It’s about living with parents

Monica Sharma

Indian immigrants living in Australia are a disheartened lot. Reason: the much- anticipated temporary sponsored parent visa, promised by the Labor and Liberal parties in the run-up to the 2016 Federal elections, is yet to be passed by the Senate. The visa would allow parents of migrants to stay in Australia for up to 5 years.

Moreover, the ruling Liberals have made some changes, including allowing only one set of parents and capping the number of visas, to the proposal. Indian migrants in Australia, who have campaigned vigorously for a long stay visa for parents, have slammed the changes and called it “undesirable”.

Gurdev Singh, who has been in Australia for 10 years, says, “After putting in efforts to settle in a foreign land, there is always a desire to live with your parents. If our parents are allowed to live here, they would not burden the Australian economy. In fact, they would contribute to the economy through spending and remittance.”

Following the struggle to get his mother for a longer duration in Australia, Arvind Duggal, living in Adelaide, launched a campaign, “Long Stay Parent Visa”, in 2014. He says, “The government has not fulfilled its promise to the immigrants. It cheated us and made unacceptable changes to the proposal.”

As per amendments, only a set of parents per household can be sponsored at a time. Moreover, the proposed $5,000 non-refundable charge for a three-year visa and $10,000 for five-year visa application is not affordable. The poll promise was that it will be a refundable bond, not a fee.

Rikki Anand, a member of the campaign group, says, “The government’s move for allowing just one set of parents on this visa is unfair. How can a couple choose between parents?”

Navjot Singh Kailay, a registered migration agent and campaigner for long stay parent visa, says, “The demand for temporary visa, with lesser stringent rules, has been felt for long as getting permanent immigration for parents is an expensive and long process (with a waiting period of 30 years). At present, there is contributory and non-contributory parent visa being offered. Capping the number of visas each year to 15,000 is unrealistic.” 

On a family-sponsored visitor visa, parents are allowed to stay for a maximum of 12 months, with a total validity of three years. They need to stay out of Australia for six months in each 18-month period.

Last week, immigrants from South Asia met Labor MP Shayne Neumann, shadow minister for immigration.  Neumann reiterated that they would make the three-year stay visa for parents on a $5,000 refundable bond a reality.  Recently, he wrote to new Immigration Minister David Coleman, questioning the delay in the introduction of the new temporary sponsored parent visa.

The government has said it is about creating opportunities for the families to bring parents out for that temporary period and the government is committed to addressing the issue and it’s something it will be taking forward.