| December's holiday season is seeing a record number | | | | 1. Working Age Parent (Subclass 103) Visa –for |
| in migrant families who flock to the Land Down Under. | | | | parents outside Australia not old enough yet to be |
| True to its philosophy and belief in the family as an | | | | granted an Australian age pension. |
| integral unit of society, Australian immigration policies | | | | 2. Aged Parent (Subclass 804) Visa –for parents in |
| are geared towards reuniting families through its | | | | Australia who are old enough to be granted an |
| different Australian visa programs in time for the | | | | Australian aged pension. |
| holidays. The government's high priority on families runs | | | | 3.Contributory Parent (Subclass 143) Visa -for parents |
| alongside its ongoing need for skilled workers. | | | | who are willing to contribute an extra application fee to |
| As such, a significant portion of the visas offered by | | | | cover health costs. |
| Australian immigration officials at DIMA is allotted to the | | | | Sponsors of parents who wish to migrate to Australia |
| Family Migration Program. This has made the Parent | | | | must provide a legal undertaking to support them |
| visa and the Partner visa two of the most popular | | | | during your first two years in Australia. Parents must |
| Australian visas today, next to the 457 Australian | | | | also satisfy the health and character requirements for |
| working visa. And with the holiday season well in its | | | | speedy and permanent Australian visa. |
| way, the number of visa applications is swelling in | | | | How to know whether you should be sponsored or |
| unprecedented numbers. | | | | nominated |
| Families Again | | | | It's fairly easy to tell whether you should be nominated |
| Indeed Australia reunites families all over the world. | | | | or sponsored by a family member. A nomination will |
| The Family Migration Program is divided into four | | | | ensue if the application is made within Australia. If the |
| subclasses: Parent Visa, Spouse Visa, Prospective | | | | application is made outside Australia, then the applicant |
| (Fiancé) Marriage Visa, Interdependent Visa, and | | | | should be sponsored. |
| Remaining Relative Visa. All persons who will migrate | | | | According to the Department of Immigration and |
| to Australia must be either sponsored or nominated by | | | | Multicultural Affairs (DIMA), role of a sponsor is to |
| a close family member, partner, or fiancé(e) who is | | | | provide support and ease for the family member |
| an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident for | | | | during the first two years of their migration to Australia. |
| at least two years or an eligible New Zealand citizen. | | | | DIMIA defines support as providing accommodation, |
| Additionally, to be eligible for the Parent Visa, you must | | | | financial assistance, information and advice, including |
| also pass the “balance of family” test which | | | | employment information. Nomination, on the other hand, |
| simply requires that half or at least majority of your | | | | aims to make a relative a permanent resident in |
| children must be permanently residing in Australia. | | | | Australia granted that they are currently holding a |
| Three types of Parent Visa | | | | temporary resident Australian visa. |