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NEW arrangements for parent migration are to be introduced into federal parliament which will mean more parents will be able to join their families in Australia.
There are currently 500 places for parents under existing parent visa categories, which do not require parents to contribute significantly to the health and welfare costs that older migrants incur.
Under the proposed new arrangements, these existing parent categories would remain open and would be increased by 500 places a year to a total programme of 1,000 places a year.
In addition, a new contributory parent category would be introduced, to allow a further 3,500 parents (in a full year) to migrate, on the basis of a higher health charge and social security bond.
It is likely that new legislation would be introduced into Parliament later this year but that it could take some time to be passed.
Until the legislation is passed, there can be no contributory parent migration categories and current arrangements will continue.
How would the new category work, what would be the charges?
The threshold requirements for the contributory parent visa categories would be substantially similar to existing parent categories.
Both categories will have the same first Visa Application Charge (VAC) which is payable at the time of application (presently $1,175 for applicants outside Australia and $1,745 for applicants inside Australia).
The key differences would be the level of the second VAC (payable before a visa is granted) and the level and duration of the Assurance of Support bond.
There would be two payment options for contributory parent applicants:
1. Permanent visa: pay a A$25,000 second VAC per person ($1,050 for dependants under 18); or
2. Temporary visa: pay a $A15,000 second VAC which would entitle parents to a two-year temporary residence visa including Medicare access and work rights. During that period, parents may apply at any time for a permanent visa at which time the remaining payment of A$10,000 is required.
The contributory parent category also requires a 10-year, $10,000 Assurance of Support (AoS) bond for main applicants and $4,000 for adult secondary applicants (for temporary visa holders, this is payable during processing of the permanent visa).
Who would be able to apply for the new parent categories?
Parents residing outside Australia (offshore) would be able to apply but only aged parents residing in Australia (onshore) could apply.
The definition of aged parent is 65 years of age for men and currently 62 years for women.
Applicants would still need to meet threshold criteria including balance of family in Australia, health and character.
How long would an application for the contributory parent categories take to be processed?
While it is not possible to say exactly how long processing would take, applications for the contributory parent categories are more likely to be processed more quickly than in existing parent categories.
There would be considerably more places available under the migration program available for the contributory categories each year (3,500 compared with a total 1,000 existing category places).
If my parents/I already have an application for migration/permanent residence under the existing parent category, would they/I be able to apply for the contributory parent categories?
Yes. Parents who have already applied for an existing parent visa before the contributory category starts would be able to apply free of the first VAC for the contributory temporary or permanent parent visa.
However, only onshore (subclass 804) applicants could apply free of the first VAC for the onshore contributory category. Similarly, only offshore (subclass 103) applicants could apply free of the first VAC for the offshore contributory category visa.
To make a valid application for a contributory parent category, a parent would have to withdraw any previous parent applications that are not finally determined.
Would there be any special requirements for the contributory parent categories?
No. The same basic criteria that apply to the existing Parent visa categories would generally apply to the contributory category, both temporary and permanent.
These are that applicants:
* are sponsored by a 'settled' Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen;
* meet the Balance of Family (BOF) test; and
* meet standard health and character requirements.
If my parents/I chose to apply for the temporary contributory visa, would they/I have to meet the health requirement again when applying for the permanent contributory visa?
No. Applicants for the permanent contributory parent visa, who had met health requirements at the temporary stage, would be exempt from the need to meet it again at the end of the two-year period.
However, for public health reasons, checks may be made on applicants who might present a health risk.
As with existing category applications, applicants may need to update medical and other checking at the time that a place becomes available for them in the migration programme.