You may submit applications for more than one visa at once. Can I apply for two visas at the same time? There is nothing stopping you from submitting two visa applications at the same time, depending on your specific circumstances.
According to the best Australian immigration consultant nothing prevents you from applying for two visas simultaneously provided you are eligible to apply for a substantive visa (which are visas other than a bridging visa).
Consequences of applying 2 Visas
The Department will issue you 2 bridging visas if you are simultaneously applying for 2 visas. They won’t go into force, though, until your present substantive visa expires.
You will typically be given bridging visa “A” first and bridging visa “B” second, for example, if you applied for formal visa “A” and subsequently submitted an application for substantive visa “B.”
Once your substantive visa has expired, the first bridging visa (bridging visa “A”) that has been issued to you will take effect until the substantive visa “A” application is eventually decided. You will either receive the substantive visa “A” after a decision is made, or your bridging visa “A” will expire. Your bridging visa type “B” will thereafter go into effect. However, if your substantive visa “B” application was ultimately rejected before your substantive visa “A” application, your bridging visa “B” will expire unless you file an appeal with the AAT for a merits review. But until your substantive visa “A” application is rejected or ultimately decided, your bridging visa “B” will remain inactive. This means that until the outcome of your substantive visa “A” application, you will continue to be on bridging visa “A.”
Risk of applying 2 Visas
If you simultaneously applied for two visas and the Department granted you substantive visas “A” and “B,” let’s say on Monday and Tuesday, respectively. Your substantive visa “A” will expire when the Department grants you substantive visa “B,” as you are only permitted to hold one substantive visa at a time.
Unless you have been awarded a Maritime Crew Subclass 988 visa, which is permitted to coexist with other substantive visas under section 82(2AA) of the general skilled Migration Act, you can typically only hold 1 visa at a time. If you are given a Subclass 988 visa, you can enter Australia using, for example, a Visa Subclass 500 to meet your ship there.
Section 48 and applying for further Visas
If one of your formal visa applications is denied, section 48 will apply to you. You are effectively barred under Section 48 from submitting any additional serious visa applications in Australia.
In the event that your student visa expires, for instance, you may have applied for a subclass 408 visa. You submit an EOI for a GMS visa after being granted a subclass 408 visa. However, given your subclass 408 visa is about to expire and you did not receive an offer to apply for the GSM visa, you can submit an application for another substantive visa, such as a visa subclass 500 student visa. While the outcome of your application for a student visa is being finalized, you will be given a bridging visa. If the decision-maker learns that you want to apply for a permanent visa in this case, they may decide that you are not a temporary entrant because your stay in Australia as a student is not regarded to be temporary if you intend to do so.
Changing Bridging Visas
According to the best Australian immigration consultant you will not be awarded a BVA if you currently have a BVC or BVE and applied for another substantive visa.
However, you should be aware that there are often two invitation rounds each month for GSM visas. Your chances of being invited if you are not called within the first few months may not be favorable because the pool of candidates wanting to be invited changes as new candidates submit their EOIs with higher points than you.
Working on Bridging Visas
Depending on the limitations that apply to your Bridging Visa A, you could be permitted to work in Australia (BVA).
You can apply for another BVA that permits employment if your current BVA forbids or restricts employment. You often need to provide evidence of your financial difficulties in order to be taken into consideration for a BVA that allows you to work.
We shall evaluate your situation in light of your assertion that you require employment. We will issue you a new BVA with the same work restriction condition as on your prior BVA if you do not meet the requirements for work but are still eligible for one.
If your current BVA prevents or inhibits you from working in Australia, you cannot be granted a new BVA that permits you to do so. This applies:
Because you requested judicial review of the decision about your substantive visa application or because you requested a protection visa, your current BVA was granted to you.