Visa Application Charge increase on 1 July 2015
I didn't think they would do it again after the last lot of increases on 1 January 2015, but Mr Hockey has done it again.
In what they call “harmonising”, the offshore visa application charges for Subclass 300 Prospective Marriage Visas and Subclass 309 Partner Visas will increase to match the onshore fees for Subclass 820 partner visas. This includes the fees for children added as secondary applicants.
New Charges 1 July 2015
Subclass 300 and 309 $6,865.00
Kids -18 $1,720.00
Kids 18+ $3,435.00
Again, they've hit partner visas because they KNOW THEY HAVE A CAPTIVE AUDIENCE. We at Down Under Visa know exactly how this will hit you all, especially those of you on low and on fixed incomes. It sucks big time, no question about it. And we know that some of you will need more time to save up to meet these charges. And we understand this, and will never hassle you about it.
Please note that Down Under Visa will not increase our fees. The Government have increased their fees now I think 3 times since our last increase, and we still remain a moderate-cost but high-service practice. And we still don't charge for kids added onto partner visas, and never will.
And what we charge is very small in comparison to what the Government are now charging, and is a reasonable bit of insurance. There are no refunds from the Government if the application is refused because it wasn't prepared professionally.
As I said, you are a captive audience and they know it. Fees in 2009 were, I seem to remember, around $1,600.00. They've increased umpteen-fold since then, and there has been no reduction in the number of partner visa applications lodged. No one tosses their wife or fiancée away because the fees go up. You do what you have to do, and you will find a way. We know this, and you know this too.
For those of you who will be ready about 1 week before 1 July, of course we will do our very best to get your applications lodged.
Who are Down Under Visa? Who is Jeff Harvie?
Jeff Harvie and the Down Under Visa team have been doing this for a lot of years! Down Under Visa have brought thousands of couples to Australia from South East Asia over the years. Mostly from the Philippines, but we help increasing numbers of couples where the visa applicant is from China, Thailand, Vietnam or Cambodia. And what this means is we see a lot of success....and we also see failures when people go it alone after talking to their mate, or their relative, or that minimal-care-no-responsibility Facebook group run by Steve and Maribeth based on their own visa application! One application, and they feel qualified to advise others! It's not even LEGAL to do that!
Want to bring your sweetheart to Australia from The Philippines, China, Thailand, Vietnam or Cambodia? Get a FREE VISA ASSESSMENT today! It will take you five minutes.
