VISA FOR CONTRIBUTORY AGED PARENTS (SUBCLASS 864)

The Australian Department of Home Affairs administers a Parent Visa for parents with children who are permanent residents or citizens of Australia who have “settled” in Australia. A person must have been a settled resident in Australia for a reasonable period of time, which is normally two years under policy.

To be eligible for this visa, the applicant must pass the balance of family test. This requirement specifies that at least half of the applicant’s children must be Australian citizens or permanent residents, or that more of their children live in Australia than in any other country.

The balance of family test includes both parents’ children, including stepchildren and adopted children.

You must be sponsored by a qualified individual, generally your child, and complete the health and character standards in addition to the balance of family test.

Subclass 864 (Permanent) — Also known as a “Contributory” visa, this is a permanent visa. Because the first application fee is $3,945 for the first applicant, $1,975 for additional applicants over the age of 18, and $990 for further applicants under the age of 18, this is the case. The second installment for each application, however, is $43,600. The processing time for this visa is approximately 1.5 to 2 years, and if approved, it is a permanent visa.

The significant “Contribution” of money required for the second instalment is to compensate for the advantages granted to visa holders under permanent residency, like as health care, which they have not contributed to as ordinary Australians have throughout their lives through taxation.

Subclass 884 (Temporary) – This is a temporary visa that costs $3,945 for the first application and $1,975 for each additional applicant. The second instalment of $29,130 must be paid before the visa will be granted. The processing time for this visa is approximately 1.5 to 2 years. A two-year temporary visa is issued to the applicants. They must pay an extra $19,420 and apply for the permanent visa subclass 864 before this visa expires.

In all situations, the second installment of funds is only required when each applicant has passed health and character examinations and the AoS (Assurance of Support) has been filed with the Australian government (see below for AoS details). A second instalment will never be paid, and a visa will never be granted. In all situations, second instalments are non-refundable.

The following are the fees for Permanent Parent Visas; please note that all payments are in Australian dollars and that fees must be paid in full prior to the submission of your visa application.

There is also an AoS that must be paid at the time of decision. This is presently $14,000 for two applications. Ten years after you visit Australia as a contributing parent visa holder, the bond is reimbursed, less any obligations owed to the Australian government.

*There is a 1.4 percent credit card surcharge.