Family Migration – Processing Priority
Basically what DIAC are saying is that they, as always, will give priority to:-
- Dependent Children (including children for adoption),
- Orphan relatives
- Partners (married or de facto) or Fiancés
Then the priority moves to:-
- Carers
- Remaining Relatives (very hard visa to prove)
- Aged Dependent Relatives
- Parents (Within the parent migration stream, the contributory parent category has higher processing priority than the parent category).
Visa applicants for each of the categories listed above are then usually considered in date order of receipt of each application, unless there are Compelling or Compassionate grounds. An excellent case and reason must be argued to have DIAC consider such a request. This must be done at the Office where the visa is to be lodged or has been lodged, with as much evidence as possible to provide weight to the claim. Even though the applicant may consider their claim on Compelling or Compassionate grounds has merit, this will never guarantee priority or a positive decision from DIAC.
There has always been a finite number of visas granted each year by DIAC. The demand on the General Skilled Migration (GSM) program has been so great, DIAC have removed some of the visas which were allocated to the Parent Program to enable the GSM Program to have extra visas, so that the overall figure was not surpassed.
Those applying for any of the 6 Parent visas must understand that DIAC has earlier this year taken some of these visas which were to be granted and given them to GSM. Because of this, instead of the Contributory Parent visas queue time being 18 months to 2 years, it is now at least 4 – 5 years. The Parent visas queue time has now gone from 9 – 10 years up to most likely 20 – 22 years. These higher figures were the figures during the last Liberal Government under Mr Howard, but when the Labour Government under Mr Rudd took power, Mr Rudd reduced the waiting time by doubling the number of Parent Program visas granted each year, thus reducing the waiting time by half. It has now been reversed by the new Labour Government under Julia Gillard to the old extended waiting times.
Therefore, unfortunately, for the existing queues of applicants, neither the Minister nor DIAC can expedite a Parent or Contributory Parent visa application.
If the reader wishes to discuss this entry or any other matter pertaining to Emigrating to Australia, please email or phone the writer or complete our FREE VISA ASSESSMENT on our Home Page.
