The Budget 2014-2015 has now made it clear that Non-contributory parent visas will cease shortly. This is likely to happen by the end of this financial year.
“The Family Stream will refocus on meeting the increasing demand for close family reunions. The additional partner and child places will be made available as a result of the cessation of new applications from the other family and parent (non-contributory) places. This cessation will also enable faster processing of existing applications,” states the Budget Paper
Applications can still validly be lodged. All valid applications will remain in the pipeline and be processed in due course. The cessation of new applications under the Other Family and Non-Contributory Parent visas will take place prior to the start of the 2014-15 programme year. The visa subclasses affected are:
Parent (subclass 103)
Aged Parent (subclass 804)
Aged Dependent Relative (114)
Remaining Relative (115)
Carer (116)
Remaining Relative (835)
Carer (836)
Aged Dependent Relative (838).
Once it ceases, each parent application will be expected to contribute a substantial amount of money as part of the application. Together with the application fees this can come up to about $50,000.00.
Since the date the necessary regulatory changes will take effect has not yet been decided, it would be advisable to lodge any pending application as soon as possible.