DoHA) has specified arrangements for bridging visa applications as per the Sub-regulation 2.07(5) of the Migration Regulations 1994 (“the Regulations”) vide the Migration (LIN 20/068: Arrangements for Bridging Visa Applications) Instrument 2020 [“the Instrument”] dated 21 May 2020.
The Sub-regulation 2.07(5) of the Regulations provides:
“(5) If an item of Schedule 1 prescribes criteria or requirements by reference to a legislative instrument made under this subregulation, the Minister may, by legislative instrument, specify any of the following matters for the purposes of such a criterion or requirement:
(a) an approved form for making an application for a visa of a specified class;
(b) the way in which an application for a visa of a specified class must be made;
(c) the place at which an application for a visa of a specified class must be made;
(d) any other matter.”
Thus, the Minister is empowered to specify approved forms for lodging a valid visa application and the place and manner in which the visa application must be made. Accordingly, vide the Instrument, the Minister has specified the forms, manner, and place for making visa applications for Bridging A (Class WA), Bridging B (Class WB), Bridging C (Class WC), Bridging D (Class WD), Bridging E (Class WE), and Bridging F (Class WF), with the purpose of amending a drafting error in the erstwhile instrument, i.e., the Migration (LIN 19/186: Arrangements for Applications for Bridging Visas) Instrument 2019 dated 25 June 2019, which is now repealed.
Changes brought by the Instrument
- Re-approves Form 1008 (Internet) for making a valid Bridging E (Class WE) visa application. However, the applicant must not have another pending Bridging E (Class WE) visa application.
Further, the Instrument is registered on the Federal Register of Legislation on 25 May 2020 and according to Clause 2 of the Instrument it “commences the day after registration on the Federal Register of Legislation”. Thus, the Instrument is currently in force, commencing from 26 May 2020 and accordingly, Form 1008 (Internet) can now be used for making a valid Bridging E (Class WE) visa application.
For your information, Bridging E (Class WE) comprises 2 visa subclasses: Subclass 050 Bridging (General), popularly called Bridging Visa E (BVE) and Subclass 051 Bridging (Protection Visa Applicant).
If you are seeking assistance in your bridging visa applications or are facing issues of visa expiry, visa cancellation, or visa refusal, call us on (02) 4626 100 to discuss your situation or Contact Us so that one of our Registered Migration Agents can help you with your application.
