Parent Visa Queue

Parent visas include visas in both the parent and the contributory parent categories.

Parent category visa applications have a lower processing priority than other family stream visa applicants such as partners, children and the contributory parent category.

In the 2011–12 Migration Program year:

• 2000 places will be allocated to the (non-contributory) Parent category, including approximately 1400 places for Parent (subclass 103) visas and approximately 600 places for Aged Parent (subclass 804) visas.
• 6500 places have been allocated to the Contributory Parent category (subclasses 173/143 and subclasses 884/864).

The final proportion of places allocated between applicants applying in and outside Australia in both Parent visa categories is dependent on a number of factors, including client response times.

To ensure equity, all parent category visa applications are assessed in order of lodgement, assigned a queue date and then placed in the queue for the relevant visa subclass. Applicants are advised of their queue date when they reach this stage.

The queue date is the date that the application was assessed as meeting the initial criteria for a parent category visa. When a queue date has been assigned it is a fixed date and the application cannot be given priority ahead of other applications. Applications are finalised in order of their queue date as places become available.

Parent category queue

Based on current planning levels, parent category visa applicants can expect an approximate 15 year wait before visa grant consideration after being allocated a queue date.

Contributory parent category queue

In 2007–08, demand for the contributory parent visa category meant that a queue formed for the first time.

In the 2011–12 Migration Program year, 6500 contributory parent category visa places are available for applicants applying from in and outside Australia.

Based on current planning levels new contributory parent category visa applicants can expect to wait up to 12 months before visa grant consideration.

Applicants for contributory parent category visas should note that processing times can vary. It is important that applicants ensure they have funds available for the second visa application charge at all times in the application process, as payment may be required at an earlier date than was originally anticipated at the time of visa application lodgement.

Using the queue calculator

The department's online queue calculator enables applicants to determine how many people are ahead of them in the queue.

Applicants enter their queue date and select the parent visa subclass which they have applied for. The parent visa queue calculator will give them the approximate number of persons ahead of them in the queue.

Applicants can then estimate the approximate time it will take them to be considered for visa grant based on the number of visa grants available for their visa subclass in any one migration program year.

Note: Changes to the number of visa grants in any one migration program year will affect the length of time an applicant will wait before they will be considered for visa grant.
See: Parent Visa Queue Calculator

Example: An applicant has an application for an Aged Parent (subclass 804) visa with a queue date of 19 December 2005. According to the queue calculator, there are approximately 1590 applicants ahead of them in the queue. As there are approximately 600 visa grants available for Aged Parent visa applicants in the 2011–12 migration program year, this means that, at current planning levels, they would have an approximate four year wait before the application is finalised.

The queue calculator figures are usually updated in the middle of every month for the preceding month.
Example: If your queue date falls within 1–5 June, you will have to wait until mid July to be able to access the queue calculator using your queue date.

Applicants place in the queue

The number of people ahead of applicants in the queue includes applicants being considered for visa grant for this migration program year.

Numbers in the queue are subject to:

• changes to planning levels
• fluctuations due to visa grants, refusals and withdrawals
• fluctuations due to successful review cases which are given priority

Special circumstances of a compelling or compassionate nature

The order of precedence for considering and finalising parent visa applications will not be affected by any special circumstances of a compelling or compassionate nature.

This means that once a queue date has been assigned it is a fixed date and the application cannot be given priority ahead of other applications even if such circumstances exist, as this may disadvantage other applicants whose circumstances are equally or more compelling or compassionate.