A swathe of visa subclasses in the Australian government’s Family Stream of the Migration Program are once again open to new applications, but because of long processing times, may be impractical for many.
The legislation that closed the Non-Contributory Parent and Other Family visas in June was overturned in the Senate on 25 September, and its reopening allows – in theory – applications for parents of an Australian citizen or permanent resident to live in Australia.
Most applicants for the Parents visa (sub class 103) need to be sponsored by their child, who must have lived in Australia for two years prior to the application being lodged.
Other visas reintroduced include the Aged Parent visa (subclass 804), Aged Dependent Relative visas (subclass 114 and 838), and Remaining Relative visa (subclass 115 and 835). Remaining Relative visas allow a foreign national – whose only near relatives are living in Australia – to come to Australia as a permanent resident.
Carer visas (subclass 116) are also available through the scheme. Carer visas are provided for someone needing to move to Australia to care for a relative with a long-term medical condition, or to assist a relative who is already caring for a family member with a severe medical condition.
Asked how the visas’ reintroduction might benefit the Greek Australian community, lawyer and registered migration agent Penny Dimopoulos told Neos Kosmos:
“Any expansion of the Family Visa Stream is welcome. However, these visas are subject to extremely long waiting periods.
“For Non-Contributory Parent visas – approximately 30 years, for Carer visas – approximately 4.5 years and for Remaining Relative and Aged Dependent Relative – approximately 56 years.
“The re-introduction of these visas effectively achieves very little, and potential applicants will have no choice but to seek alternative visa options.”