Parent visa application timelines (143 & 173)

[TADec16]

Hallelujah! Praise the Lord God Almighty!

173 Visa Granted on 03/02/2023; after 6 years, 1 month and 14 days.

So happy! It was a long wait!

All comments were so helpful. Thank you all guys! 

[Arti]

On 02/01/2023 at 18:34, LindaH27 said:

It’s info acquired by @Alan Collett as a freedom of information Request to home affairs. I believe there may be a later update in numbers but am unable to find it at present. The  info I used is here  

https://www.gm-parent-visas.com/contributory-parent-visa-application-numbers-updated/

I'm really hoping a whole lot of those 9000 applications were made in panic with the steep increase in visa fees and hence might get withdrawn

[LindaH27]

11 minutes ago, Arti said:

I'm really hoping a whole lot of those 9000 applications were made in panic with the steep increase in visa fees and hence might get withdrawn

Could reduce for any number of reasons. People could have died, withdrawn and changed to 804/864, or I’m aware of at least 2 applications that were withdrawn when finally being contacted because they felt they were too old, the grandkids had grown up or they felt settled where they were with good friends etc. 
 

Conversely the queue could grow. There are special  provisions for certain groups to jump the queue ,eg , 103 changing to 143 as they retain their original queue date (immi are only processing 103 for 2012 applications  I believe, so everybody after that date would jump straight to the top of the 143 queue if they changed over! And I’ve seen posts where a lot are doing that ) . Ukrainian refugees, old retirees on 405 /410 visas, ministerial intervention etc.  
The queue is not static in other words. The numbers rise and  fall all the time. The projected rise in fees never actually happened either so people may just still  go ahead 

Edited February 11, 2023 by LindaH27

[thinh7tn]

Hi All, first time poster here. 

My mom's 143 application was lodged in June 2017 (offshore) and she's currently on visitor visa with the No further stay condition, which will expire in October 2023.

I was told that when her 143 visa is approved (hopefully soon), she can't simply switch her visitor visa over to 143 in Australia but would have to go back home to receive the 143 visa.

I want to ask is there any way we could do to request for compassionate reason to allow her to remain in Australia to get her 143 once it's been approved? 

Thanks All.

Edited February 13, 2023 by thinh7tn

[tostar]

@thinh7tn

I was under the impression that the COVID-19 amendments allow for on-shore granting of 143 visas, where were you told this?

Source: https://minister.homeaffairs.gov.au/AlexHawke/Pages/parent-visa-applicants-remain-onshore-covid19.aspx

“The Government is pursuing changes to allow certain Parent visa applicants who have applied for their visa outside Australia to be granted that visa while in Australia during the COVID-19 period,” Minister Hawke said.

[thinh7tn]

@tostar

 

I was told by the immigration agent that helped us with my mom's visitor visa last July.

With the article, is it still effective now that there's no travel restrictions anymore due to COVID-19?

[Marisawright]

1 hour ago, thinh7tn said:

I was told by the immigration agent that helped us with my mom's visitor visa last July.

The article @tostar linked to, was published way back at the beginning of 2021.  If you were told, in July 2022, that she'd have to leave the country, then I'm sure that would be correct.  Covid restrictions were lifted a very long time ago.

With other visas, it's not necessary for the applicant to go all the way home.  I've known partner visa applicants just hop over to New Zealand for a short holiday, for instance. Maybe someone else can shed light on that.

[tostar]

The COVID-19 concession has not been lifted yet, "The initial concession period begins on 1 February 2020 and continues until a date determined by the Minister in a legislative instrument."

 

MIGRATION AMENDMENT (COVID-19 CONCESSIONS) REGULATIONS 2020

http://www5.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/num_reg_es/ma19cr2020202001181495.html

 

 

[tostar]

 

Here is a Government page last updated August 2022 confirming these concessions are still valid

https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/covid19/visa-information/visa-concessions

 

 

 

 

[Marisawright]

8 minutes ago, tostar said:

 

Here is a Government page last updated August 2022 confirming these concessions are still valid

https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/covid19/visa-information/visa-concessions

I do notice, though, that they are only valid for people who applied for the visa before March 2021.

If you have applied outside Australia for a

• Parent (subclass 103) visa
• Contributory Parent (subclass 173) visa
• Contributory Parent (subclass 143) visa

and

• you applied for the visa before 24 March 2021 and
• you were in Australia on 24 March 2021

[tostar]

Yes that's correct

@thinh7tn mentions they applied in June 2017 so this should be valid if their parent (s) was onshore on 24 March 2021

[LindaH27]

3 hours ago, thinh7tn said:

Hi All, first time poster here. 

My mom's 143 application was lodged in June 2017 (offshore) and she's currently on visitor visa with the No further stay condition, which will expire in October 2023.

I was told that when her 143 visa is approved (hopefully soon), she can't simply switch her visitor visa over to 143 in Australia but would have to go back home to receive the 143 visa.

I want to ask is there any way we could do to request for compassionate reason to allow her to remain in Australia to get her 143 once it's been approved? 

Thanks All.

Was she in Australia on 24 March 2021 and had had continuous stay since then?  If not the concession for bridging visa will not be valid. She will have to leave Australia for a few days then come back in to validate 143 when it’s ready for grant. Most fly out to Bali, Fiji or NZ. 

[thinh7tn]

Hi guys, thank you all so much for your advice. 

