New visa application charges (VAC) for Australian Visas will be introduced and will come into effect 1st of July. These charges will affect Australian Partner Visa applicants who have children as secondary applicants, ie. they are including dependent children in the application. (Please note that these figures are not “official” until after 1 July, however they come from DIAC themselves)

There are NO increases in the base Visa Application Charge for either Subclass 300 Prospective Marriage Visas or Subclass 309 Partner Visas (offshore). This charge remains at AUD$2,680.00

The increases for secondary applicants (dependent children) are as follows:

Dependent children under 18 years of age: $670.00

Dependent children over 18 years of age: $1,340.00

I can understand why they would feel the need to include some for of charge, as there is some extra work when there are dependent children as part of a visa application. However I think it’s a bit steep, and I sincerely hope that this does not equate to eligible children being left off applications! I hope that applicants and sponsors will put aside thoughts of money and will include children anyway. Regardless of it being acceptable in Filipino culture to leave kids with grandparents, I still believe that kids should be with their mums and that all kids need a dad!

Applications which include kids also mean extra work for us at Down Under Visa. Most definitely they do. But let it go on record that WE will NOT be increasing our professional fees, and we will NEVER add additional charges for dependent children in applications. Bringing families together and helping kids to be united with new dads, this is our pleasure and an honour to do. And we will continue to do it for free!

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