The Brand New PIO Parents Visa thread

[Marisawright]

6 hours ago, Rodders123 said:

Is your mum old enough to apply for the onshore 864 contributory aged parent visa? She has to be Australia state retirement age I believe. You May have to pay application charges again but she could then stay with you on a bridging visa  until the permanent one is granted 

Just make sure you look into all the downsides/risks of living on a bridging visa before you go down that route.

Edited March 26, 2019 by Marisawright

[Britgirl29]

6 hours ago, LindaH27 said:

Mum would have to be 66 for applications after 30 June and will have to pay another application charge and lose the existing 143 charge and her place/date in the queue. Yes that’s an option but it’s one that many people think is likely to be stopped in the future as Australia considers there are too many people (especially expensive older parents) on bridging visas and is looking closely at this and other visas. You are not considered as having PR , just as visitors, which may impact in other areas like buying houses etc. They’ve made a start by reducing the number of parent visas they will now grant - approx 6000 contributory visas a year which will also include 173,143, 864 and a few 405/410 pathways. They  haven’t made a decision yet but from a report I read a few months ago I believe that the consultation period has now closed. 

The Australian government can and has in the past made retrospective changes to visas. There was one in the  past which I think was related to student visas where people on bridging visas had them revoked and they had to leave. I seem to remember @ramot (I think) talking about it  The 864 visa also comes with a few restrictions -   no Medicare unless there’s a very basic reciprocal agreement with certain countries so private health insurance is a must. The medical must still be passed at the time they finally get around to processing the visa - if that’s quite a few years in the future your health could deteriorate (none of us knows how healthy we will be in the future) and you would have to leave if you failed the medical and have nothing to return to in your home country if you’ve sold up. In UK you may find NHS is also restricted if you return home.   For couples,  only one has to fail the medical to be refused the visa. 

Im also of the opinion that Australia is extremely aware of the possibility of parents changing to the 864 visa because of the increasingly longer  waiting times for the other parent visas and may be looking into this “loophole” for want of a better word!

All just my opinion for what it’s worth . Guess its a gamble you take! I wish you well whatever you decide. 

Although immigration is continually a hot topic with the Australian government and the media, the government has struggled to get any recent changes through parliament and the senate due to their slim majority. Both the increases to AOS for the parent visa, and the changes in citizenship got withdrawn as they weren't going to get the required votes in the senate, and the new parent visa took a long while to get through and only after significant changes. An election is due to be held in May and current indications are that the Labour party is likely to win. They tend to be more immigration friendly so it's doubtful they will introduce any anti immigration changes, particularly as they've criticised the new parent visa for being anti immigration. https://www.sbs.com.au/yourlanguage/punjabi/en/article/2019/02/12/labor-government-will-replace-new-sponsored-parent-visa. 

Rather than cancelling any visas which requires to go through parliament, I think it's more likely the government will continue to reduce the number of grants as that's not a legal change. So hopefully it's just a matter of time before everyone gets their visas!

It's interesting that the number of CPV applicants in the 17/18 year dropped significantly, I wonder if it's because with the longer wait times people have decided if they are going to wait might as well do the 804 visa. 

On medicare my parents are on a BVA for an 864 visa. They were granted an interim medicare card so can access similar medicare to an Australian permanent resident

[ramot]

7 hours ago, LindaH27 said:

Mum would have to be 66 for applications after 30 June and will have to pay another application charge and lose the existing 143 charge and her place/date in the queue. Yes that’s an option but it’s one that many people think is likely to be stopped in the future as Australia considers there are too many people (especially expensive older parents) on bridging visas and is looking closely at this and other visas. You are not considered as having PR , just as visitors, which may impact in other areas like buying houses etc. They’ve made a start by reducing the number of parent visas they will now grant - approx 6000 contributory visas a year which will also include 173,143, 864 and a few 405/410 pathways. They  haven’t made a decision yet but from a report I read a few months ago I believe that the consultation period has now closed. 

