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Home > Our Publications > Australian Outlook> 2008> March

Major shortfall for parent visas

By Lance Fee,
Director
Live Downunder UK

THE Department of Immigration and Citizenship have advised that the number of visas allocated for the Contributory Parent category for the 2007-08 programme year will be exhausted very shortly. There are approximately 7000 visa applicants waiting for a visa at the present time.
In the department's last annual report, it was revealed that the number of visa applications exceeded the visa grant rate by 230 visas per month. If this rate continues without any change to the allocation for this category, some applicants will be waiting until 2010-11 to have their visa granted.
In the first few months after the visa category was introduced, the average processing time was around nine months. The Minister has been asked to consider a lift to the parent visa numbers, but even if he agrees, the matter will need to go to a full cabinet meeting for approval.
The Contributory Parent visa is one where a parent can pay for health care up front currently around $31,555 per applicant. It was introduced by the last Government to pacify the outcry when it announced a cap of 500 visas per year for the General Parent visa category.
Those that have applied for the General Parent visa have a waiting time of around 20 years to obtain a visa under the current allocation.
When the Rudd Government was in Opposition, it condemned the Howard Government for placing such tight restrictions on the number of parent visa, so it will be interesting to see their reaction to the current situation.
The parent visa categories have always been a difficult issue for the Government of the day, as they must ensure that Australia's health system can cope, taking into account that there is a post war aging Australian baby boom population to be added to the equation.
However, with large increases to the numbers of skilled migrants coming into Australia, it is understandable that there will be a greater numbers of parents wanting to join their children. It is also understandable that many potential skilled migrants will want some assurance that their parents will be free to join them at some future date.