Radagast

I have two questions for those who completed the application forms themselves: 1) Form 47A (Details of Dependent Family Member) says: 'This form must be completed for each member of the family unit aged 18 years or over whether migrating or not'. My wife (who is an Australian citizen and only child) is sponsoring her two parents for 143 visas, her mother being the main applicant. Clearly my wife's father will need to fill out a Form 47A. My question is that the notation seems to imply that my wife (the sponsor) and my wife's mother (the main applicant) should also technically fill out Form 47A's as they are 'members of the family unit aged 18 years or over'. Does anyone know whether the main applicant also has to fill out a Form 47A as well as the main 47PA form? Does anyone know if the sponsor has to fill out a Form 47A as well as the main form 40 sponsor form? Or are they exempt because they have their 'own' forms that they have completed. 2) A bit more certain about this - if my mother in law is the main applicant and father in law is the secondary applicant, does father in law need to fill out a separate Form 47PA? I gather not, just a 47A. Thanks for any guidance you can provide.

I have a couple of questions which may also assist other new applicants who are just jumping into this thread: 1) Is the second instalment amount payable 'frozen' at the application date? That is, if I send the application this month, and the fees subsequently increase over the next however many years, when I am called upon to pay the second instalment will it remain fixed at today's date? Is the date at which the payment is fixed the date the department receive the application in the post or the 'queueing date' which I understand is now 3 years later in many cases? 2) Is the income requirement for a sponsor of 1 parent $45k or $85k? I have done the eligibility calculator for AoS for a 143 visa on Centrelink's website and it is telling me something like $45k for 1 assuree (parent) or $50k for 2 assurees (parents). I saw someone post on here that they believe it is more like $85k for 1 parent and $160k for 2 parents? Which is correct? Are there any additional income requirements for the sponsor as opposed to the assuree, or are these higher amounts only for the temporary 173 visas? 3) I understand that if 1 parent is granted a 143, that parent can then sponsor the other parent 5 years after the 143 is granted? I do not wish to assume incorrectly but I imagine that for most parent visa applicants, after the grant they will be splitting their time between Australia and their country or origin (rather than living in Australia full-time). In those circumstances, I am surprised not to see more people applying for a single 143, having the other parent visit on a visitors visa while the first parent spends part of each of the first 5 years in Australia, and then subsequently sponsoring them for a partner visa - am I missing something? 4) I understand the timeframe from submission of application to visa grant is now well over 5 years for a 143, possibly 7? Is this accurate, and is there any way it could improve? This is absolutely incredible where such large sums of money are being required supposedly for a fast processing time. As an Australian assisting my spouse with a 143 visa application for her mother, it is absolutely dismaying to read the last few pages of this thread. As Australia has always relied upon immigration throughout its history, I feel that it is shameful for our country to be treating immigrants, who have a need like anyone else to look after their parents in old age, in this totally unaccountable way - particularly where very large sums of money and represent considerable sacrifices are being paid for fast processing. I understand that there are large social security costs, however this should be seen as the other necessary side of the equation which sees us benefit from millions of hardworking immigrants. It is wrong and unacceptable to treat the needs of these immigrants as such a low priority just because they do not form a majority of the voting population. Thanks to any guidance anyone is able to provide.