Some Australian visas required the lodging of an Assurance of Support (AoS). This is a legal commitment by a person to repay the Australian Government certain welfare paid to the migrant during their AoS period. This does not necessarily have to come from the visa sponsor.

The AoS requirement must be met prior to the grant of the visa application. The assurer must provide a refundable fund with the Commonwealth Bank of Australia. The amount should be able to cover support for the principal applicant as well as any dependent family members. This assures that person applying to migrate will not have to rely on social welfare payments.

In 2004, Centrelink assumed responsibility for the assessment of AoS applications. The bond is held for the duration of the AoS Period as described in the Australian visa application requirements. For permanent Contributory Parent visa, for instance, the AoS period runs for 10 years from the date the permanent visa was granted (for onshore applications) or from the date of arrival into Australia (offshore applications). For this visa type, the AoS bond is $10,000 for the main applicant and $4000 per secondary adult applicant.

For all other Australia visa types, the AoS period is usually for two years. Australia visa types that require AoS include family stream visa categories such as parent, aged parent, contributory parent, contributory aged parent, aged dependent relative and remaining relative. It is only applicable for adult applicants over 18 years of age. For this visa category, the two-year bond of $5,000 is required for the principal applicant and $2000 for secondary adult applicants.

AoS is no longer required for the skilled stream Australian visa. This rule has changed in September 1, 2007. However, the AoS is still applicable for any pending applications filed the said they that have yet to reach a decision by January 1, 2008.

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Subclass 804 is a permanent residence visa for aged parents. This Australia visa requires a sponsor —either a child or another eligible sponsor. There is minimum age requirement of 65 for men. For women, there is a date table that needs to be followed.

If the aged woman parent is born before June 30, 1997, the earliest she can apply is on June 30 2007. At that time, her age should be 63. If she is born between July 1, 1944 to December 31, 1945, the earliest application date is between January 1, 2008 and June 30, 2009. Minimum age is 63.5. If the aged woman is born between January 1, 1946 to June 30, 1947 the earliest application date is between January 1, 2010 to June 30, 2011 at the age of 64. If she was born between July 1, 1947 to December 31, 1948, then she can apply between January 1, 2012 to June 30, 2013 at the minimum age of 64.5. If the aged woman applicant’s birth day is January 1, 1949 and later, the earliest application date is form January 1, 2014 onwards at the minimum age of 65.

To be able to get this Australian parent visa, the parent must have a child who is settled in Australia either as a citizen, a permanent resident or as an eligible New Zealand citizen. Furthermore, the Balance of Family test must also be passed such that half the children must be permanent residents in Australia or there should be more children permanently residing in Australia than in any other overseas single country.

To become a sponsor for this Australian visa, one must give a written undertaking that he or she is willing and able to provide support, accommodation and financial assistance to the applicant as well as any other accompanying dependent for the first two years of residency.

Once this visa for Australia is granted, it allows the aged parent and any dependents to work and study in Australia. They will also have access to subsidized health care via the Medicare and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. After a two-year waiting period, he or she may be able to access social security payments. This Australian parent visa also renders the recipient eligible to apply for Australian citizen ship subject to residency eligibility criteria.

One important thing to note, it generally takes a longer time to process an Australian visa application for non-contributory parent visas such as this one. They may have to wait many years before the Australian visa is granted.

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You can discuss subjects such as Australian immigration, visas, lifestyle, employment and general settlement hints and tips relevant to your personal circumstances, including your application for parent visas.

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