Visitor Visa (Subclass 600)
Visitor visa SC 600 is the most common visas that allows non Australians to visit Australia for various purposes. While visitor visas are made available under several streams, the most common ones are the tourist stream and family sponsored stream. The stay duration can vary depending on the discretion of the department and the visitor visa stream that you apply.
At MJ Legal, we provide comprehensive visitor visa services where our lawyers will guide you from your eligibility to your visa grant.
Do you know that visitor visas have a higher risk of rejection?
Once your application has been rejected once it can be very difficult for you to get a visa granted afterwards! Make a perfect application on the first go itself
Visitor visa streams
To be eligible to apply for visitor visas to Australia, you must demonstrate that you are a genuine visitor and have enough funds to support your stay and intends to leave Australia after your visit. However, there are different streams which require you to fulfill additional eligibility criteria to be able to apply for the tourist visa. Here are the streams and a general overview of them.
Tourist stream (apply outside Australia)
You can apply through this stream if you are outside of Australia and plan to visit Australia. This visa allows you to visit Australia as a tourist, to go on a cruise or to visit family and friends. You can stay up to 3,6 or 12 months on this visa depending on the discretion of the department.
Tourist stream (apply in Australia)
If you are already in Australia on a visitor visa or another temporary visa you may apply for a further visitor visa to extend your stay. You cannot use this stream for purposes like business or medical treatment. You can stay up to 12 months on this visa depending on the discretion of the department.
Business visitor stream
You can apply for this stream if you want to visit Australia for business purposes. You can stay up to 3 months with this visa. You will have one or multiple entries while on this visa depending on the discretion of the department. If you hold this visa you cannot work or sell goods or services. Also, you must be outside of Australia when you apply for this visa.
Approved Destination Status stream
This is a visa that you can apply for if you are a citizen of certain areas of People’s Republic of China who want to visit Australia. Your intention to enter Australia under this stream must be as a part of a tour organized by an Approved travel agent. The stay duration would depend on the discretion of the department, and it will be specified in your visa grant.
Frequent traveller stream
You are only eligible for this stream if you are a citizen of People’s Republic of China and if you are an individual who often travel to Australia for business or personal reasons. Depending on the discretion of the department the visa may be valid for 10 years, with its own travel validity periods.
Sponsored family stream
If you have a family member who is willing to sponsor you for a visit to Australia to see them, this stream is for you. It must be noted that the family member who is willing to sponsor you must be an Australian permanent resident or citizen. With this visa you can stay up to 12 months. You cannot apply to this visa while you are already in Australia.
Confused on what stream to choose?
Let us take up your worries and provide you guidance and support.
Our services for a successful visa application
Guidance on eligibility
If you have ended up on this page it means by now you know what visa to apply for a visit to Australia. But do you know what visa stream you should apply to? Do you know to navigate the eligibility requirements of each visa stream? Based on the nature and the purpose of the visit the stream that you should apply for your visitor visa may often differ from another person. It is important to correctly identify the stream as all these streams have different mandatory conditions imposed on all visa grants.
Handling all your documents
Visitor visas require evidence which are very stringent. The department requires you to have certain documents to be translated and verified. The success of your application primarily depends on how strong the evidence you provide with your application is. You need not worry; with years of experience we have built a comprehensive document checklist for our clients to ensure that they are no mistakes. We also ensure that your documents that you submit are accurate and up to date.
Making your visa application
With years of experience, we are well aware what the Department is looking for in your application. We make visa applications that are in full compliance with the migration laws and regulations. We ensure that your financial background, tourist activities, family ties are properly reflected in your application, making the strongest application possible. We also guarantee that all your documents are correct and accurate, readily available for you to get your visa granted.
Concerned about visa refusals?
We as lawyers will provide expert advice to strengthen your application.
Your steps
Talk to us
Our expert team will talk to you and analyse your background to have a proper understanding of your circumstances to choose the appropriate visa stream for you and if there are shortcomings our lawyers will advise you on how to rectify them.
Prepare for your visa application
We will ensure that prior to your visa submission that all your information and documents are in the standard required by the department and ensure that the department will be satisfied with your application. Once we are confident that you have a strong visa application, we will submit the visa application.
Post lodgment follow up
In the event the department requests for more information we will liaise with you to provide to the department the relevant information requests. We will also update you on any progress the department has made with your application.
Got a previous visitor visa refusal?
Visitor visas generally have a higher risk of refusal. There is a further risk in applying for other visitor visas again if you already hold a previous rejection.
While most of the time visitor visas are rejected for the applicant’s inability to demonstrate a genuine intention to purely enter Australia for a purpose of a visit, it is important that at the point of making your visa application, you provide strong evidence on why it is essential for you to return to your home country.
We have had many clients who have come to us upon a visa rejection, looking to make a new visitor visa application. With our experience, we have worked towards getting successful grants on their next applications, ensuring that the second application is supported with strong evidence.
Conditions accompanied in the SC 600 visitor visa
Below are some conditions that the department may include in your visa on the basis of the department’s discretion. Some of these conditions are mandatory while some are imposed by the Department on their discretion.
Condition 8101: This condition in your visa means that you cannot work while you are on this visa.
Condition 8201: If you have this condition in your visa, you can engage in studies or training for not more than 3 months.
Condition 8503: If the department has imposed this condition, you cannot apply for any other substantive visa while you are in Australia except for a protection visa.
Condition 8558: This condition on your visa would mean that you cannot stay in Australia for more than 12 months in any 18 month period.
Condition 8531: This condition states that you have to leave Australia before your visitor visa expires.
Condition 8501: Having this condition in your visa grant will require you to maintain adequate health insurance during your stay in Australia
FAQs
The duration of stay varies based on the stream and individual circumstances and the streams, ranging from a few months to up to 12 months. At times you can have a valid visa up to 10 years.
Depending on your personal circumstances and the visa stream you applied under, you may be eligible for an extension of your visitor visa while in Australia.
If your application is refused, you will receive a notice outlining the reasons. Your refusal notice will specify if you have rights to appeal the decision of the Department or not.
Your rights to study depend on the conditions upon which your visa was granted. Some visitor visas allow you a 03 -month study period. Additionally, you will not be able to apply for a student visa while on a visitor visa.
Yes, you can travel in and out of Australia if your visa has been granted with multiple entries. The period within which you will be allowed entries into Australia will depend on the conditions of your visa.
Processing times for visitor visas vary depending on the stream that you applied and your individual circumstances. The processing time can range from a few weeks to several months.
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