In good news for migrants, sponsors will now be able to lodge applications under the new Temporary Sponsored Parent Visa (subclass 870) from Wednesday, 17 April 2019 onwards.
The visa will facilitate parents from overseas to stay for a consecutive period of up to five years, without having to depart, an arguably more suitable alternative to Visitor Visa which only permits shorter stays. The Department has not yet specified any processing times.
Announcing the new pathway, Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs David Coleman said the government has delivered on its longstanding promise, despite opposition from Labor.
Immigration Minister David Coleman Source: AAP
“This visa demonstrates the Government’s commitment to the multicultural communities of Australia. It will enable reunions for thousands of migrant families, and will deliver great social benefits to many families across Australia,” the minister said.
Benefits of the new visa:
Although it is just a temporary visa and must not be mistaken for a permanent parent visa, the new pathway will allow parents to stay for a longer duration of up to five years.
Those successfully sponsored will also have an option to renew their visas for another five years provided they fulfill the condition of a short stay outside of Australia.
It is pertinent to point out that the sponsored parents will have no working rights.
The new subclass does not deter applicants from applying for Visitor Visas and/or Permanent Parent Visa. And the introduction of this visa will not have any impact on the existing visas.
Eligibility criteria for parents:
A parent must be the biological, adoptive, or step-parent of the sponsor, who must be an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen to be eligible to lodge an application under the new subclass.
He/she must provide evidence of access to funds and active health insurance and satisfy health, character and national security requirements besides fulfilling other conditions listed on the Department of Home Affairs .
Eligibility criteria for sponsors:
Only two parents per household (couple) can be sponsored at a time, to ensure that more families across Australia can avail this opportunity.
A sponsor must be able to provide financial support and arrange for their lodging besides fulfilling other basic requirements. Only those migrants with a taxable income of $83,454.80 will be able to sponsor their parents. A couple earning a joint income amounting to the stipulated income level will also be eligible to sponsor.
Important dates:
Sponsorship applications can be lodged from 17 April 2019.
When a sponsor has been approved, the visa applicant will then be able to lodge their application from 1 July 2019.
Visa applications must be lodged within six months of sponsorship approval and cannot be lodged until a sponsor has been approved.
Those interested are encouraged to get their sponsorship application in as soon as possible from 17 April because the government will only grant 15,000 visas each program year from 1 July to 30 June.
If the cap is reached in a program year, no further visas will be granted until the next program year commences on 1 July.
Visa charge:
- $5,000 for a visa of one parent for up to three years’ duration; or
- $10,000 for a visa of one parent for up to five years’ duration, and
- The sponsorship application fee is $420 (for lodging the parental visa application)
