Australia is known for its multicultural diversity. The India-Australia relationship makes it richer and prosperous on economic, cultural and social ground. Australia has welcomed the Indian Diaspora openly.

As a result, Australia has become a home to thousands of Indians spread across the continent. Many migrated to the welcoming land and settled here, never to return. While many came here with their kith and kin, many have their Parents back in India. And there are many in queue wanting to bring their Parents in the Australian sub continent to cater to their needs and are requesting for longer stay visa for parents.

Arvind Duggal, Parminder Sohal and Davinder Pal Singh, have started a petition, ‘long Stay visa for Parents who want to spend quality time with their family’ appealing the honorable minister for Migration and Border Protection, Peter Dutton, Immigration Minister of Australia to have a look into this matter and take action, that will affect thousands of Indians living in Australia.

Here’s what they have to say to the Honorable minister-

We are requesting you, the Honourable minister, to introduce some special kinds of visas for parents who are hoping to spend more quality time with their children and grandchildren. We would like to suggest you some solutions that may interest you and help us as well.

If the DIAC introduce a 10 years visa with a 2 years continuous stay and a compulsory 10 day country out period, it can seriously help the migrants and their parents. This is a great way of reuniting the parents with their family.
By introducing this visa, we can also generate a lot of business in Australia by making compulsory insurance (covering all of their medical expenses) during their stay in Australia and won’t cost the Australian tax payers a single penny.

WHY WE NEED THIS TYPE OF VISA
There are two types of permeant migrant visa

1-Aged Parent visa (subclass 804)
This visa lets older parents live in Australia if their child is an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen who is settled in Australia. There can be long waiting times of up to 30 years before this visa is approved. The basic requirements are-

You might be able to get this visa if you:
• are in Australia
• are sponsored
• meet the balance-of-family test
• meet age requirements
• are prepared to wait in a queue before your visa can be approved.

So this means if the parents apply for the visa at the age of 60 – 65 years they are going to get the permanent residency at 90 -95 years of age, as it is a waiting of 30 years and the life expectancy in India and other developing countries is not more than 65 approx. years. (according to WHO)

2. Contributory Aged Parent visa (subclass 864)
Contributory Parent visa (subclass 143)
This visa lets older parents live permanently in Australia if their child is an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen who is settled in Australia.

You might be able to get this visa if you hold a Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary) visa (subclass 884), or you:
• are in Australia
• are sponsored
• meet age requirements
• meet the balance-of-family test
• Pay higher visa application charges for faster processing.

This visa is only for those who can “afford” to pay more than 100,000 as visa fee for the parents. But those who cannot afford this value there is not any option besides waiting for 30 years. And most likely they are not going to make it.
In every visa for parents there is one condition that is Meet the Balance of Family Test. You meet this requirement if either:

• At least half of your children live permanently in Australia
• More of your children live permanently in Australia than in any other country.
Unfortunately, many fail this test.

So, this visa (Long stay visa for parents –Aus.) can give people a chance to spend time with their parents and “Is not a burden on the Australian tax payers as well.”

Benefits of ‘long stay visa for parents-Australia include-
• People who cannot afford to pay nearly100, 000 for their parents can still spend more time with their loved ones.
• Income could be generated from compulsory Insurance.
• Gives people opportunity to look after their parents without bringing them here permanently.
• Less work for the Australian High Commissions overseas as they won’t have to sort out the visa documents again and again.

Join the petition: https://www.change.org/p/hon-peter-dutton-immigration-minister-of-australia-introduce-long-stay-visa-for-parents-who-want-to-spend-quality-time-with-their-family