Family Visa Cutbacks/Delays

[George Lombard]

We received the following information in respect of one of our clients this week. Not good news for "other family" applicants - ie anyone who would have applied using form 47OF.

 

Doing the mathematics leaves me with the conclusion that many remaining relative and aged dependent family applications may be waiting up to six years, if this policy continues, for their visa applications. Carers may be facing lengthy waits as well. Eventually I assume DIAC will introduce a Contributory Family Visa to complement the Contributory Parent Visa. Anyone counting on an "other family" visa should apply immediately, as the waiting periods will just balloon from this point forward.

 

 

 

"I have received the documents you provided for Ms xxxx's

application, however I am unable to process this application further at

this time due to the reduced number of places in the other family visa

class.

 

For the 2010-11 program year the Government has allocated 55,550 places in

the Family Stream, 7.9% fewer places than in the preceding year. Within the

family stream the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship announced on the

11 May 2010 that number of places for the Other Family class (which

includes Aged Dependent Relative, Carer and Remaining Relative) will be

reduced from 2500 places to 750 places globally for the 2010-2011 program

year. Within the global allocation 500 of the 750 Other Family places are

allocated to Carer visas as they have the highest priority within the

category.

 

The Department has a responsibility to ensure that the numbers of visas

granted overall and within each visa category are in accordance with the

agreed planning levels. Departmental resources are allocated to ensure

that the planning levels are met over the course of the program year.

While this means that some cases may not be finalised as quickly as clients

or the Department would want, it does help to ensure that visa grants

within the Family Stream reflect the priorities set by the Government.

 

The Department is currently reviewing the impact on service standards of

the reduction in family stream planning levels. It is anticipated that

there will be substantial increases in the processing times for Other

Family visa categories. More information on processing times will be

published on the Department's website when it becomes available.

 

Given the dramatically reduced number of places in the Other Family visa

categories globally, we are prioritising cases based on their lodgement

date. While Ms xxxx's application was lodged on 8 October 2009

which was almost 1 year ago, we currently have a substantial number of

applications lodged in 2008 that are still being processed and will be

given priority given the age of these applications. I appreciate that you

would like to have Ms xxx's application finalised as soon as

possible and if I have any further information on this in the future I will

contact you as soon as I know something."

 

 

 

 

Cheers,

 

George Lombard