The Australian government can and has in the past made retrospective changes to visas. There was one in the  past which I think was related to student visas where people on bridging visas had them revoked and they had to leave. I seem to remember @ramot (I think) talking about it  The 864 visa also comes with a few restrictions -   no Medicare unless there’s a very basic reciprocal agreement with certain countries so private health insurance is a must. The medical must still be passed at the time they finally get around to processing the visa - if that’s quite a few years in the future your health could deteriorate (none of us knows how healthy we will be in the future) and you would have to leave if you failed the medical and have nothing to return to in your home country if you’ve sold up. In UK you may find NHS is also restricted if you return home.   For couples,  only one has to fail the medical to be refused the visa. 

Im also of the opinion that Australia is extremely aware of the possibility of parents changing to the 864 visa because of the increasingly longer  waiting times for the other parent visas and may be looking into this “loophole” for want of a better word!

All just my opinion for what it’s worth . Guess its a gamble you take! I wish you well whatever you decide. 

The rules changed for students hoping to get PR from studying here because thousands were rorting the system. Not sure that applies to onshore 864 visa applications.

You mention onshore 864 applicants here on bridging visas are costing the country lots of money, but then say it comes with restrictions such as very limited Medicare? So possibly apart from getting limited Medicare they must be mostly self funding? 

Also some applying for the 864/pathway 143  do already live in Australia totally self funded if they go on a bridging visa then their visa conditions don’t change, still no Medicare.

We had our medicals 10 days ago in Brisbane aged mid to late 70’s plus a friend also had his in Brisbane 6 weeks ago aged in his 80’s. Of course things might change but it really wasn’t much of a medical. Chest X-ray, blood test for HIV pee in a pot, general questions about health/history, which would I assume if worried would be followed up, then quick all over body check. They seem to be mostly concerned if you have a contagious disease eg TB, or an existing condition that will be costly . I have atrial fibrillaution and osteoporosis but neither concerned them, also our friend has had a hip replacement and doesn’t walk so well, again didn’t cause concern, and he has had the first part of his partner visa granted So try to keep fit while waiting !!!

There is I think a visa you can apply for should you fail the medical after living here for quite some time. Alan Collette has mentioned it.

Wenone of us know for sure what changes the government will make to immigration, anything is possible. I did notice that another poster mentioned they paid  $35,000 for the parent visa, so only $7,000 more now, can’t believe that won’t increase in the future.

Good luck to everyone on the waiting list

Edited March 26, 2019 by ramot

[Merryweather]

Hi there,

It's  been a while since I contributed to this thread, but follow it with interest and sympathy.

I really feel for all of you who are still waiting to hear, or realising that it might be years until you do. I agree with other contributors that it is best to try not to angst too much and endeavour to get on with life and make the most of your friends and remaining family. I have not regretted for one second our move to Oz - but I do miss my friends.

I have just started a new topic in the 'socialising' thread - but thought I would post it on this thread, as it has lots of followers:

My partner and I moved to Sydney in August 2018 on a CPV 143 visa. My partner, fortunately, found work but I am still looking and hoping to make friends/contacts, etc.

My daughters are great company but both work and I would like to 'play' with people of my own generation every now and then. I was wondering if there were any other 'older' ex-pat parents in Sydney, who would like to meet up for coffee/lunch/glass of wine occasionally, for a natter, chew the cud, shoot the breeze?

(I'm not an ageing Holden Caulfield - but a woman in her mid sixties with delusions of youth!)

Hoping to hear from you . . . . . .

M

 

[LesleyT]

Merryweather. I’ve not found the Socialising thread so am replying here. Have you tried finding a local branch of the CWA, the Country Women’s Association. I’ve been here for nearly 2 years on a bridging visa following an 864 application and live in a suburb of Melbourne. The CWA isn’t just limited to the country. I joined my local branch within a month of arriving and found that our last 2 branch presidents  are ex-pat Brits! We have craft evenings, some bake, some knit, we have stalls at local markets to raise money for local good causes. We also have social evenings, go to the movies, to the local am-dram productions, go to exhibitions.

