Recent Changes - Parent Visas
On 05th March 2003, the Senate has passed the legislation proposed by the
Federal Government. This legislation will come into effect in the new financial
year.
The Minister for Immigration, Mr. Ruddock said 'The significant increase over
the current 500 parent visa places meets our election commitment for more parent
migrants whose sponsors are willing to meet a fairer share of their health and
welfare costs'.
Additional 3,500 places will be added for a new visa that will allow the
parents of Australian citizens and permanent residents to contribute to these
costs. An additional 500 places will be available under the existing parent visa
category that has lesser charges. Now with a total availability of 4,500 visas
under parent category, the queue for people waiting for a parent visa will be
greatly reduced.
Applicants under the new contributory parent visa scheme will be required to
pay a health charge of $25,000 per adult to apply directly for a permanent visa.
The applicants will also have the option to spread payments by initially paying
a $15,000 first instalment that would allow parents to apply for a two-year
temporary visa with access to Medicare Healthcare Scheme and full work rights.
Parents will be entitled to apply for a permanent visa by paying the
remaining $10,000 health charge at any time during this two-year period. However
they will be required to lodge a $10,000 Assurance of Support bond ($14,000 for
a couple) to help cover any social security costs in the first 10 years of
permanent residence.
Applicants who have already lodged their application under the parents category, will be allowed to transfer, without a further first visa application charge, from the existing parent visa stream to the new visa category, as explained above and will receive priority processing.
Regional Boost for Business Migration (DIMIA's Media Release - 26.02.2003)
More business migrants will be able to call regional Australia home under changes to business skills visa arrangements announced today by the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs, Philip Ruddock.
The changes which come in on 1 March 2003, seek to increase the number of business people settling in regional and low population-growth areas of Australia.
'Currently New South Wales, and Sydney in particular, receive the lion's share of the business migrant intake,' Mr. Ruddock said.
The changes will provide State and Territory governments with more influence over the number and the skill level of business migrants who settle in their area, by enabling them to sponsor business migrants in line with their economic and regional development objectives.'
The changes include the grant of a State and Territory Government sponsored four-year provisional visa to business migrants. These people will then be eligible to apply for permanent residence after they have successfully operated a business for at least two years, and have again obtained State or Territory Government sponsorship.
