Transitional Arrangements for Sponsorship and Visa Applications

On 14 September 2009, changes came into effect regarding sponsorship requirements for Specialist Entry visas. Transitional arrangements are in place for visa and sponsorship applications lodged before 14 September.

Sponsorship application transitional arrangements

If your proposed sponsor lodged a sponsorship application before 14 September 2009 and you did not lodge your visa application before 14 September 2009:

• if the sponsorship application was approved between 1 July 2009 and 13 September 2009 (inclusive), the sponsor must complete Form 1377 and will not incur an additional sponsorship fee
  Note: This fee waiver is restricted to the first sponsorship application made on or after 14 September 2009.
• if the sponsorship was not approved before 14 September 2009, the sponsor must complete Form 1377 and pay the appropriate fee.
  See: Form 1377 Application for approval as a temporary residence sponsor (252KB PDF File)

Visa application transitional arrangements

If you lodged a visa application before 14 September 2009 and you require sponsorship, you will be assessed against the sponsorship provisions in effect before the 14 September 2009 changes. This applies even if the sponsorship application is not lodged until after 14 September 2009.

Your sponsor should complete Form 55 and pay the appropriate fee.
See: Form 55 Application for temporary residence sponsorship (223KB PDF File)