News Flash

Proposed temporary visa for parents finally opens pathway to family reunions

11-Oct-2016

 In a newly released discussion paper, the government is considering the introduction of a new temporary visa for parents. The new visa is slated to commence in 2017.

The situation now

Currently, it is extremely difficult for parents of migrants to permanently move to Australia. With just 1,500 places for non-contributory parent visas, and another 7,175 places for contributory parent visas, wait times for permanent visas for family members can be as long as 30 years.

The other option for parents of migrants is temporary visitor visas – however, this generally only allows for maximum stays of up to 12 months.

The introduction of new a temporary parent visa would offer a much-needed pathway for extended family reunions, while alleviating community concerns of strains on Australia’s healthcare system.

The new proposed visa

The requirements for the proposed visa include:

  • Limiting the burden on healthcare: Entry and stay is not to burden Australia’s healthcare system, and the parent must obtain adequate private health insurance from an Australian provider.
  • Sponsorship: Applicants are to be sponsored by their Australian child, and there is to be a bond arrangement, based on the Assurance of Support (AoS) scheme. Under a bond scheme, sponsors are required to provide either a financial bond as a debt security, or an equivalent legally binding commitment.
  • The visa application: A concurrent migration application is not necessary, and a stay period of up to five years will be provided. Visa holders can apply to renew their visa for further periods of up to five years at a time.

A key rationale for the visa is the government’s recognition that allowing migrants to reunite with close family members is socially beneficial for Australia. At the same time, requirements for the stay to not overburden the health care system, as well as sponsorship arrangements, are meant to ensure costs associated with health and aged care are kept at reasonable levels.

What’s next

The government has said it will announce full details of the new visa later in 2016. The new visa arrangement will commence on 1 July 2017.

 

Source: DIBP