Australia’s Treasurer Wayne Swan has indicated numerous Australian visa application fee increases to be included in the 2013 budget. The increases are expected to raise an additional $500 million and will serve as a mechanism in keeping the Budget on track for the promised $1.5 billion surplus this year.
The expected reforms to visa application charges has sparked significant debate across various sources. An Australian migration agent advocacy group have labelled the increases as being grossly unfair.
The fact you can get away with charging a bit more doesn’t mean it is reasonable or fair or that you have to do it, said Maurene Horder – CEO of the Migration Institute of Australia.
What you are being asked to pay now if you are trying to get your partner or spouse into Australia is a 30 per cent increase just to pay for the visa and it is not cheap anyway, it is AUD $3000.
Migrants bring a lot of economic benefit to our economy and we shouldn’t be arbitrary hitting the non-citizens or the people who have no rights as yet, the non voters, with high costs, she said.
Mr Swan told The Sunday Telegraph that one of the primary reasons for introducing these changes in his Budget strategy is keeping interest rates low for home owners.
With our economy growing strongly, it’s important we return to surplus to give the Reserve Bank room to cut interest rates as they have been over the past year or so, and to provide a defence against global uncertainty, Mr Swan said.
Responsible Budget savings aren’t just important for lower interest rates.
They also mean we can deliver big Labor reforms like an historic pension increase and paid maternity leave for the first time.
Expected Visa Application Fee Increases
The expected fee increases include the following visa categories:
- Temporary Business Visas (subclass 457) from $350 to $450
- Onshore Partner Visas (subclass 820 & 801) from £3060 to $4000
- Offshore Partner Visas (subclasses 309 & 100) from $2060 to $2700
- Working Holiday Visas (subclass 417) from $280 to $360
If agreed, applicants lodging partner visa applications will be hit the hardest, where increases could be as much as $940 per application.
The Tourism & Transport Forum (TTF) has gone as far as saying that the increases will potentially price Australia out of the market for backpackers, who, as well needing a return ticket, need to prove they have $5000 in savings.
If we keep raising the cost of coming to Australia, we risk pricing ourselves out of the market, TTF Chief Executive John Lee said on Tuesday.
It’s wrong to assume people will keep coming regardless of cost – instead of coming to Australia as a working holiday maker they will go somewhere else.
When asked about the impact the fee increase would have on some visa applicants, Mr. Bowen, Australian Immigration Minister said:
The fact is there are plenty of people from around the world who want to work in Australia because of our substantial economic strengths during these times of global economic uncertainty. Changes or increased charges would be in areas where there is a significant demand.
Start your Australian visa assessment and lodge your application before the increases take effect!