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Parents can join family in Aust PARENTS migrating to Australia must be sponsored by their family. The family must also prove that they are willing to support their parents when they arrive.The family stream of AustraliaÕs Migration Program enables the reunion in Australia of immediate family members, including parents. There are two visa categories for parents wishing to migrate to Australia: * the parent category and * the contributory parent category. The differences between the two categories are that the contributory parent category has more visa places available each year and applicants have a pay a substantially higher second visa application charge and Assurance of Support (AoS) bond (with a longer AoS period). To apply, you must be the parent of a child who is a settled Australian citizen or permanent resident. ‘Settled’ being a person who has been a resident for more than two years. Parents may apply in Australia for a Contributory Aged Parent visa only if they are aged. An aged parent is one who is old enough to be granted an Australian age pension. For men the qualifying age for an Australian age pension is 65 years and for women it is gradually being increased from 60 to 65 years. Parents of any age outside Australia may apply for a Contributory Parent (temporary) visa. Applicants must be outside Australia to be granted a visa. All contributory parent category applicants must meet the balance of family (BOF) test. This means the applicants must have at least half of their children living lawfully and permanently in Australia, or more children living lawfully and permanently in Australia than in any other single country overseas. Children of both parents are counted in the test, including any children of previous relationships or de facto relationships of either parent. Children to be considered for the purpose of the BOF test include natural, adopted and step children. This is irrespective of whether they are dependent, self-supporting, married, single or divorced. The purpose of the test is to establish the nature of a parentÕs ties to Australia and the support likely to be available from their children in Australia. All applicants for parent migration must be sponsored. The sponsor must be either an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen who is settled. All applicants for a permanent visa in the contributory parent category require an Assurance of Support (AoS). An AoS is a commitment to provide financial support to the person applying to migrate, so that they will not have to reply on any government forms of support. The AoS is in effect for the first ten years after the applicants migrate from overseas. The amount of the AoS bond for the contributory parent visa is $10,000 for the main applicant and $4,000 for any adult secondary applicant. |
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