Also through friends I’ve made there I’ve joined a walking group, we walk 4 mornings a week, have a monthly lunch and meet for morning tea that stretches to wine o’clock. I nearly forgot the annual winery coach trip! My age is similar to yours, and I do gym classes and Zumba every week. I’m widowed and moved here to be with my only child and her family and decided I had to go out to find friends. Do try the CWA. You might find the company you’re looking for.

Good luck.

 

[Merryweather]

Hi Lesley T,

 

Thank you SO much for replying! No, I had not heard of the CWA. I will certainly look into it. I am just about to join a gym. It was difficult initially, as we were moving about a bit, staying with daughters, etc. But have now got our own apartment in Coogee,  I can try to 'join' something. I have read other replies on various other threads (e.g, MarisaWright) who advises trying to meet other Aussies, which I'd love to do but - easier said than done. I volunteer at a local school, as I was a special needs teacher in the UK - but teachers are always so busy.

You sound as though you have really settled in! Good on you and continue to have fun!

Thanks again,

M

[dee day]

Hi, the CWA is great - I also suggest joining a choir if you can hold a note ( I’ve made lots of good friends and acquaintances this way and enjoyed a recent choir tour to New Zealand) - and also looking up the U3A in your area - so many interesting classes and activities.There are also Lions, Rotary and Probus clubs in a lot of areas, where you can meet people and help out in your new community. Lots to do once you’ve found your niche. Enjoy!

[Doris]

16 hours ago, LindaH27 said:

Depends what the existing 600 visa says. If it’s valid for 3 years and allows 12 months in any 18 then she has to leave for 6 months before re entry

If it was just for one year and she left she could reapply. But it’s likely to have that condition attached to any new visa and some posters have reported being told they had to wait 6 months to reapply and/ or were only given 3 months subsequent visit. 

Feb 16 application is now likely to take about 5 years I think as Aug 15 applications are taking approx  4 years to date and the queue only seems to be moving about four months every year. Im not sure how many were  in the queue at end June 2016 but at end June 2017  there were nearly 45000 and only 6000 a year now likely to be granted and that figure includes 173,143 and 864 applications too. 

 

Hi Linda, thanks for the reply. 

My mum visa is for 1 year only. So I guess I will reapply after she left and praying for luck   Hopefully she will be granted a visa which allows her to stay with us in Australia and waiting...  

 

Edited March 27, 2019 by Doris

[Doris]

16 hours ago, Rosiejaq said:

Sadly waiting times are really unreliable. We were told 18 months in 2015 when we applied...we’ve just started processing at 42 months and expect at least another 6months.  Good luck to you though 

Thanks Rosie.

Hopefully my mum case will be similar to yours. It’s been 37 months now So it will be another 6 months away hopefully...

if not then keep waiting  

[Geoffandgill]

Hi, Doris, does your mums visa state  with a stay period “12 months from the date of each arrival”, with a  “must not arrive after date”? This was the 600 visa we had, and were able to leave before the first year was up and re enter for another year.

Edited March 27, 2019 by Geoffandgill

[Geoffandgill]

On 26/03/2019 at 20:05, Doris said:

Hello everyone. 

I lodged my Mum’s 143 on Feb 2016 and still haven’t heard anything yet.... 

 I’d been told it’s 18months waiting at the time I lodged it. Then after 18 months it increased to 35months. So I decided to apply for her a family sponsored visitor visa (600) and she got granted on April 2018 for 12months stay straight. My mum actually sold all her property in her hometown as we thought it could be enough time for her 143 been kicked in while she’s here.. But sadly she will have to fly out of Australia this end of March  

As I heard from someone there is a condition 8558 which doesn’t allow to stay more than 12months in 18months. My mum visa doesn’t have this condition anyways but she does stay for 12 months straight. 

