Certain Australian visas relating to parents have been repealed due to long processing times and a change of focus, the Department for Immigration and Border Control has confirmed.
The subclass 103 (Parent), subclass 804 (Aged Parent), subclass 114 and 838 (Aged Dependent Relative), subclass 115 and 835 (Remaining Relative) and subclass 116 and 836 (Carer) ceased to exist as of this week.
A DIBP spokesman said that the closure of the Parent (non-contributory) and Other Family visas will help free up places in the Family Stream for the migration of close family members.
According to the DIBP, parents will continue to have the option of applying for a permanent Contributory Parent visa, either subclass 143 (Parent) for parents outside Australia or subclass 864 (Aged Parent) for parents in Australia.
Under these visas, applicants are required to pay a higher Visa Application Charge (VAC) and Assurance of Support bond than the non-contributory parent visa. It is possible to stagger the costs by first applying for a temporary Contributory Parent visa and then for the permanent Contributory Parent visa. The temporary Contributory Parent visas include the Contributory Parent (subclass 173) visa for parents outside Australia and the Contributory Aged Parent (subclass 884) visa for parents in Australia.
Alternatively, parents can apply for a long stay Visitor visa which allows eligible parents to visit their children in Australia for regular periods of up to 12 months at a time over an extended validity period. For many families, temporary stay provides greater flexibility without the need to wait in a queue for years for a permanent visa.
Relatives of Australian citizens and permanent residents other than partners, children and contributory parents who wish to migrate to Australia will need to satisfy requirements for entry as a skilled migrant. All intending migrants interested in the points based skilled migration or business investment and innovation visa programmes are required to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) using the SkillSelect online service and receive an invitation in order to lodge a visa application.
The spokesman also explained that those who have already applied for an Other Family or Non-Contributory Parent visa will have their application processed under existing regulations and policy.