The cost of Australian partner visa applications rises as more fees are announced
The Australian DIAC (Department of Immigration and Citizenship) has made a recent announcement unveiling new increases on the cost of applying for a fiancée visa (officially known as subclass 300 prospective marriage visa). There is a similar rise in the cost of applications for an unmarried partner/spouse visa (subclass 820/309). These rises apply to all applications in the relevant areas made after 1 September 2013. This increase is in addition to price rises announced in June 2013.
The June hike in prices was substantial. Put simply, additional fees became payable from 1 July 2013 or any additional person included in the Australian migration visa application. Any extra family member over the eighteen – usually a spouse or adult child, who wanted to enter the country was subject to a 50% surcharge. For those under eighteen, the surcharge was 25%. These surcharges were in addition to the basic rise in application price and many commentators have spoken up against the rises, on the principle that they will cause serious financial hardship for many.
Before the most recent price rise, the cost of an onshore visa application for a spouse/partner visa had risen to AUS$3,975. The fee for every additional adult child was therefore AUS$1,990 and for all minors added to an application, there was a charge of AUS$995. The application costs for offshore fiancee and partner visas was set a little lower at AUS$2,680 for the principal applicant (foreign fiancee or spouse), and additional persons added being AUS$1,340 and AUS$670 for adult children over 18 and dependent children under 18, respectively.
Despite the outcry caused by these price rises for fiancée, spouse and partner applications from 1 July 2013, the DIAC have now announced another rise of 15% on top. This rise was completely unexpected because it comes so soon after the July rise and is likely to create even more criticism of the government’s policy. The DIAC had already announced that the even before the first price rise cost increases in the processing of Australian partner visa applications was already adequately covered so it seems clear that the second rise is a money-making ploy by the government and as such will be met by a storm of displeasure. It has been estimated that the additional charges will produce an estimated AUS$542 million for the Australian Government over the next four years. Despite calls for clarification, the Australian government has declined to reply.
The charges for onshore partner visa applications could cost the average family an extra AUS$1000. The base application fee has risen by AUS$600 to AUS$4,575. For an additional adult on the visa application the rise is AUS$300 (up to AUS$2,290) and the cost of adding a child is now up by AUS$150 to AUS$1,145. Offshore applications for partner visas have gone up by the same percentage, making the base price AUS$3,085 (up by AUS$405); additional adults now cost AUS$1,545, representing an increase of AUS$205 and to add a family member under eighteen will now cost an extra AUS$100, bringing the price up to AUS$770.
