Aged parent & bridging visas.

[David Westwood]

We are planning a permanent move to Australia to be near our 2 children and 4 grandchildren, all citizens. We intend to apply for a 804 aged parent visa when onshore. We currently hold a 651 visitor visa, expiring Nov ‘24. We would like to make the move around June this year. We are being told by removal companies that they will not ship our belongings without a bridging visa. If you lodge an application for a bridging visa A in June, does it come into effect immediately or when our 651 visa expires in June? Any advice would be welcome.

[Marisawright]

10 minutes ago, David Westwood said:

We are planning a permanent move to Australia to be near our 2 children and 4 grandchildren, all citizens. We intend to apply for a 804 aged parent visa when onshore. We currently hold a 651 visitor visa, expiring Nov ‘24. We would like to make the move around June this year. We are being told by removal companies that they will not ship our belongings without a bridging visa. If you lodge an application for a bridging visa A in June, does it come into effect immediately or when our 651 visa expires in June? Any advice would be welcome.

You can't lodge an application for the bridging visa.  You lodge an application for the 804 visa once you are onshore, then you will be granted a bridging visa, which will come into effect once your visitor visa expires.  

As I understand it, the removal companies could ship your belongings before your bridging visa comes into effect, but that would incur significant extra costs at customs since you are only visitors at that point, and have no right to bring goods into the country. 

Edited February 20, 2024 by Marisawright