Australia’s Department of Home Affairs has quietly rolled out the Immigration Status Resolution Service (ISRS), a new digital support channel for people whose visas have expired or who hold a Bridging Visa E. The initiative—highlighted in the 6 November 2025 community clinic at Belconnen Library in Canberra—pairs online booking with roaming “status-resolution officers” who provide confidential advice independent of the Australian Border Force.
The service aims to prevent vulnerable migrants from slipping into unlawful status, a persistent challenge that clogs compliance resources and exposes individuals to exploitation. Through ISRS, clients can request virtual consultations or attend pop-up sessions; upcoming visits are scheduled for Gungahlin (19 Nov) and Mildura (11 Nov).
![Home Affairs Launches Online Immigration Status Resolution Service; First ACT Clinic Held 6 November]()
For employers, the tool offers a pathway for staff who inadvertently overstay—common during complex 482-to-PR transitions—to regularise their position without triggering enforcement action. Mobility teams should circulate the ISRS booking link and encourage bridge-visa holders to seek advice early, reducing workforce disruption risks.
Migration agents welcome the program but caution that demand could overwhelm limited staffing. They recommend that companies maintain accurate visa-expiry dashboards and integrate Home Affairs’ new API for real-time status checks, due to be piloted in early 2026.
By expanding digital outreach, Home Affairs continues a broader shift toward self-service immigration support, echoing the department’s online employer-sponsorship portal and forthcoming eVisa wallet.
The service aims to prevent vulnerable migrants from slipping into unlawful status, a persistent challenge that clogs compliance resources and exposes individuals to exploitation. Through ISRS, clients can request virtual consultations or attend pop-up sessions; upcoming visits are scheduled for Gungahlin (19 Nov) and Mildura (11 Nov).
For employers, the tool offers a pathway for staff who inadvertently overstay—common during complex 482-to-PR transitions—to regularise their position without triggering enforcement action. Mobility teams should circulate the ISRS booking link and encourage bridge-visa holders to seek advice early, reducing workforce disruption risks.
Migration agents welcome the program but caution that demand could overwhelm limited staffing. They recommend that companies maintain accurate visa-expiry dashboards and integrate Home Affairs’ new API for real-time status checks, due to be piloted in early 2026.
By expanding digital outreach, Home Affairs continues a broader shift toward self-service immigration support, echoing the department’s online employer-sponsorship portal and forthcoming eVisa wallet.
