New Updates For Affected Family Visa Holders In Australia

March 11, 2022 Immigrationlawyers

The Australian government has introduced many concessions for Visa holders, who got affected due to the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. Due to the closing of the borders, several business restrictions, and economic instability, many people were impacted. Now, with COVID-19 concessions, the Visa holders can extend their visa pathway.

COVID-19 Concession List

If you have a temporary or provisional Visa as a part of the below list, you can get a COVID-19 Visa extension. This concession period had started from 1st February 2020.

The COVID-19 concessions are available for:

Business Innovation and Investment Permanent Subclass 888 Visa
Business Innovation and Investment Provisional Subclass 188 Visa
Skilled Regional Provisional Subclass 489 Visa
Skilled Work Regional Provisional Subclass 491 Visa
Skilled Employer-Sponsored Regional Provisional Subclass 494 Visa
Skilled Regional Subclass 887 Visa
Safe Haven Enterprise Subclass 790 Visa
Temporary Graduate Subclass 485 Visa

Family Visa Concession

Temporary concessions for Family Visa applicants, that were impacted by COVID-19 travel restrictions include Partner Visa, Child Visa, and Parent Visa.

Partner And Child Visa

Here are the highlights of the Partner visa Perth and Child Visa.

Visa applicants are allowed additional time to complete all the formalities and documentation.
The applicants who are looking forward to having a Partner or Child visa outside Australia but were in the country during the COVID-19 concession period can get a visa in Australia.
Visa applicants who made their visa application outside Australia before the end of the COVID-19 concession period, but have been in Australia during that period, will be able to have their visa granted in Australia if all the other requirements for the visa are met.
The applicants who were not in Australia but met the Visa grant formalities can also get the visa outside Australia.
It is also important to know that the applicants who visited Australia after the end of the COVID-19 concession period, cannot get a Visa while being in the country.

Visas included in the extension are:

Child subclass 101 visa
Partner subclass 309 visas.
Prospective Marriage subclass 300 visa
Adoption subclass 102 visa
Dependent Child subclass 445 visa

Parent Visa Applications – Outside Australia

The candidates who applied for Parent visas outside Australia, but were in the country on 24th March 2021, can get a visa if they meet all the visa requirements, during the COVID-19 concession period.

The categories of Visa included are:

Parent subclass 103 visa
Contributory Parent subclass 173 visa
Contributory Parent subclass 143 visa

Parent Visa Applications – In Australia

The candidates who applied for the Parent visas Perth, and we’re not in the country on 24th March 2021, can get the visa while they were outside Australia, provided they meet all the visa requirements, during the COVID-19 concession time.

The visas in this category include:

Aged Parent subclass 804 visa
Contributory Aged Parent subclass 864 visa

Bridging Visas For Parent And Contributory Parent

It is also essential for you to check whether you are eligible for getting the bridging visa related to:

Parent Subclass 103 Visa
Contributory Parent Subclass 143 Visa
Contributory Parent Temporary Subclass 173 Visa

You may get the Visa application approved during the period of COVID-19 concessions if you meet all the below-mentioned requirements:

You applied for the Parent or Contributory Parent visa before 24th March 2021
You were present in the country on 24th March 2021
Your visa application was lodged in Australia
Your visa application has not been finalized.

So, the bridging visa subclass will depend on the applicant’s circumstances at the time of applying for the Parent or Contributory Parent Visa.

If you filed a paper application for getting a Parent or Contributory Parent visa in the office outside Australia, you will not qualify for a bridging visa.

To apply for a bridging visa, you need to submit a completed Form 1005 to the WA Parent Visa Centre. Do not consider mailing this form. Form 1005 received by email is considered invalid. Know more by contacting immigration lawyers.

Substantive Visa

Also, if you had a substantive Visa at the time of submitting the visa application, you can apply and get a Bridging visa A – BVA – Subclass 010. But if you did not have a substantive visa at the time of applying for a Visa, you will not be getting a BVA. Then, you can check whether you can get a Bridging visa E – BVE – Subclass 050.