Do I get 28 days to lodge another visa after my current visa expires?
Many of my clients ask me this question thinking that they have 28 days to apply for another visa once their current visa expires. It may be true for certain visas but may not be true for other visas. It all comes down to the requirements of the visa that you are going to apply.
Lets take student visa for example. If you are currenlty on a student visa and planning to lodge another student visa- you may have 28 days to lodge a new student visa after your current visa expires. However, if you are planning to apply for a Subclass 485 visa (any stream)- you must lodge beffor eyour current visa expires.
There are other visas that have 28 days grace period. But I would like to only discuss the Student visa here.
The issue with lodging a new student visa after your current student visa expires
- You become unlawful in Australia
- You may be granted a Bridging Visa C with NO WORK RIGHT after lodging a new Student visa within 28 days of your current visa expiring.
- You will not be able to travel overseas until your student visa is granted.
- If you are planning to become an Australian citizen- your Citizenship clock starts.
Now this is a facility that you can use only ONCE. If you have used this one time, next time you may not be able to lodge a new Student visa after your student visa expires.
For this and many other reasons- you should always be careful of your visa expiry.Lodge your new visa before your current one expires.
Keep smiling and take care of your visa.
Sanat G.
Registered Migration Agent
MARN #1466755
