Waiting more than 30 years for a parent visa to Australia. Examine the problems facing the incoming Home Affairs Minister, possible fixes, and the pressing need for change.

An Expanding Backlog

Parents have been waiting for an Australian visa for more than 30 years. To handle this situation, the newly appointed Minister of Home Affairs needs to act right away.

Two Routes to Sponsorship

Australians born abroad who wish to sponsor their parents’ return to Australia have two choices:

> Contributory Parent or Aged Parent Visa: Quicker processing, costs around $50,000 per applicant.
> The standard parent or aged parent visa:  considerably more expensive ($5,125) and requires lengthier wait times.

Demand and Cap on Visas

> Annual Cap: Contributory candidates receive approximately 80% of the 8,500 parent visas that are available each year.
> Present Backlog: There were 140,615 applications waiting as of June 2023; by the following year, that number had increased to 151,596.
> Processing Times: Standard visas now have an astounding 31-year wait, while contributing parent visas can now take up to 14 years.

The Price in Humans

Families may experience protracted uncertainty and hopelessness if a large number of applicants do not live to see their visas finalized. It has been said that the current system is insufficient and cruel.

Government Reactions and Obstacles

 > Prior Reports: A number of reports have brought serious problems with the visa system, including major abuses.
 > Current Efforts: Family migration, especially for parent visas, has been overlooked as skilled migration changes have been given top priority.
 > Political Distractions: The situation has been made more difficult by ongoing legal disputes and political difficulties.

Possible Remedies

  > Implement a Lottery System: Based on the strategy used in New Zealand, a lottery could assist in managing the backlog and offer more equitable possibilities.
  > Increase Annual Allocations: Wait times can be shortened by increasing the annual number of visas awarded and employing a lottery method.
  > Think About Temporary Visas: A more workable alternative might be to replace permanent parent migration with temporary visas.

There is a critical chance for the new Minister of Home Affairs to make a difference. To stop such delays and provide waiting families certainty, urgent steps are required, such as stopping the processing of new applications for permanent parent visas and clearing the backlog.