The Department of Immigration has confirmed today the imminent withdrawal of Parent (subclass 103) and Aged Parent (subclass 804) visas to new applicants – as well as certain other family visa subclasses, including:

> Aged Dependent Relative visa (subclasses 114 and 838)
> Remaining Relative visa (subclasses 115 and 835)
> Carer visa (subclasses 116 and 836).

The visas will be closed to new applications before the start of the 2014/15 Migration Program year, commencing on the 1st of July, 2014.

The date of cessation is to be announced shortly.

If you are intending to apply for a subclass 103 or 804 visa we recommend that you lodge an application now. GM Parents can progress such an application quickly – our fees are fixed in amount, and are payable in stages.

Contact your closest GM Parents office or complete the enquiry form on this page if you would like to discuss your parent visa options with an experienced migration advisor.

Don’t delay – it will not be possible to apply for a visa under these subclasses for much longer.

Today is Federal Budget Day in Australia.

The Budget papers which have been released include the following commentary (emboldening added):

“The 2014‑15 Migration Programme will have 190,000 places and maintain the composition of 128,550 Skilled Stream places, 60,885 Family Stream places and 565 Special Eligibility Stream places.

The Family Stream will refocus on meeting the increasing demand for close family reunions. The additional partner and child places will be made available as a result of the cessation of new applications from the other family and parent (non‑contributory) places. This cessation will also enable faster processing of existing applications.”

(Source: http://www.budget.gov.au/2014-15/content/bp2/html/bp2_expense-16.htm , scroll down to Migration Programme — allocation of places for 2014‑15)

This indicates that it will not be possible to apply for subclass 103 (Parent) and 804 (Aged Parent) visa options imminently – we anticipate this will be from the end of next month (June 2014).

If you are intending to apply for a subclass 103 or 804 visa we strongly recommend that you lodge an application now. GM Parents can progress such an application quickly – remember that you can lodge a basic application with supporting documentation to follow once a file reference has been issued by the Department of Immigration.

Our fees are fixed in amount, and are payable in stages.

Contact your closest GM Parents office or complete the enquiry form on this page if you would like to discuss your parent visa options with an experienced migration advisor.

The Department of Immigration has announced that it is introducing a surcharge for payments of Visa Application Charges made by credit card with effect from the 19th of April, 2014.

The rates which will apply are as follows:

> Visa and Mastercard – 1.08%
> American Express and JCB – 1.99%
> Diners Club International – 2.91%

The main Visa Application Charge for Contributory Parent visas is significant, and for subclass 143 and 864 applications amounts to nearly A$44k per applicant.

For a couple this means that the new surcharges amount to more than A$800.

At the present time there is no means of paying VACs by way of electronic funds transfer, but a payment by way of a bank draft drawn on an Australian bank account is possible.

There is no surcharge on the payment of a Visa Application Charge by way of a bank draft drawn on an Australian bank.

GM Parents is pleased to recommend Moneycorp for the arranging of such bank drafts.

Moneycorp is a significant and secure provider of currency exchange services, as discussed
here.

Click here to register with Moneycorp.

Or telephone Moneycorp in London on 020 7589 3000 (from outside the UK, +44 20 7589 3000).

If you telephone Moneycorp please feel able to say that Go Matilda Visas sent you!

Visa Application Charges for Contributory Visas are increasing with effect from the 22nd of March, 2014, as follows:

Subclass 143, Contributory Parent, from Outside Australia
> 1st VAC: $3,520 for the main applicant, plus $1,185 for secondary applicants aged 18 or over, plus $595 for secondary applicants aged under 18
> 2nd VAC: $43,600 per applicant

Subclass 864, Contributory Aged Parent, from within Australia
> 1st VAC: $3,520 for the main applicant, plus $1,760 for secondary applicants aged 18 or over, plus $880 for secondary applicants aged under 18
> 2nd VAC: $43,600 per applicant

For details of VACs for other parent visa options – including the 2 step strategy (subclass 173 to 143, or subclass 884 to 864) please contact us.

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