Thursday 25th of September, 2014 marked a special day for family members or relatives who are Australian Citizens or Australian Permanent Residents. The Australian Senate has voted to bring back the Family and Carer visas.
Families will once again have the chance to reunite with their relatives from all around the world.
Australian family members and relatives will be able to sponsor their family members to come to Australia or if they are in need of care for long term medical conditions.
There are now five Non-Contributory visas that have been re-opened, but these visas will only be available for approximately 6 months.
These visas will only be open to new visa applicants.
The five Non-Contributory visas re-opened are:
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Aged Dependent Relative visa (subclass 114 and subclass 838)
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Remaining Relative visa (subclass 115 and subclass 835)
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Carer visa (subclass 116 and subclass 836)
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Parent visa (subclass 103)
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Aged Parent visa (subclass 804)
In the 2014-2015 Migration year 1500 places have been allocated to Parent (non-contributory) visas where as 7175 have been allocated to Contributing Parent visas.
Although the current waiting times for these visas have increased, the Non-Contributory Parent visa – approximately 30 years, Carer visa – approximately 4.5 years, Remaining Relative and Aged Dependent Relative visas – approximately 56 years.
All Parent (non-contributory) visa applications are assessed on order of lodgement, the waiting period is reflective of the large number of Parent (non-contributory) applications compared to places available.
The Parent visa (subclass 103), Aged Dependent visa (subclass 114), Remaining Relative visa (subclass 115) are permanent resident visas.
These visas must be lodged outside of Australia and you must be outside of Australia when it is granted. You can stay in Australia indefinitely, work and study in Australia, enrol in Medicare, apply for citizenship and travel to and from Australia for 5 years from the date the visa is granted.
You must meet certain health requirements and also requirements of the balance of family test measures that have to be complied with and an assurance of support.
The Aged Dependent visa (subclass 838), Aged Parent visa (subclass 804), Remaining Relative visa (subclass 835) are also permanent resident visas but must be lodged on-shore in Australia and you have to be on-shore in Australia when it is granted.
With these visas you can stay in Australia indefinitely, work and study in Australia, enrol in Medicare, apply for citizenship, travel to and from Australia for 5 years from the date the visa is granted.
You must meet certain health requirements and also requirements of the balance of family test measures that have to be complied with and an assurance of support.
If you are thinking of applying for a Carer visa (subclass 116 and subclass 836) these visas allow for a relative to live in Australia to offer care and assistance for a relative that has a long term medical condition or needs permanent and long term care and medical attention.
The Carer visa (subclass 116) must be lodged outside of Australia and must be granted outside Australia and the Carer visa (subclass 836) must be lodged on-shore in Australia and you must be in Australia when granted.
The medical condition will be required to be assessed by BUPA Medical Visa Services.
To find further information on how to apply for a Non-Contributing visa in Australia, please contact our Perth office for an appointment on: (+61) 08 94775831 or email: [email protected].
