115 VISA

• You must be sponsored by an eligible parent or step-parent, sibling or step-sibling or an eligible partner of your relative.
• Your sponsor should be the only near relative who lives in Australia.
• Have someone who will provide you with an assurance of support.
• Meet health and character requirements.
• Not have had a visa cancelled or a previous application refused.
• If you are aged 18 years or over, you are required to sign an Australian values statement. The statement is included in your visa application form.

You may not be eligible for this visa if you or your partner has a near relative who lives outside Australia or you or your partner have a near relative who lives in Australia on a temporary visa or unlawfully, this temporary visa includes bridging visa.

Your sponsor must not be the holder of, or sponsor someone else for a Remaining Relative visa (subclass 835 or subclass 115), Preferential Family visa (subclass 104) or Family visa (subclass 806). That’s why it is important to ensure if your sponsor is also eligible for sponsoring you for this visa.

The processing time for a child visa (subclass 802) is 13 to 14 months.

But it might take longer if you fill in the application incorrectly or you don’t include all the documents that are needed, that’s why it’s important to know all the information before you apply for this visa.

The application can’t be processed if the applicant doesn’t pay the visa charge correctly.

The cost of this visa is AUD 6,415, and can be paid in 2 instalments. The first instalment should be paid when you apply and the second instalment can be paid when the Department of Immigration is asks you to pay the second payment.

There is an additional charge for each family member who applies with the main applicant and you might pay for health checks, police certificates, and biometrics. You also have to pay for the Assurance of Support AUD 5,000 for the main applicant and AUD 2,000 for each adult family member who is included on the application.

If you are granted the Remaining Relative Visa, you will automatically become a permanent resident in Australia and this visa allows you to:

• Stay in Australia indefinitely.
• You can work and study in Australia.
• You may apply for Australian citizenship if you are eligible for this.
• Travel to and from Australia as many times as you want for 5 years from the date of visa grant.
• Enroll in Australia’s public healthcare scheme, Medicare.
• You may sponsor your relatives to come to Australia.

This visa is valid only for 5 years, therefore you need to apply for a Resident Return Visa (RRV) in order for you to be able to re-enter Australia as a permanent resident.

You may apply for a Resident Return Visa before your permanent visa expires.

1. Who can be considered as my near remaining relative?
   • Your near remaining relative is your parent or your partner’s parent (including biological and step-parent), sibling or step-sibling; child (including stepchild) who has turned 18 and is not a dependent child; or child (including stepchild) who has not yet turned 18 years of age and is not in your or your partner’s daily care and control.
2. Who is eligible to be my sponsor?
   • Your sponsor must be 18 years of age or older, an Australian citizen, an Australian permanent resident or an eligible New Zealand citizen, and must be settled in Australia. Your sponsor can be your parent, sibling or step-sibling or one of their partners’.
   • They must provide you with support, accommodation and financial assistance for your first two years of residency in Australia.
     Your sponsor and his/her partner must never have held or sponsored someone else who was granted a Remaining Relative visa (subclass 835 or subclass 115) or Preferential Family visa (subclass 104) or Family visa (subclass 806).
3. Can I work on my Remaining Relative Visa (subclass 115)?
   • Yes, this visa allows you to work in Australia
4. What is the cost of Remaining Relative Visa (subclass 115)?
   • This visa’s cost is from AUD6,415 and there is an additional charge for each family member who would like to apply with you.
     You pay for this visa in 2 instalments: Pay the first instalment when you apply and the second instalment when requested.
5. How long can I stay in Australia holding a Remaining Relative Visa (subclass 115)?
   • This is a permanent visa. You can stay in Australia indefinitely.
6. Should I apply the visa offshore?
   • The visa application should be made offshore. The applicant should be outside Australia when applying for this visa and when the Department gives the decision.
7. Can I include the family members?
   • Yes, you can. The family members would need to meet the character and health requirements as well.
8. How long is the processing time for this visa application?
   • There is no exact period for this visa’s processing time. If you do not fill the application correctly, it may take a longer time for the Department to give you the decision.