So Does anyone have any ideas if I can apply for another visitor visa for mum after a couple months she is out of Australia or  have to wait for 6 months? 

Thank you and really appreciate all advices  

Hi, did rely to your query but forgot to link it to your post, so will repeat it. When we applied for our 600 visa we were given 12months from the date of each arrival with a must not arrive after date. This enabled us to leave before the first year was up ( a trip to Bali) then re enter for another year. Does your mum have this type?

Geoff & Gill

[Marilyn]

@Merryweather I will be settling in Sydney too in Newport and I don't know many people my age so will be lovely to connect once I get there. I will find you on here then we can exchange numbers. I don't have one yet.

[Doris]

2 hours ago, Geoffandgill said:

Hi, did rely to your query but forgot to link it to your post, so will repeat it. When we applied for our 600 visa we were given 12months from the date of each arrival with a must not arrive after date. This enabled us to leave before the first year was up ( a trip to Bali) then re enter for another year. Does your mum have this type?

Geoff & Gill

Hi Geoff & Gill

Thanks for your kind reply. Yeah I thought that’s the one - 12months from the date of each arrival. May I ask which date is that on your “must not arrive after” ?  She granted visa on the March 2018 and must not arrive after June 2018. So I don’t think she can re enter now. 

Just hope I can reapply straight away after she leaves. 

Thanks again for your time. 

[LindaH27]

35 minutes ago, Marilyn said:

@Merryweather I will be settling in Sydney too in Newport and I don't know many people my age so will be lovely to connect once I get there. I will find you on here then we can exchange numbers. I don't have one yet.

Marilyn I hope you keep checking in the forum over the next few years as I’m hopefully also settling in Sydney - and may need a bit of hand holding at first!!

[LindaH27]

Thank you @Marilyn  I will definitely have a look. 

 

[Geoffandgill]

8 hours ago, Doris said:

Hi Geoff & Gill

Thanks for your kind reply. Yeah I thought that’s the one - 12months from the date of each arrival. May I ask which date is that on your “must not arrive after” ?  She granted visa on the March 2018 and must not arrive after June 2018. So I don’t think she can re enter now. 

Just hope I can reapply straight away after she leaves. 

Thanks again for your time. 

 

8 hours ago, Doris said:

Hi Geoff & Gill

Thanks for your kind reply. Yeah I thought that’s the one - 12months from the date of each arrival. May I ask which date is that on your “must not arrive after” ?  She granted visa on the March 2018 and must not arrive after June 2018. So I don’t think she can re enter now. 

Just hope I can reapply straight away after she leaves. 

Thanks again for your time. 

Hi, our visa was issued 12 May 2017, with a “ must not arrive after 12 May 2018”  

Geoff & Gill

[Merryweather]

@Marilyn and @LindaH27

Thanks for your replies! Look forward to hearing from you.

Perhaps we should start a new group - 'Handholding' ??

Cheers, M

[Bev50Bradley]

On 22/03/2019 at 16:35, Ryan 2017 said:

I have got request to pay 2nd instalment on 11/3/2019 for 143 got visa on 19/3/2019

thank god 

What was your application date?

[AMP]

On 27/03/2019 at 09:35, Merryweather said:

Hi there,

It's  been a while since I contributed to this thread, but follow it with interest and sympathy.

I really feel for all of you who are still waiting to hear, or realising that it might be years until you do. I agree with other contributors that it is best to try not to angst too much and endeavour to get on with life and make the most of your friends and remaining family. I have not regretted for one second our move to Oz - but I do miss my friends.

I have just started a new topic in the 'socialising' thread - but thought I would post it on this thread, as it has lots of followers:

My partner and I moved to Sydney in August 2018 on a CPV 143 visa. My partner, fortunately, found work but I am still looking and hoping to make friends/contacts, etc.

My daughters are great company but both work and I would like to 'play' with people of my own generation every now and then. I was wondering if there were any other 'older' ex-pat parents in Sydney, who would like to meet up for coffee/lunch/glass of wine occasionally, for a natter, chew the cud, shoot the breeze?

