AUSTRALIA – Application Delays and Fee Increases
Immigration Processing Delays
There are processing delays at the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) and some Temporary Work (Skilled) Subclass 457 visa applications are taking up to three months to process. The Department has had a turnover in staff and increased workload, which has led to these delays.
September Fee Increases
New DIAC application fees have been implemented from 1 September, with many fees increasing. This is in addition to the changes in July, which saw a new fee structure based on a charge per applicant, rather than per application.
The new fees can be found here. 457 visa application fees, for example, have increased from $900AUD to $1035AUD for the principal applicant and each additional adult dependent, and from $225AUD to $260AUD per dependent applicant under 18 years of age.
The latest increases are a result of the recent Economic Statement for the 2013-2014 financial year released by the Australian Government on 2 August 2013.
Western Australia – 457 Visa Holders to Pay School Fees from 2015
457 visa holders living in Western Australia (WA) with children at State Schools will be required to pay school fees from 2015.
The WA Premier announced on 17 September 2013 that, from the beginning of the school year in 2015, tuition fees would apply of $4000AUD per year for the first child and $2000AUD per year for each subsequent child.
An earlier version of the measure proposed the full fee for all children of 457 visa holders, starting in January 2014.
New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory already have similar charges for children of 457 visa holders.
Action Items
- Please take possible lengthy process delays into account when planning assignments to Australia.
- Note that there are increased application fees from 1 September across the board in addition to the previous increases on 1 July.
- Ensure employers and sponsored employees in Western Australia plan for the new education expenses.
