The Contributory Parent Visa Subclass 173 may be a viable pathway for you to reunite with your children in Australia. This visa has been specifically designed to accommodate parents of children who wish to come to Australia temporarily while planning to obtain a Permanent Resident Visa. The question becomes, who qualifies to apply for this visa, and what requirements must one meet.
We will provide you with an easy picture so you can determine if the Parent Visa 173 will work for your situation.
What Is the Contributory Parent Visa Subclass 173?
The temporary contributory parent visa, officially known as visa subclass 173, provides an opportunity for the parents of settled Australian citizens, permanent residents or qualifying New Zealanders to have a two-year stay within Australia, which can be a pathway towards a Permanent Contributory Parent Visa Subclass 143.
You could compare this process to a two-step journey, where you start on a temporary visa (Subclass 173) and transition onto your permanent visa status when you are ready. This arrangement may lessen your financial burden as the overall cost is distributed across the two segments of this process.
Who Is Eligible to apply for a visa subclass 173?
There are multiple eligibility requirements you must meet to apply for a Contributory Parent Visa Subclass 173. It is not limited to having children living in Australia; you must also demonstrate your eligibility for this type of visa through a variety of legal and family-related factors.
1. You Must Be The Parent of an Eligible Child
To be eligible for the Parent Visa Subclass 173, you must be the parent of an "eligible child," who is:
- An Australian citizen
- A Permanent Resident of Australia
- An Eligible New Zealand Citizen
Must be settled in Australia (must have resided lawfully in Australia for at least two years.
2. You Must Meet the Balance of Family Test
Satisfying the Balance of Family Test is one of the most important criteria in determining eligibility to apply for a Parent Visa Subclass 173. The purpose of this criterion is to determine whether most of your children reside in Australia.
You will qualify for the Balance of Family Test if you meet the following criteria:
- 50 % of your children are living permanently in Australia
- You have more children living in Australia than in any other country combined
For example, if you have four children living in Australia and two children living outside of Australia, you may still qualify under the Balance of Family Test based on the number of children that live in each country.
3. You Need a Sponsor
A sponsor is required for each applicant who applies for a temporary contributory parent visa. A child of the applicant or other eligible sponsor is required to complete an application to be a sponsor of the applicant.
Your sponsor must:
- Be a minimum of 18 years of age
- Be a settled resident of Australia
- Have the financial means to provide the applicant with support
In most cases, an applicant's child will sponsor them for their temporary contributory parent visa. In some cases, a family member or community organisation may step in to be a sponsor for the applicant if the applicant's child is not able to provide it.
4. You Must Meet Health and Character Requirements
All applicants must meet the health and character requirements to qualify for the temporary contributory parent visa subclass 173.
The following criteria are required of all applicants to meet health and character standards:
- Undergo a medical examination
- Obtain a police clearance certificate
- Demonstrate, according to the Department of Immigration, that they do not pose a risk to the health and safety of the general public.
These requirements, while they are all required, are simply standard practice for any Australian visa issued and are extremely important to the overall success of an applicant's visa application.
5. The Application Fees Must Be Paid
While the application fee for the visa subclass 173 is generally higher than that of other non-contributory parent visas, the benefit of this fee is that it typically results in a quicker processing time.
The visa application cost is broken up into two different fees:
- First instalment.
- The second instalment will be paid when a visa is issued.
Although the initial amount is expensive, the majority of families view this as a financial investment to have their family unified much sooner than 12-18 months waiting in line for their visa of choice.
6. You Must Not Have Had a Previous Visa Refused or Cancelled
Immigrant applicants must have a free and clear immigration history (i.e. not previously denied or cancelled visa). If you are currently trying to apply for an Australian parent visa 173 and you have had any applications denied or cancelled in the past, this may impact your eligibility.
This does not mean you will automatically be disqualified based on prior visa applications. It is generally recommended to consult with a visa consultant Perth or an Immigration Consultant who can assist you in your particular circumstances with this application process.
Why Choose the Temporary Contributory Parent Visa 173?
You may be asking yourself why you wouldn’t simply apply directly for your permanent visa.
There are some reasons for choosing a temporary contributory parent visa
- The initial cost of the temporary contributory parent visa is lower than the cost of applying for a permanent visa.
- The process to obtain a temporary contributory parent visa is generally quicker than obtaining a non-contributory visa.
- Being a holder of a temporary contributory parent visa allows you the opportunity to upgrade to a permanent visa when you believe that you are ready to do so.
For many families, this visa is a "good option" because it provides an "affordable and quick" method to bring their family to Australia.
How a Visa Consultant Perth Can Help
The Contributory Parent Visa Subclass 173 can be an overwhelming application to navigate due to such detailed requirements, including determining if you pass the Balance of Family Test and what sponsorship obligations are needed.
A visa consultant Perth will help you:
- Determine your eligibility
- Prepare and organise documents
- Avoid making common mistakes that could delay or cause your application to be refused
- Simplify your transition to a permanent visa
Having a professional assist you with navigating your application will result in smooth and less stressful experiences throughout the entire process, especially when dealing with complex immigration laws.
Conclusion
The Contributory Parent Visa Subclass 173, or the Parent Contribution visa, provides an avenue for parents of children who are Australian citizens or permanent residents to reunite with their children while not having to pay for the total cost of permanent residency at the time of application. However, it does not suit every parent, as there are specific criteria (i.e. family balance, sponsorship, health) that must be met by the applicant.
If you are considering applying for a Parent Visa 173, you should assess your personal circumstances and seek professional advice if applicable. This visa may be the first step towards establishing a new life closer to your family in Australia if you prepare correctly.
