I've just waded through the Migration Amendment Regulations 2007 (No. 4) which has now been published on ComLaw.
I'm guessing, and all those numbers make my head swim, but it looks like the 1st VAC for CP 143 applicants is going up to $1,390 and the 2nd VAC is going up to $31,555? I can't say I approached this scientifically! I just matched up the bits where the numbers tally.
I didn't see anything that looked like a change to the Bond but I'm not necessarily right about that either?
Are you able to confirm the new figures properly yet, please? Also, what is 60% and 40% of 31,555, please? My Maths is Nowhere Near good enough for serious number crunching of this kind, I'm sorry to say!
Many Thanks
Gill
Hello Gill. Sorry for the delay - I've been on holiday (Palm Cove on the Barrier Reef - I recommend!).
The new VACs are in revised DIAC booklet 990i and for CP visas are:
1st VAC (per application): A$1,390 (offshore) or A$2,060 (onshore, ie Aged CP);
2nd VAC - A$31,555 (permanent visa application, per parent) or A$18,935 (temporary visa application, per parent)
I'll look into the AoS position.
Best regards.
__________________
Managing Director, Go Matilda, http://www.gomatilda.com
Registered Migration Agent Number 0102534 and Chartered Accountant (England & Wales, and Australia)
Offices in the UK and in Australia
Having spoken with Centrelink and checked the Family Tax Benefit Part A income threshold for 2007/08 I can confirm that the new base level income threshold for an Assurance of Support (as from 01/07/2007) is A$41,318.
As has been the case for all AoS income threshold increases in the past, this has effect for all Centrelink appointments from this week onwards - ie the Assurer has to present tax assessment notices for the last two income tax years showing assessable income that exceeds the increased income threshold.
The News Article on the GM website will be amended accordingly to pick up the new base income amount.
Best regards.
__________________
Managing Director, Go Matilda, http://www.gomatilda.com
Registered Migration Agent Number 0102534 and Chartered Accountant (England & Wales, and Australia)
Offices in the UK and in Australia
Thank you for your most informative (as always) posts.
I read yesterday on the BE thread that DIAC have told you they currently have 2 years worth of CP visa applications in hand. This suggests that at least 7,000 people are currently in the queue for them, given that the available quota is currently 3,500 CP visas a year in total.
I know that in theory they can just keep upping the price plus make people wait longer, but surely the Policy people in Canberra must be chewing on what advice to give tthe Minister about the situation? Will they recommend increasing the quota, do you think?
When I spoke to a chap at policy in Family Section, Canberra there appeared to be no recognition of a correlation between increasing numbers of skilled migrants and an increasing number of parents able and wanting to migrate to follow their children ... which I found quite surprising (and disappointing).
I'm not personally holding my breath at any increase in the number of available CP visa grants annually, particularly when that same chap advised:
"For your information, in 2002 the Australian Government Actuary (AGA) considered the tangible costs of the Australian Government programmes that were likely to be accessed directly by parent migrants. Statistics indicated that migrating parents and their sponsors in the Parent category contributed only 0.5 per cent of the estimated health and welfare costs with the remaining costs being borne by the Australian taxpayer. The AGA found that even the higher charges for the Contributory Parent category visas only contributed to the Australian Government recovering around 12 per cent of estimated costs, with the other 88 per cent borne by the Australian taxpayer."
I therefore expect the waiting time for CP visa applicants to increase ... unless a change of Government brings a change of emphasis within the migration program ...
Best regards.
__________________
Managing Director, Go Matilda, http://www.gomatilda.com
Registered Migration Agent Number 0102534 and Chartered Accountant (England & Wales, and Australia)
Offices in the UK and in Australia
As usual you two come up with really helpful and reliable information. Thank you. It's just a shame that it is so depressing. Increased costs and increased waiting times.
Oh well, at this rate, at least it means that by the time that nice Mr Immigrtion man sends us our visa, I won't have to look for work as I will be retired.
It strikes me that the UK government should really be paying a contribution to the Oz government for our future health costs, given that we've all paid in vast amounts over the years and never had a bean back (in my case). I'm inclined to sympathise with the Oz government's position on this and find them generous to let us join our children.
Not that this helps, it's just a grumpy comment provoked by being asked for yet more tax!
When I spoke to a chap at policy in Family Section, Canberra there appeared to be no recognition of a correlation between increasing numbers of skilled migrants and an increasing number of parents able and wanting to migrate to follow their children ... which I found quite surprising (and disappointing).
I'm not personally holding my breath at any increase in the number of available CP visa grants annually, particularly when that same chap advised:
"For your information, in 2002 the Australian Government Actuary (AGA) considered the tangible costs of the Australian Government programmes that were likely to be accessed directly by parent migrants. Statistics indicated that migrating parents and their sponsors in the Parent category contributed only 0.5 per cent of the estimated health and welfare costs with the remaining costs being borne by the Australian taxpayer. The AGA found that even the higher charges for the Contributory Parent category visas only contributed to the Australian Government recovering around 12 per cent of estimated costs, with the other 88 per cent borne by the Australian taxpayer."
I therefore expect the waiting time for CP visa applicants to increase ... unless a change of Government brings a change of emphasis within the migration program ...
Best regards.
Hi Alan
Thank you for this information. It is of great importance to two elderly couples who have become dear friends of mine. Neither of them can even apply for CP visas yet because their children have not got PR yet and have not been in Australia for long enough as yet either.
Since I was up late last night e-mailing a friend (I'm a hopeless typist so this takes me forever), I decided that I might just as well discover what the POPC say about this. A very helpful lady said she would put me through to the Deputy Manager. The call was duly transferred.
I was told that they don't know exactly how many people are caught up in this because they do not study the file closely until they are ready to start the final processing. The second lass said that they do know that they have over 5,000 CP files open at present. She said they don't know how many of these files involve more than one visa applicant.
I agree with Jean. What the guy in Canberra told you is nothing short of depressing but at least we now have a better idea of what the score is, I guess.
Maylasia eh? I don't think so, you would have to wear a full Muslum Ninja kit on and be smuggled out before all the PIO people would let you go!
No No Gill, you are way to valuable to be tapping keyboards in Asia. Sorry but that's my final decision, you will just have to stay and continue to be burdened by other peoples misery. You will also have to seek no cure for insomnia. We could however allow a slight increase in your wine intake!
LOL
Alan.
Hi All, At last seem to be getting somewhere-------first application in July 2007, received acknowledegeent August 2007,received request for medicals, police cert etc August 2008 plus assurance of support bond to be lodged, all this done by November 1st 2008. Received letter 11th November requesting 2ndVAC to be paid in to Perth by December 15th and notice that if visa is granted, need to be into Oz by September 15th 2009. It all now seems to be steaming ahead after waiting for a year after the initial paperwork submission.
