Australian Migration: Bringing Families Together
- 08 Dec 2011
Australia is generally considered to be the ‘lucky country’ because it has so much to offer its residents and citizens. A balanced lifestyle, good employment prospects, an excellent education system and political stability all tend to be taken for granted here but are some of the main reasons why so many people want to move to Australia.
Options for families
If you are already living in Australia and have family members or relatives who would like to join you, there is a Family Visa program in existence that may enable you to sponsor your relative(s) and help them to move here.
Partners/spouses, aged dependent relatives, orphan relatives, remaining relatives and carers of Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents and eligible New Zealand citizens may all be sponsored for visas to come to Australia permanently. Relatives who might wish to migrate on the basis of their skills, but who are unable to meet the Points Test pass marks for Skilled Migration, may also be sponsored if they meet certain requirements.
Where should you start?
Migration legislation in Australia is complex and requirements change often. In fact, one of the most important things to understand if you would like to help family members or partners move to Australia is that you need qualified advice before you start the process.
The right advice will ensure that you apply for the most appropriate visa and that your application has the right information and follows the right channels. Many of the problems that arise with Family Stream Visa applications can be avoided if proper advice is sought before proceeding with an application. In some cases, such advice may need to include advice on family law issues as well as migration issues.
For professional legal advice, contact Maclarens Lawyers on (02) 9682 3777
