Health and Character requirements for parent visa applicants outside Australia
On 14 July 2008, the department changed its queuing procedures relating to parent visa applicants outside Australia.
Applicants outside Australia
All parent visa applicants outside Australia lodging a new parent visa application will no longer be required to undertake health and character checks prior to queuing.
This means that for parent visa applicants outside Australia to be allocated a queue date, they will only be required to be assessed against the remaining core criteria which include satisfying the sponsorship requirement and meeting the balance of family test. They will, however, still be required to complete health and character requirements prior to visa grant.
These changes will result in significant efficiency gains for both parent visa applicants and their sponsors.
In order to allow for these changes to take place, appropriate legislative changes have been made, including:
- revocation of Section 499 Ministerial Direction No 27; and
- signing of new Direction No 39.
The Ministerial Direction 39 will be available on Legend on 19 September 2008.
Applicants in Australia
The above change in policy does not affect parent visa applications lodged by visa applicants in Australia.
These applicants will still have to meet the health and character requirements as part of their queuing procedures.