When a visa is refused and you lodge a review with the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART), one of the most pressing concerns is: what happens to your Bridging Visa? This is especially critical when family members are offshore on a Bridging Visa B (BVB) and need to return to Australia. Understanding how bridging visas interact with tribunal reviews can mean the difference between staying lawful and becoming unlawful.
How Bridging Visas Work After a Visa Refusal
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When your substantive visa application is refused, any associated Bridging Visa typically has a limited validity period — usually 35 days from the date of the refusal decision. This gives you time to either leave Australia or lodge a review with the ART.
If you lodge a valid ART review within the required timeframe, the Bridging Visa should generally continue or be extended to cover the period of the tribunal review. However, the timing of when this extension takes effect and how it shows on VEVO (the Visa Entitlement Verification Online system) can cause confusion and anxiety.
The VEVO Delay Problem
A common issue is that even after a valid ART application has been lodged, VEVO may still show the Bridging Visa as expiring on the original date (e.g., 35 days after refusal). This is because the Department of Home Affairs needs to process the ART acknowledgement before updating the Bridging Visa status in their system.
Migration professionals report that once the ART acknowledges the application, the Department typically updates the Bridging Visa status relatively quickly. However, this acknowledgement can take a few weeks, which creates a stressful gap period.
What About Family Members Offshore on a BVB?
This is where things get particularly complicated. If dependents are offshore on a Bridging Visa B (which allows travel outside Australia), they need to return to Australia before their BVB expires. The question is whether the ART application automatically extends the BVB for offshore dependents.
Key points to understand:
- Travel before BVB expiry: To be safe, dependents offshore should try to return to Australia before the BVB expiry date shown on VEVO, even if an ART application has been lodged.
- ART acknowledgement matters: The Bridging Visa extension linked to the ART review may not be reflected on VEVO until the ART acknowledges the application and the Department updates their records.
- Airlines may check VEVO: Airlines can check VEVO before allowing passengers to board, so even if you believe the BVB is still valid, the system may not reflect this yet.
Steps to Protect Your Family
- Lodge the ART review as soon as possible after the refusal to maximise the time available for processing.
- Contact the ART to request expedited acknowledgement if family members are offshore and need to travel.
- Arrange return travel for offshore family members before the BVB expiry date shown on VEVO.
- Monitor VEVO regularly to check when the Bridging Visa status is updated.
- Get professional advice immediately — the timeframes involved are tight and the consequences of getting it wrong are serious.
Bridging visa issues during tribunal reviews are time-sensitive and can have serious consequences for your family’s ability to stay in Australia. If you’re facing this situation, don’t wait — get professional help immediately.
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Disclaimer: This blog post is intended for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or migration advice. Visa rules and policies can change, and individual circumstances vary. We recommend booking a consultation with one of our registered migration agents for advice tailored to your specific situation.
Reviewed by VisaTasker Migration Services
MARA Registered Migration Agent · MARN 2318017
This article is written and reviewed by VisaTasker Migration Services, a MARA-registered migration agency based in Australia. As registered agents, we are bound by the Migration Agents Code of Conduct and required to provide accurate, up-to-date advice based on Australian migration legislation. Information is reviewed against the latest Department of Home Affairs policy.
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