How is my application for a visa in the contributory parent category processed ?
Processing of Parent Category visas can take considerably longer than other Family Stream visas. This is due in part to the processing priority they have been given and the high demand in this category. The Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs has issued a direction for migration officers giving guidance on the order of priority for processing Family Stream applications. Within the Family Stream, all parent applications are given a lower processing priority than applications from other family members, such as partners and children. Within the Parent visa categories, the Contributory Parent category has a higher processing priority than the Parent category. In addition, a number of Australian visa classes in the Family Stream are also subject to capping. This means that once the number of visas set by the Minister for a visa class for the migration program year has been reached, no further visas can be granted in that class in that program year. The Contribu