No she wasn't here on 24 March 2021 unfortunately. She only arrived last October 2022 on visitor visa so unfortunately she will have to exit for a few days then if there's no other way to get her to stay when her 143 is granted

[Anks]

13 hours ago, thinh7tn said:

Hi guys, thank you all so much for your advice. 

No she wasn't here on 24 March 2021 unfortunately. She only arrived last October 2022 on visitor visa so unfortunately she will have to exit for a few days then if there's no other way to get her to stay when her 143 is granted

To be honest and say this very humbly, there is a very unlikely chance of her getting 143 granted before October 2023. You might (*might*) get request to submit additional documents before October 2023 but then the remaining process of AoS will also take some time. So IMHO chances are bleak, and she would have to leave Australia after her Visitor visa expires.

[LindaH27]

13 hours ago, thinh7tn said:

Hi guys, thank you all so much for your advice. 

No she wasn't here on 24 March 2021 unfortunately. She only arrived last October 2022 on visitor visa so unfortunately she will have to exit for a few days then if there's no other way to get her to stay when her 143 is granted

Unfortunately unless the govt increase the quota it’s unlikely that she will get her visa for quite some time yet! There were  9000 applications in May and June 2017 
Have a look at this https://www.gm-parent-visas.com/visa-processing-time-calculator/?visa_month=6&visa_year=2017&expect_annually=7500&dataset=2023-01-11#calculator

[thinh7tn]

@Anks

I saw some applications from March 2017 got approved that's why I was hoping hers would come around before this October. We just have to keep praying. Otherwise I'll just apply for another visitor visa for her until the time comes 🥲

@LindaH27

Oh wow! Thank you for the link Linda. It's very helpful. We got over excited thinking hers would be processed this year but I guess not

May I ask if you know which form we need to submit to update my address? We have moved since we lodged her application.

[Marisawright]

1 hour ago, thinh7tn said:

@Anks

I saw some applications from March 2017 got approved that's why I was hoping hers would come around before this October. We just have to keep praying. Otherwise I'll just apply for another visitor visa for her until the time comes 🥲

Be prepared that you can't just keep on applying for visitor visa after visitor visa after visitor visa.  It was allowed during Covid because people couldn't fly, but in normal times,  Immigration doesn't like people using visitor visas to stay long-term in Australia. If they notice, you might find her application will get rejected, so you should think about what you'll do then.

Edited February 14, 2023 by Marisawright

[thinh7tn]

@Marisawright

Yes of course I am aware of that. This is only her first visitor visa to Australia.

[Kaybee]

https://www.aph.gov.au/e-petitions/petition/EN4798/sign?mibextid=Zxz2cZ
 

please sign this petition. It’s closing soon. 

[Marisawright]

32 minutes ago, Kaybee said:

https://www.aph.gov.au/e-petitions/petition/EN4798/sign?mibextid=Zxz2cZ
 

please sign this petition. It’s closing soon. 

Honestly, I think this is a waste of time. Why would the government bring more parents into Australia when they know what an enormous burden they place on medical and aged care systems which are already struggling?   Also from a political point of view, migrants wanting to bring their parents are not a big enough percentage of the voting population to be worth the cost. 

I think you'd stand more chance of success if you lobbied the British government to loosen their rules about parent migration.  Right now, Australian parents have no way to join their children in the UK except on medical grounds. Perhaps if you could persuade the UK to set up a reciprocal scheme, Australia would see some political merit in that.

[tostar]

Immigration updated their website on May 16th and it appears that they are going above the cap this year as they have progressed with applications with a queue/lodgement date of May 2017 now (previously was March 2017 earlier this year).

Note this is for Contributory Parent visa applications.

Wonder what the driver for this is?

[LindaH27]

9 minutes ago, tostar said:

Immigration updated their website on May 16th and it appears that they are going above the cap this year as they have progressed with applications with a queue/lodgement date of May 2017 now (previously was March 2017 earlier this year).

Note this is for Contributory Parent visa applications.

Wonder what the driver for this is?

They said UP to May 2017  meaning to the end of April. Even when they reach the quota for the year (especially so close to the end of the financial year) they carry on processing for grants in the next financial year. They don’t stop working just because the quota has been reached! In fact out of the 6800 annual quota for contributory parents 112 have been reserved for existing holders of 405 & 410 visas which are no longer available for new applicants so they certainly aren’t going above the cap !  

[tostar]

2 minutes ago, LindaH27 said:

They said UP to May 2017  meaning to the end of April. Even when they reach the quota for the year (especially so close to the end of the financial year) they carry on processing for grants in the next financial year. They don’t stop working just because the quota has been reached! In fact out of the 6800 annual quota for contributory parents 112 have been reserved for existing holders of 405 & 410 visas which are no longer available for new applicants so they certainly aren’t going above the cap !  

That's a great reflection on why things are moving, thank you!

[LindaH27]

@tostar you might  find  this interesting from @Alan Collett
 

I’ve crossed out the non contributory so the total needs adjusting to further answer your query 

Edited May 29, 2023 by LindaH27

[tostar]

23 hours ago, LindaH27 said:

@tostar you might  find  this interesting from @Alan Collett
 

I’ve crossed out the non contributory so the total needs adjusting to further answer your query 

Very useful resource, thanks for sharing! Definitely still room for more progress this financial year