Can I Stay in Australia After My Visa Expires? Your Options Explained
If you remember your visa expiry date wrongly, and now you are facing an expired visa in Australia, it can be stressful. Staying in the country without a valid visa isn’t advisable, but there are always pathways to consider if your visa has expired.
What You Must Do Next?
Verify the expiry date of your visa and any conditions attached to it using your ImmiAccount or the Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) service. You can also check them through the myVEVO app on your mobile phone, which is much more efficient.
Speak with an Accredited Specialist in Immigration Law to strategise and plan out the best possible visa pathway to legalise your status and to meet your visa goals one step at a time.
Address the situation immediately after discovering you have overstayed a visa to avoid becoming an unlawful non-citizen. Being unlawful could affect future visa applications.
What Are Your Options If Your Visa Has Expired?
You can apply for a Bridging Visa E (BVE) (Subclass 050) to legalise your status temporarily while you make arrangements to leave or apply for another visa. This visa can be granted if you meet specific criteria.
Before you apply for a BVE, get professional advice from one of our Accredited Specialists, Jason Ling, on whether you are eligible for other visas like partner visas, skilled visas, or student visas that fit your circumstances. Once you become a BVE holder, the options to apply for different visas may be limited due to further visa issues, such as Schedule 3, section 48 bar, PIC 4013 or PIC 4014 and more.
Related: Why Choose to Apply for a Bridging Visa C Instead of a Bridging Visa E?
If no immediate visa options are available, consider leaving Australia voluntarily. Note that you may have a re-entry ban to enter Australia in the future if you leave the country without holding a valid visa.
Related:
Can I Still Apply for a Visa After Being Unlawful in Australia?
What Steps Should You Take if You Are An Unlawful Non-Citizen
How Can Agape Henry Crux Help
If your visa has expired, it is vital to take immediate action to rectify your immigration status with an Accredited Specialist or an Immigration Lawyer. Consider engaging with one of our Accredited Specialists in Immigration Law at Agape Henry Crux. They will be able to assist you in exploring the best visa options and address any further issues. Read our clients’ testimonials on Agape Henry Crux and Jason Ling (Accredited Specialist in Immigration Law). You can schedule an appointment with one of our immigration lawyers to seek professional advice by calling 02-8310 5230 or emailing us at info@ahclawyers.com.
We speak fluent English, Mandarin and Cantonese. If this isn’t your language, we can also help you arrange an interpreter.
This article/presentation (“publication”) does not deal extensively with important topics or changes in law and is not intended to be relied upon as a substitute for legal or other advice that may be relevant to the reader's specific circumstances. If you find this publication of interest and would like to know more or wish to obtain legal advice relevant to your circumstances, please contact our office.
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