Applying for 2 visas at the same time – can I? Depending on your circumstances there is nothing to stop or prevent you from applying for 2 visas at the same time.
Generally, if you are able to apply for a substantive visa (substantive visas are visas other than a bridging visa), there is nothing to stop you from applying for 2 visas at the same time.
Consequences of applying for 2 visas at the same time
If you are applying for 2 visas at the same time, the Department will grant you 2 bridging visas. However, they will not be effective until your current substantive visa expired.
For e.g. if you applied for substantive visa “A” then you lodge another application for substantive visa “B”, you will normally be granted bridging visa “A” first and bridging visa “B” next.
Once your substantive visa expired, the first bridging visa (that is, bridging visa “A”) granted to you will become effective until a decision is finally determined on the substantive visa “A” application. Once a decision is made, either you are granted the substantive visa “A” or your bridging visa “A” will cease. Subsequently, your bridging visa “B” will become effective. However, if your application for substantive visa “B” was finally determined before substantive visa “A” application and was refused then your bridging visa “B” will cease unless you appeal to the AAT for merits review (click here to learn more). But your bridging visa “B” will not be effective until your substantive visa “A” application is refused or finally determined. What this mean is, you will remain on bridging visa “A” until your substantive visa “A” application is finally determined.
Risk of applying for 2 visas at the same time
If you applied for 2 visas at the same time and if the Department grant you substantive visa “A” on, say, Monday and on Tuesday the Department also grant you substantive visa “B”. When the Department granted you substantive visa “B”, your substantive visa “A” will cease because you are only allowed to hold 1 substantive visa at any 1 time.
Generally, you can only hold 1 visa at any 1 time unless you have been granted a Maritime Crew Subclass 988 visa (click here to learn more) because section 82(2AA) of the Migration Act allows this visa to co-exist with other substantive visas. If you are granted a Subclass 988 visa, you can travel to Australia on a, say, Visitor Subclass 600 visa (click here to learn more) to join your ship in Australia.
Section 48 & applying for further visa
If one of your substantive visa application is refused, you will be affected by section 48 bar (click here to learn more). Section 48 bar effectively prevent you from lodging any further substantive visa application in Australia.
For example, your student visa is about to expire and you applied for, say, subclass 408 visa (click here to learn more). After you have been granted the subclass 408 visa, you lodge an EOI for a GMS visa (click here to learn more about subclass 189; subclass 190; and subclass 491 visa). However, you did not receive an invitation to apply for the GSM visa and your subclass 408 visa is going to expire, you can lodge another substantive visa, for e.g. subclass 500 student visa (click here to learn more). You will be granted a bridging visa while your student visa application is finally determined. In this scenario, if the decision maker becomes aware that you are looking to applying for a permanent visa, you may not be considered as a temporary entrant as a student as your stay in Australia as a student is not considered to be temporary if you are hoping to apply for a permanent visa.
Changing bridging visa
If you are currently holding a BVC or a BVE and you applied for another substantive visa, you will not be granted a BVA (click here to learn more about bridging visas).
On the other hand, you should be aware that with GSM visas, there are usually 2 invitation rounds per month. If you are not invited within the first few months, your chances of being invited may not be good as the pool of applicants hoping for an invitation changes as there are new applicants lodging their EOI with more points than you.
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Australian migration law is complex and difficult to understand, contact our immigration lawyer for a consultation (fee applies) about applying for 2 visas at the same time or click here to find other visas.
This article is not intended to be or taken as migration legal advice. The author of this article disclaims any liability for any action or omission on the information provided or not provided in this article. You should always consult an immigration lawyer or a registered migration agent to form an informed opinion on your immigration matter.
