VictoriaP

Just keep in mind that you need to leave the country for 3 months before applying for the next 870 visa and depending how long the processing is at the time, or whether they have reached the yearly limit, it will mean that you will need to have somewhere else to live outside Australia every time you renew. OK if you do, but just something to think.

The first rejection was my fault as my taxable income (due to salary packaging) was just below the minimum requirement. I really don't think a 3 year 870 will be anywhere near long enough. Even if we get a CO in 3 years from now, we can all see how long it actually takes for approval from that point. End of 2015 applicants are only just being processed now and the processing times are only going to get longer. If we applied for the 3 year and then looked at extending, I don't have any family outside Australia that my Mum could live with for the approx 6 months it would take to apply/be approved for a further 870, so that wasn't an option. To be honest, I'm worried that the 143 approval will take even longer than the time we have until this 5 year 870 expires. Immigration move the goalposts constantly so nothing is certain, but we will have to deal with that if and when it happens.

Timeline updated

Yep, that's a real worry for me as I have no idea where my Mum would go for that time. I just hope that her 143 is processed before her 5 year 870 expires. 143 applied June 2017, so I'm thinking it will be pretty tight, but this was the only option for her other than bringing her here then swapping to the onshore CPV and going back to the beginning of the queue again. We just have to hope for the best.

Yep, I'm pretty annoyed that there is no easy way to appeal. I'm just going to reapply using my husband as the sponsor (and pay AGAIN!) I just haven't got it in me to fight. The whole process of getting my Mum here is so stressful anyway, without this. She's only just over 2 years in to the 143 queue, so don't expect that to be processed for another 3 years or so. It would be nice if that comes through before the 3 year 870 expires (if she ever gets one), but you know what will happen? The 3yr 870 will expire before the 143 is approved and she'll have to pay another $5,000 for another 3yr 870 visa, on top of the $48,000 for the 143!! It's just getting ridiculously expensive. I know she could apply for a 5yr 870 visa initially, but it just doesn't make financial sense to be pay double the price for only 2 extra years, who thought that one up anyway? (sigh)

Thanks for this Linda. My head is just all over the place at the moment. I'm so annoyed that I must of missed the details of the income requirements. Plus I do actually earn over half the amount needed, but I do salary packaging at one of my part time jobs ($11,500 extra in my pay) and salary sacrifice into my Super at the other, but these don't show up on my tax assessment as taxable income. I guess I will have to apply again with my husband as the Sponsor this time.

Sponsorship Refusal - I'm so confused and totally gutted! Sorry to hear of your sponsorship refusal Paulie, I hope someone can give you some good advice on how to move forward. I too, after waiting for 131 days have also been refused as a sponsor for my Mum for financial reasons. I am very upset and confused by the decision, as I thought the income threshold was a household income, not individual. The letter states that I must earn a taxable income of at least half the $83,484 pa, even though my husband's income is over 2.5 times the required amount. Did I miss this requirement for my income level on the application? I just thought it was the total household income. What happens if one partner doesn't work at all? Does that mean their parent can't apply for a 870, but the partner who earns above that can? Is this right? Could my husband sponsor my Mum or only a blood parent? I'm in tears over this and such crap timing being informed at the weekend so I can't speak to anyone at Immi, but I'm sure they do that on purpose

Thanks for the advice. It's frustrating to be so far outside of the processing time frame without any explanation, but I guess that's Immigration departments for you. I just want to be able to get my Mum's 870 application in, so at least she's in the queue.

Hi Dotty7, Well, I'm feeling pretty unlucky. I have been waiting 129 days so far to be approved as a sponsor for my Mum from the UK. I've already rung them to chase and was told that they are not waiting on any more info from me. Please can you tell me where to find the stats you posted so when I call Immi to chase again, I can quote them. I'm so worried that by the time I get approved, I will have missed out on one of the 15,000 870 visas allocated for this year. Thanks for your help.

This is what I don’t get. When I rang immi to check on the progress of my sponsorship approval, they told me that they aren’t waiting on any more info from me and I was in the queue to be processed. I applied on the 29th April and still nothing and others are being approved in a month. It just doesn’t make sense and is not fair. Surely they should be processed in date order! Not a happy bunny!

Sorry I'm a bit confused.... does the 870 applicant need to have a medical? I can't see this on the immi website and thought as they are not eligible for Medicare, that it wouldn't be necessary. Also - I applied for sponsorship approval on the 29th April - still nothing, which is making me a bit worried.

Thanks so much for posting this. I applied for sponsorship 12 days after it opened (29th April) - heard nothing yet. Good to hear that some approvals have actually happened and the amount of sponsorship applications are at a level which mean my Mum has a chance at being one of the 15,000 approved this year. I spoke to Immi today to find out how long a police check lasts, as I was thinking of getting one done for my Mum in advance, so that once I'm approved (hopefully) she can apply for the 870 straight away. He told be they last 12 months, so wouldn't suggest getting one done until requested. He said as it's a new visa that they had no idea how long the processing will take - surely it won't be over a year from now? So frustrating! (sigh)

Applied for 870 sponsorship 29th April - nothing yet. Just seems strange that so few applicants have been approved, especially now that the actual 870 visa applications are open.

Yep fingers crossed both our Mum's will be ok for this years allocation. I'll post with an update when I hear something