(I'm not an ageing Holden Caulfield - but a woman in her mid sixties with delusions of youth!)

Hoping to hear from you . . . . . .

M

 

Also I suggest you try U3A. Its an international organisation for over 50s and is big in Australia, as it is in the UK.  They offer a massive range of activities, many of which are free or very low cost and you simply have to pay a small annual membership fee.  It really is a great opportunity to get to know people, make friends and also to do interesting activities.  Try checking them out on line where you will see where your nearest branch is and also what they have on offer.

Good luck! 

[Ryan 2017]

It was 10th June 2015

[Bev50Bradley]

11 hours ago, AMP said:

Also I suggest you try U3A. Its an international organisation for over 50s and is big in Australia, as it is in the UK.  They offer a massive range of activities, many of which are free or very low cost and you simply have to pay a small annual membership fee.  It really is a great opportunity to get to know people, make friends and also to do interesting activities.  Try checking them out on line where you will see where your nearest branch is and also what they have on offer.

Good luck! 

I’m over in Perth, and have met lots of people, (some strange, but mainly goo on a website called Meet-up, it’s big over here, depending on your interests will depend on the different groups you go and look at.

i went on a couple that were not my cup of tea, but have made some friends on others, so if you try it, don’t think all groups are the same.

Good luck

[SusieRoo]

News in the budget - "The Government has decided to reduce the permanent migration program ceiling by a cumulative 120,000 places over four years"

I'm not sure what this will do to Parent Visas but that’s a significant reduction.

[SusieRoo]

More budget info -

"The Government will reduce the planning level of the Migration Program from 190,000 to 160,000 places for four years from 2019-20. The outlook for net overseas migration, and consequential impacts on revenue and expenses, are updated in line with program delivery each Budget update. Therefore, this measure has no further budget impact. For the 2019-20 Migration Program, there will be 108,682 places in the Skill stream, 47,732 places in the Family stream, with a combined 3,586 places for Child and Special Eligibility streams."

"The Government is increasing the base visa application charge (VAC) for all visa subclasses, with the exception of the Visitor (subclass 600) visa, by 5.4 per cent from 1 July 2019. There will be no increase to second instalment VACs. This measure is estimated to increase revenue by $275.0 million over the period from 2018-19 to 2021-22. Provision for this revenue increase has already been included in the forward estimates. "

Edited April 2, 2019 by SusieRoo

[bridgie]

More budget info -
"The Government will reduce the planning level of the Migration Program from 190,000 to 160,000 places for four years from 2019-20. The outlook for net overseas migration, and consequential impacts on revenue and expenses, are updated in line with program delivery each Budget update. Therefore, this measure has no further budget impact. For the 2019-20 Migration Program, there will be 108,682 places in the Skill stream, 47,732 places in the Family stream, with a combined 3,586 places for Child and Special Eligibility streams."
"The Government is increasing the base visa application charge (VAC) for all visa subclasses, with the exception of the Visitor (subclass 600) visa, by 5.4 per cent from 1 July 2019. There will be no increase to second instalment VACs. This measure is estimated to increase revenue by $275.0 million over the period from 2018-19 to 2021-22. Provision for this revenue increase has already been included in the forward estimates. "

Thanks Susie,

I think the figures quoted for the family stream for 19/20 , 47732 are the same for the years 17/18 and 18/19, so no reduction in the family stream. However we shall have to wait to see the breakdown of numbers to see exactly what it means for parent visas.

[bridgie]

Thanks Susie,

I think the figures quoted for the family stream for 19/20 , 47732 are the same for the years 17/18 and 18/19, so no reduction in the family stream. However we shall have to wait to see the breakdown of numbers to see exactly what it means for parent visas.

.....

Just checked the migration fact sheet for 2019/20 and the total number of parent visas will be 7371. I’m not sure of the breakdown of numbers for the visa classes within the parent group.

Susie do you know??